Grade Level(s):
K-5
Subjects: Language
Arts, Music, Physical Education, Social Studies, Science, Art and Math
Learner Outcomes:
To promote knowledge and a sense of pride for our unique state and culture.
Hands-on cultural experiences.
Children will use a digital and/or video camera and to record the day’s
activities.
Children will insert a digital picture in a document.
Duration of Lesson: One whole school day.
Materials:
- Most materials were provided by presenters.
- Hands-On Quilt Making – precut quilt pieces, scissors, glue, quilt patterns (A different pattern for each grade level).
- Apple butter – applesauce, sugar, cinnamon, canning jars, prepared apple butter, spoons, crackers, and student made labels.
- Butter – clean baby food jars with lids, heavy whipping cream (1 pint per class), knives, and crackers.
- Basket weaving – pre-cut milk cartons, and strips of construction paper.
Technology Tools/Courseware: Television,
VCR, video on Glass Blowing, computer, PowerPoint program,
digital camera, video camera, or regular camera and then have film developed
onto disc.
Teacher Notes:
- This program took several months of researching activities and presenters, planning, and organizing. Surveys for families went home searching for community resources and volunteers.
- Butter making – fill baby food jars ½ full of heavy whipping cream, put on lid and have children take turns shaking.
- Put children in groups of three to shake and share butter. Plan to provide lunch for your presenters.
- Make “Thank You” goody bags for presenters.
- Order materials from WV Center of Tourism in Charleston. (1-800-CALL-WVA)
- Plan to have older children record the day with a digital or video camera.
The West Virginia-Appalachian Heritage Appreciation Day program started right after breakfast. The children were divided into 12 groups. They rotated to the different centers/presenters every 15-20 minutes with a 5-minute change time. We had 7 morning sessions and 5 afternoon sessions. Lunch consisted of a typical country meal: ham, brown beans, cornbread, applesauce, hash brown potatoes, and milk.
Presentations/stations: (The presenters and volunteers were faculty, families and friends of the Tennerton Elementary School.)
Glass
blowing – The children watched a video on glassblowing, then
watched the glassblower make small beads of glass for jewelry. (Outside
activity.)
Apple butter/Butter making – The children were divided into 2
groups. One group of children assisted peeling and cutting apples. Then,
they took turns stirring apple butter. Afterwards, they tasted homemade
apple butter. The other group of children made homemade butter. They spread
it on crackers and tasted their butter. Then, they changed groups.
Apple butter was sold at the end of the day. (Outside activity.)
Dulcimer player - Our music teacher, dressed up like “Aunt Jane”.
She taught the children Appalachian folk music and a circle dance.
Storytelling – Our storyteller darkened the room, and had a realistic
campfire for the children to sit around. He then told spooky or fun
stories depending on the age group. For books and stories by West
Virginia authors click here: West
Virginia authors.
Quilt
making – A local quilt maker share quilt patterns and their history.
Making a quilt – After visiting the quilt maker’s display, each class
made a paper quilt that was displayed on the school cafeteria wall.
The degree of difficulty depended on the age group. For more lessons
on quilts: Easy
Literature Based Quilts Around the Year from Scholastic..
Candle making - Each child helped dip a candle that they could take
home. More information about candles and candle making: History
of candle making from About.com, Candle
making from About.com, and Candle
making with children from About.com.
Doll making - The children saw demonstrations and assisted stuffing
Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls.
Games from long ago – Our P.E. teacher found games from long ago the
children could play
WV Authors Read-aloud - Parents read
various WV author books to the children. For a list of WV authors
click on: MountainLit
from the Bridgeport Public Library.
Stone Carving – A local stone carver demonstrated how he carved stones.
Then let the children practice carving on soapstone.
Basket Weaving – After a demonstration of basket weaving, the children
wove strips of paper around pre-cut milk cartons. For more information
about basket weaving: History
of basketry from About.com and Beginning
basketry from About.com
Displays: Antiques were displayed in the cafeteria.
Take-Home Bags: At the end of the
day the children received materials from WV Tourism – booklet, pins, litter
bags, etc.
Modifications:
- Modify activities as needed for those children with special needs; one-on-one, or peer teaching, etc.
- Modify as specified to meet Individual Education Plans expectations.
