Social Studies
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.

Disasters Declared in Seven Illinois Counties After Rare, Late-Season Storms
Grade Range: 7-12

An outbreak of tornadoes blasted the Midwest, leaving at least eight people dead and leveling entire neighborhoods. The most powerful storm cut through Washington, Illinois, Sunday afternoon with winds of almost 200 miles per hour.

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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