Favorite Elementary Montana History, IEFA or Heritage Education Lessons

As is my habit, at the end of last year I surveyed members of the listserv, both to get feedback on the list and to gather everyone’s favorite lessons so I could share them with the group. Thank you!

My favorite part of the survey is being able to share teacher-approved lessons—so, without further ado, here are answers from elementary teachers to the question “Describe (in brief) the best Montana history or IEFA lesson or project or resource your taught this year--the one you will make time for next year no matter what.”

Mapping Montana, A-Z (Grades 4-6)
Tani McKeever, who teaches in Lavina said, “I used the map Montana from A to Z activity with my 5th and 6th graders.  They were so excited about getting their own map!  It was like I gave them money :) They were busy and working meaningfully AND independently for 2 whole class periods.  This was a terrific introduction to MT geography and really peaked their interest.” Several other teachers also gave this lesson two thumbs up.

Hands-On History Trunks (Grades 3-5)
“I love all the Montana History trunks that circulate to some of the 4th grade Helena teachers.  We teach Montana History and the Montana Historical Society trunks are fantastic resources and great hands on for the kids.”

Danish Memoir (Grades 3-6) 
Billings Librarian Ruth Ferris had her students reread and create illustrations for paragraphs from  a memoir we published as part of our “Coming to Montana: Immigrants from around the World” footlocker. (Stay tuned for a complete revamping of this footlocker with this lesson plan incorporated into the new user guide.)

Panning for Gold/Motherlode Lesson (Grades 3-5)
Two teachers mentioned using this lesson, which can be found on page 32 of user guide for the “Gold, Silver and Coal” footlocker. This is a good time to note that all of the footlockers’ user guides can be downloaded and that you can do many of their lesson plans WITHOUT ordering the footlocker.

Montana Tribes Investigation (Grades 3-5)“Each child chose a MT tribe to investigate, past and present. They formulated questions about the tribe, researched for the answers, and compared the past life to present day life of the tribe. Lastly, they put together presentations to inform their classmates about their tribes.”

What Brought Us to Montana (Grades 3-5)“We did some assignment work on our heritage and what brought us to Montana. We went back to Ellis Island for some of the information. The kids learned a lot when they interviewed "old timers."

A Beautiful Tradition: Ingenuity and Adaptation in a Century of Plateau Women's Art
Jennifer Ogden, Victor, wrote: “Laura Ferguson wrote the art history component and I added a hands-on beading and sewing component for my 4th graders.” There are also versions of this curriculum designed for middle school, and high school.

Montana Biographies
Vivian Schultz from Ryegate (K-6 librarian) wrote: “I taught the biographies lesson using Montana historical resources.”

Northern Cheyenne and Crow Language GreetingsPenny Reynolds, Central School (Helena) Title I/Reading teacher wrote: “I taught Northern Cheyenne language phrases as well as Crow language greetings.” She didn’t say, but she might have used these online resources from the Western Heritage Center in Billings.

Traditional Games “I taught Traditional Games with the opportunity throughout the year to play the games.” This teacher didn’t provide a link, but here’s an OPI lesson plan on teaching traditional games.

Didn’t have time to do the survey but have a great lesson to share—a one you love, regardless of who created it? Send it along and I’ll let folks know.

Welcome Back

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a good summer. The first post of the year is always business, so let's get started.

Montana History Conference Scholarships

Don’t forget: We have travel scholarships available to teachers wishing to attend the 40th Annual Montana History Conference (held this year in Sidney) September 19-21. Scholarship applications are due September 4. 

• Learn more about how to apply for a scholarship.
• View the conference program.
• View the agenda for Thursday educator workshop. 

Teaching Montana History

New to the blog? Posts are both key word searchable and tagged by subject—so if you are trying to find that information you received several weeks ago on, say, teaching with historic photographs, one easy solution would be to search by key word.

There are a couple years’ worth of posts on this blog. While some of them are out of date (e.g., information about workshops), many of them have stood the test of time. By the numbers, here are a few of the readers’ favorites.

• Top Ten Most Important Events in Montana History (later posts show survey results)
• Teaching with Primary Sources
• Elementary teachers: A handy new guide aligns OPI's IEFA Lessons to Common Core... 
• New: Montana Biography Page Designed for Young Students
• Lesson Plans on Mining and Primary Sources             

Changes to the Blog

Some of the feedback I received from the survey I posted last year asked for clearer subheads and other markers to make it easier for busy teachers to decide what to read. I’m going to try to add this without completely undermining the blog's conversational style. I’m also thinking about doing shorter (and possibly more frequent) posts. Feel free to let me know what you think (all suggestions welcome).

Finally, if you have colleagues you think would enjoy this blog, please let them know about it. If they would rather subscribe to a listserv than read a blog, they can do that by emailing mkohl@mt.gov, subject line: subscribe. (the information on the blog and the listserv are the same--just two different mechanisms of delivery).

  

Summer Break

This blog is on hiatus for summer break. I'll see you here in August--or in person in Miles City on June 21 for the workshop "Literacy in Social Studies: A Common Core Approach Using Homesteading as a Case Study." Details and information about how to sign up here.

Have a great summer everyone. Don't hesitate to contact me if I can help you as you prepare for your classes next fall: mkohl@mt.gov. And if you are in Helena, stop in and say "hello."

