Hello Fellow Bloggers,
You did an outstanding job last week with the first book. The effort and thoughts that came through were very impressive. I want to thank you all again for joining, taking time out of your personal time, and being open to looking at other perspectives. I hope this journey continues to open your mind about historical perspective and its importance in our own lives and in our students' lives.
This week's blog post:
Please read 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving and the Oyate handout- Deconstructing the Myths of "The First Thanksgiving".
Questions:
1. How could you incorporate these items into your classroom?
2. How are this weeks selections similar to last week's and how are they different?
3. One Quote or idea that really caught your eye this week.
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These two selections would be very easy to incorporate into the classroom at any level. First, have the students write down or discuss what they know about the Thanksgiving celebration and their own Thanksgving traditions. Students from 5th grade through high school could read the publication "1621: A New Look At Thanksgiving." and then discuss in groups or as a class what misconceptions they have had about the meaning of Thanksgving. They could further explore with the Plimoth Plantation website. They could present their findings in an appropriate format. I wouldn't have them read the Oyate handout until the end. This would give them an opportunity to see how parallel or unlike their ideas are to Oyates and the rest of the class. This would be a quick two or three day lesson.
ReplyDeleteThe lst selection we read was, of course, in more detail than the one this week. I think we should have switched the reading of the two. The "1621...." is much simpler and could lay the groundwork for the more in-depth selection. For me, I would have gotten more out of the first selection if I had read "1621...." first. There was a lot of information in both that I did not know. Both were easy to read and both could make great resources for classes.
I really like the photographs from Plimoth Plantation and was glad to see the tourist spot is revamping some of their historical recreations. As more people, both Native Americans and others, research accurate historical documents, places like Plimoth Plantation will change to meet the viewpoints and accuracy of all cultures. This is one place I would like to visit. Knowing the background of events makes a visit much more meaningful.
A time-line that students create might be a nice way to incorporate 1621, 1 A New Look at Thanksgiving. While Fall of 1621 could be emphasized, big events prior to and after would put the time-line in a better perspective. Students might even do a split time-line that includes Native history (such as that presented in our last two readings) and “the myth” perpetrated by the brave pilgrims and their descendents that has evolved into today’s popular holiday. The chronology at the end of 1621 would be a good starting point from which students could start their time-line. Art and many other subjects might be incorporated to make this time-line an authentic piece of work showing student growth.
ReplyDeleteThis week’s selection seemed to have less Native history, but the pictures, especially of the modern Plimoth Plantation museum, brought the history to life for me. Knowing it’s there for people to visit today affords students a connection, if they choose to pursue greater understanding of what really transpired that led to such a big holiday in the US today. It makes me want to better understand how other countries that celebrate Thanksgiving, like Canada for example, developed their holiday. It was nice and simple to see how the Natives (Wampanoag) celebrated festivals of thanks that took place at this time of the year.
The Plimoth Plantation living museum as presented in National Geographic’s New Look at Thanksgiving in this weeks’ reading was my eye opener. I never knew it existed and by having students utilize this reading, I hope I can someday visit it or one of my students might knowing it’s there.
Vicki, I like your lesson plan. I would certainly call the kids' attention to the visuals from the 1621 book, and take time to draw from the photographs for a slow study of more accurate imagery. It helps to clear out some of the misleading Hallmark clutter of modern day Thanksgiving. The quote in the book about illustrators representing Indians to look like those seen in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show rings true and certainly was the cause of many visual misconceptions. I think it is important, thanks to the efforts of people affiliated with the Wampanoag tribe and Plimoth Plantation to get a more accurate image. The Oyate work has the effect of clearing up misconceptions and calls attention to easily digestible and largely untrue Thanksgiving lore. I've certainly never fully explored the hard truths of European/Indian contact. I don't recall much in my history books, and I had good teachers, too.
ReplyDeleteIt might be interesting to look at the work of contemporary artist, Juane Quick-to-see-Smith who uses dark humor by challenging stereotypes with text and imagery through juxtaposition. It might be interesting to do collage samples of some of the sad and serious Oyate quotes, but start to mix them up with cutesy pie Hallmark Thanksgiving illustrations. Perhaps for an older High School group.
I found the book, “1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving,” to be a very enjoyable and easy to read book. It would be a great selection for students to read at all levels or use as a resource for a larger project. Although, I agree with Vicki that this title is a great introduction for the first book that we read.
ReplyDeleteI liked how this book could be read as a whole group for older grade levels, yet it could also be read to younger, primary students. There are several ways I can think of to utilize this book in any classroom. I might begin a lesson with a book walk or preview to get students excited and interested. The photography is not only beautiful and visually appealing, but also informative. I believe that I would also begin a KWL and/or a compare & contrast chart with the students before and throughout the reading this book.
My ah-ah for this selection surrounds the enormously powerful outcome of the October 2000 reenactment at the Plimouth Plantation museum. It is inspiring how all of these people came together to not only recreate the 1621 harvest gathering, but to work side by side discovering the true events of the past. I would definitely like to visit the museum and experience the past first hand.