- Hatfield and McCoy’s story: The Coffin Quilt -The Feud Between the Hatfields and the McCoys by Ann Rinaldi
- For more books by WV authors click on: MountainLit by Bridgeport Public Library
- Other activities that could be included in a heritage day:
*Clothespin dolls and other dolls– Doll making from About.com
*Rock painting and crafts- Rock art from About.com
*Bee keeping Bee keeping from About.com
*Apple art - Apple art from About.com
*Butterfly art – stained glass Monarchs Butterfly art from about.com
- Have the children make a PowerPoint and/or video to view at PTO meeting or school assembly.
- Have the older children make Apple butter labels, order forms and receipts on the computer to sell the Apple butter to the community.
- Have the older children download digital camera pictures to the computer. Then make a document to record the days activities; such as, newspaper, PowerPoint presentation, bulletin board, journal, etc. The children could submit their document to a local newspaper.
- Observations
- Survey responses about WV Day from children, parents, and faculty. Sample questions: Did you enjoy the day? What did you like best? What could be better? What did you learn? Would you like to do have a special day like this again?
History:
2. Understands the history
of a local community and how communities in North America varied long ago.
3. Understands the people,
events, problems, and ideas that were significant in creating the history
of their state.
6. Understands the folklore
and other cultural contributions from various regions of the United States
and how they helped to form a national heritage.
Language Arts:
4. Gathers and uses information
for research purposes.
6. Uses reading and strategies
to understand and interpret a variety of literary texts.
9. Uses viewing skills
and strategies to understand and interpret visual media.
Mathematics:
1. Uses a variety of
strategies in the problem-solving process.
4. Understands and applies
basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement.
5. Understands and applies
basic and advanced properties of the concept of geometry.
Music:
7. Understands the relationship
between music and history and culture.
Art:
1. Understands connections
among the various art forms and other disciplines.
Technology Standards:
2. Knows the characteristics
and uses of computer software programs.
3. Understands the relationships
among science, technology, society, and the individual.
6. Understands the nature
and uses of different forms of technology.
Social Studies:
History – K.18-K.21,
1.20, 1.22, 1.23, 2.20, 2.24, 3.39, 3.42, 5.35, 5.36
WV History – 4.16-4.18.
Language Arts:
Listening and Speaking
– K.1, K.8, K.13, 1.1, 1.6-1.20, 2.2-2.4, 2.6, 2.9, 2.10, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7,
3.8, 3.20, 4.5, 4.6-4.9, 4.11, 5.1, 5.6, 5.7
Reading Comprehension
– K.14, K.30, K.38, K.39, 1.15, 1.6, 1.21, 1.41, 1.46, 1.49, 1.50, 2.56,
2.57, 2.59, 2.60, 2.63, 3.15-3.17, 3.19-3.24; 3.26,3.27, 3.30, 3.31, 3.33,
4.19-4.22, 4.25, 4.35, 4.37, 4.40, 4.42, 5.15-5.17, 5.19-5.5.25, 5.34,
5.35
Reading Vocabulary –
K.4, 1.55, 2.67, 3.37, 3.38, 4.45, 4.46, 5.46
Math:
Patterns and Relationships
– K.13, 1.20, 1.21, 3.25, 4.25
Geometry and Spatial
Sense – K.15, K.18, K.19, K.31, K.31, 2.30, 3.36, 3.37, 4.40, 5.34, 5.35
Music: K.13, K.27,
1.4, 2.2, 2.5, 3.26, 3.28, 4.27-4.29,5.25
Art: K.15, K.19,
K.24, 1.16, 2.18, 2.20, 2.21, 3.20, 3.22, 4.24, 4.25, 5.19, 5.20
Physical
Education: K.13, K.18, 1.15, 1.20, 2.14, 2.19, 3.17, 3.14, 4.13,
4.17, 5.15, 5.19
References:
- Karen Morgan, teacher from Harrison County and presenter from 1999 WV Governor’s Institute
- Box-It Bag-It Mathematics by Donna Burk, Allyn Snider and Paula Symonds - quilt patterns
- Felicia Burger-Westfall, Music Teacher
- Kevin Sharp, Physical Education Teacher
- Karen Brown, Art Teacher
- Barbara Loudin, Upshur County Extension Agent
- Related pages on the Internet to Appalachian
- MountainLit - Bridgeport Public Library
- Appalachian resources
- Appalachian people and their culture
- What is good Appalachian literature
- What is Appalachia?
- Appalachian literature
Authors:
(Assistance to coordinate
day by Denise Straight and Sandra Currence)