Take the Survey and (maybe) Win a Prize

As the school year winds to a close, I’d appreciate getting your feedback. I’d also like to gather information on what has worked for you in the classroom, so I can share it with the list next year.

Would you be willing to take a short online survey? If so, click here.

Need a little incentive? I’m offering prizes to the fifth, fifteenth, and thirty-first person to complete this survey.

P.S. Don't be confused. The survey refers to the listserv because the way the information on this blog is delivered to most people, but the Montana History and Heritage Education Listserv is the same as the Teaching Montana History Blog.

Redd Center Teaching Award and More Professional Development Opportunities

 

Have you ever wanted to attend the Western History Association Conference?

The Western History Association and the Charles Redd Center is pleased to announce the that the Charles Redd Center Teaching Western History Award for K-12 Teachers is open for application. The award will enable four teachers to attend and present at the Western History Association Annual Conference, held this year in Tucson, Arizona, October 9th-12th. The award includes conference registration, award banquet ticket, ticket to the opening reception, and $500 towards conference related costs such asa hotel, travel, conference tours, or Continuing Education Credits. Selected teachers will present their lesson at the panel "Teaching the Vital Signs: K-12 Teachers and the Western Environment." More information will soon be posted on the Awards page of the Western History Association website. You can find links to past winners’ lesson plans here.

Questions can be addressed to Leisl Carr Childers, Visiting Assistant Professor, Northern Arizona University at lcarrchilders@gmail.com.

Looking for Professional Development closer to home (and with renewal units)?

Consider joining Dr. Gregory Cajete and many other dynamic speakers at the First International Native Games Conference. It is sure to be an exciting and enjoyable experience with plenty of hands-on activities you can bring back to your classrooms. June 26-28, 2013, hosted by Salish Kootenai Tribal College and the International Traditional Games Society, Pablo.

 

This is a unique conference intended to offer both a historical perspective of cultural values and purpose of the traditional native games, as well as explore the importance of restoring the games as relevant tools for social development for today's youth and family. Register and more information here.

Jim Bruggerman of Montana Council for History and Civics Education alerted me to an upcoming free Civic Education Institute for middle and high school social studies, history, and government teachers, sponsored by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, in Helena, August 5-6, 2013. The workshop will include training on iCivics (a web-based interactive program supported by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor); incorporating the role of Montana tribal governments into civics education; additional civics education resources from Projet Vote Smart, Mission US, and We the People; and aligning civic engagement with the Montana Common Core Standards and Indian Education for All. OPI is offering $50 travel stipends for out-of towners. You can register here or contact Terry Kendrick, tkendrick@mt.gov for more information.

My FREE workshop in Miles City on June 21 still has some room. Additional information and registration information here.http://mhs.mt.gov/education/2013SummerEDWorkshop.asp 

Other great opportunities here.

p.s. Don’t forget to apply for your scholarship to attend next year’s Montana History Conference, September 19-21 in Sidney.

• Learn more about the conference.
• Learn more about the scholarships.
• Submit your scholarship application.

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. September 4, 2013. Awards will be announced Monday, September 9.

 

P.p.s. My recent post on fake facebook resources garnered several responses. Marla Unruh pointed me toward Fakebook. Via the Montana Council on History and Civics Education Facebook page, I learned about this review of several other fake facebook templates. 

How Do You Use Biographies in Your Classrooms?

Bryan Pechtl from Scobey sent this idea in response to my recent post on the resources we gathered for Montana student biography projects. 

“Great info! I'm passing along an activity I do with my kids. It's, obviously, a play on Face Book. The poster templates are from Teacher’s Discovery and can be ordered online. Kids love them because they're fun, and I like them because it drives the research of their subjects. I try to pair up people and have students' subjects chat with each other, Custer and Sitting Bull, for example.”

How do you use biographies in your classrooms?

Summer Professional Development Opportunities: From Miles City to Missoula...Plus: Apply Now for Fall History Conference Scholarships

Eastern Montana 6-12th grade teachers: Come spend the day with me on June 21 in Miles City. I’ve just finalized the details for the workshop "Literacy in Social Studies: A Common Core Approach Using Homesteading as a Case Study." Cosponsored by PESA, this hands-on workshop will focus on the use of primary sources in the classroom, teaching historical thinking, and best practices for meeting the new Common Core Standards. More information (including how to register for this FREE workshop) is here. 

Looking for Summer Professional Development opportunities further to the west? The date of the NCCE Teaching with Primary Sources Library of Congress Workshops has changed. The Level 1 (Introductory) training will be held in Missoula July 25-26. The Level 2 (Advanced) training will be held in Helena July 22-24 (with July 23 spent with me and my colleagues at the Montana Historical Society). Register here.

OPI’s Indian Education Division has been creating a useful list of other PD opportunities, many of which look fabulous. And they keep adding to the list, which you can find on their program page under “Hot Topics.”

Looking toward next fall? I just found out that, thanks to the generosity of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in Missoula, we will once again be able to offer scholarships to teachers and students wishing to attend the 40th Annual Montana History Conference in Sidney at the Richland County Fairgrounds Event Center, September 19–21.

• Learn more about the conference here.  
• Learn more about the scholarships here. 
• Submit your scholarship application here.
• Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. September 4, 2013. Awards will be announced Monday, September 9.