Literacy, Languages, and the Arts
November 27 - December 3, 2013

Find the latest educational resources from Iowa Public Television.

The Cherokee Alphabet
Grades: 5-12

Learn about the story of Sequoyah, a Cherokee man who developed an alphabet for the Cherokee language in 1821, in this video segment adapted from American Experience: "We Shall Remain." Like most Native American groups at the time, the Cherokees did not have a written language. Sequoyah's alphabet helped preserve the Cherokee language and Cherokee culture, especially after the Cherokees were forced to leave their native land by the 1830 Indian Removal Act.

Julia Parker: Visual Arts (Basket Weaving)

Grades: K-13+

In this Spark video produced by KQED, travel to Yosemite with Julia Parker who is helping revive the art form of Native American basket weaving. For Julia Parker, weaving baskets connects her to the lives and traditions of her ancestors, telling the story of a people that for more than 4,000 years populated villages throughout the Yosemite Valley.

Thanksgiving
Grade Range: 3-12

Throughout history, people have given thanks - sometimes in joyful celebration, often in solemn, even prayerful, ceremony. The United States, over hundreds of years, has come to observe a national holiday for giving thanks: Thanksgiving. This set of primary resources containing images and documents provides a window into this time period, as well as a Teacher's Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions.

NFL Bullying Case Sparks Debate Over Race, Sport and Culture

Grade Range: 7-12

Bullying and sports made headlines recently when Jonathan Martin, a 24-

year-old offensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins left his team after being tormented by veteran teammate Richie Incognito.

The Health Benefits of Exercise
Grade Range: 5-12

Minnie, a teenager living with diabetes, goes to a gym for the first time to work out, in this video adapted from Living with MyType2. Minnie's coach, Brandi, guides her through different exercises and stretches. She also discusses some strategies that Minnie can adopt to stay motivated to exercise and help control her diabetes.

Powering Your Body with Exercise
Grade Range: 5-8

In this blended lesson supporting literacy skills, students examine the changes that occur in the body in response to physical activity. Students develop their literacy skills as they explore a science focus on personal health and the role of exercise. During this process, they read informational text, learn and practice vocabulary words, and explore content through videos and interactive activities. When they are finished, students select and complete a writing assignment offline.

We Are the Music
Grade Range: 3-4

Explore the music and dance sequences of 11 cultural groups who have settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico over the past 700 years. These diverse communities include the Native Americans, Spanish, Mexicans, Crypto-Jewish, Celtic, German, Greek, Japanese, Tibetan, Sikh and the Central Americans. All performers and narrators in these segments are of school-age.

Drawing Conclusions - Miss Navajo

Grade Range: 6-8

Students watch a video segment that documents the Navajo language speaking portion of the Miss Navajo Nation beauty contest. After watching the video, students determine one of the main responsibilities of the winner of Miss Navajo Nation and use details from the video to support this conclusion. Students complete graphic organizers and write paragraphs that highlight these details and explain their inferences.

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