© Corinne Lightweaver, first published December 3, 2008
The following are just a few of the many high-quality online resources available to broaden and deepen school curricula for Maize Day and Thanksgiving, and throughout the year. In addition, this article includes suggestions for “conversation starters” and ideas for Classroom Activities. For more information, see my articles Maize Day: A Holiday for All Americans and Curriculum Resources: An Annotated Bibliography for Maize Day.
Online Resources and Organizations
STAR, Students and Teachers Advocating Respect, seeks to bring the image of Native Americans into the present and support the well being of Native children in schools. STAR offers a “tribally-approved” wish list for school libraries and classrooms and provides links to lesson plans and curricula.
STAR’s project Changing Winds Advocacy Center aims to raise public awareness of the stereotyping, discrimination, racism and other unique situations facing Native Americans through presentations, classroom sessions, curriculum, fund raising, charitable works, and multi-media efforts.
Oyate “is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and so that all people will know our stories belong to us.” Purchasing books through Oyate rather than mainstream channels is another way to support Native-owned organizations. Oyate provides book recommendations, as well as a list of books to avoid.
Debbie Reese’s American Indians in Children’s Literature offers a wealth of information. She also has also has a blog on Images of Indians in Children’s Books.
Conversation Starters
Using topical articles can be helpful in starting a conversation with your students or peers. Look for timely news stories, particularly those that may be of specific or local interest to your community.
Plimoth Plantation, a bicultural museum created through extensive research on the Wampanoag People and the Colonial English community in the 1600s, provides free articles, essays, and recipes online. In addition, the Plimoth Plantation online shop is another source for books and other items.
Thanksgiving a loaded holiday for many American Indians
Melanie Conklin, Wisconsin State Journal
November 26, 2008
Remembering Two-Spirits This Thanksgiving
Reverend Irene Monroe, LA Progressive
November 24, 2008
Claremont parents clash over kindergarten Thanksgiving costumes
By Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times
November 25, 2008
Classroom Activities
• Ask your students to write pros and cons lists about how and whether to celebrate Thanksgiving. Assign teams to debate the issues.
• Challenge your students to read original source materials about the First Nations and to describe the “First Thanksgiving” or another historical moment from the viewpoint of indigenous people.
• Ask your students, “What are the economic issues that keep the country invested in the ‘traditional Thanksgiving’ myths?”
• Divide each class into small student groups and have each group present one “myth and reality” to the class. For examples, see American Indians: Stereotypes & Realities by Devon A. Mihesuah (Atlanta, Georgia: Clarity Press, 1996).
• Assign research projects at the appropriate grade level to learn about local indigenous people, past and present. What did their homes look like? What did they eat? How did they dress? Where are they now? How do present-day indigenous people live in your area? Some of your students may be of Native American heritage; avoiding “us and them” language can pave the way toward all the children feeling included and help all your students to acknowledge the commonalities among people of different heritages, even within your classroom.
Copyright © 2008 Corinne Lightweaver.
