Choker and Bracelet historical lesson plan

Choker and Bracelet historical lesson plan

NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM – LESSON PLAN


Subject: Native Studies Unit: Tourism

Lesson Title:   Choker and Bracelet

Date: Time:

Teacher’s Name:   Barbara Derrick Student Level:   Choker ~ Upgrading >adults
                                                                                                                        Bracelet ~ Dr. Swift > Grade 7
INTRODUCTION [5 minutes]

Motivation:     Show the sample
        Show a authentic “breastplate”
        Compare the two samples, and talk about the hair pipe, bead and leather history

REVIEW [5 minutes]
Questions:       Has anyone made a beaded choker before? [bracelet]
        Has anyone made other Native projects before? If so, what did you make?
        Have you seen a breastplate before? Where?
        Can you tell me what a breastplate would have been worn for in the past?



OVERVIEW

Objectives:     The student will learn the name of the beads, the differences between commercial and
                          Home tanned hid
        The student will be able to assemble a choker [bracelet]
        The student will learn where the choker originated from





PRESENTATION [10 minutes]

Content:

1.   History of Hair Pipe Bead

There is archeological evidence that has proven Native people used long, tubular beads of bone, shell, copper, and stone before the time of Columbus.
The term “hair pipe’ came from the fur traders who supplied the Woodland and Plain Indians with the long conch shell ornaments for hair. Then tubular glass beads became popular among the Native people, perhaps because of the large array of colors.

2.   Fur Trade
A North West Company trader, Alexander Mackenzie, crossed Canada to the Pacific Ocean in 1793. All of these explorers, as well as David Thompson and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, carried glass beads for presents and as a medium of exchange in dealing with the...