Seminole Basketry

DESCRIPTORS

Curriculum Areas: Social Studies, Culture

Recommended Levels: High School

Time Frame: 1 Semester (1 hour each day)

Tribal Affiliation: Seminole Tribe

Geographic Location: Southeast

Developed by: Jessica Cohen, Leroy King, Renee Morales, Celesta Osceola, Lenora Roberts and Lee Zepeda

Email addresses for further questions: www.semtribe.com and tribune@semtribe.com

Date lesson was developed: July 27, 2001

American Indian Standards:

American Indian Oratory

Standard 2.1: Practices of Culture

Standard 3.1: Making Connections

Social Studies

Standard 1: Culture

Standard 2: Time, Continuity, and Change

INSTRUCTION

Goal: To have the students learn how to make Seminole baskets.

Behavioral Objectives: Students will:

• Identify how to gather materials for a Seminole basket
• Coil and thread Seminole baskets
• Create a Seminole basket

Prior Knowledge Needed:

• History of Seminole basket making
• Knowledge of individual designs
• Use of measurements
• Identification of materials in the Miccosukee language

Materials and Resources Needed:

• Sweet grass
• Embroidery string
• Palmetto fiber bottoms
• Scissors
• Bee’s wax
• Basket needles
• Guest speaker (community member)
• Various websites:

www.tribalworks.com

tribune@semtribe.com

Culture Content and Strategies:

• Students will learn history and development of Seminole baskets
• Students will learn the relationship between basket designs
• Seminole guest speaker will lecture to the class

Lesson Summary and Performance Tasks:

This lesson will provide students with a step-by-step process of basket making. A guest speaker (community member) will describe the process of gathering and preparing materials for making a basket. The students will use provided materials to begin the basket making process. First, students start with a palmetto fiber bottom. Next, students start coiling and threading sweet grass into desired shapes. Lastly, students will give an oral presentation on their basket.

Assessment:

• Completion of basket (teacher-made rubric)
• Participation/Discussion (teacher checklist)
• Oral presentation (teacher-made rubric)

EXTENSION

Technology Integration:

• Students can do a PowerPointÔ presentation on the process of the oral presentations
• Students can visit various websites (www.semtribe.com/tribune and www.tribalworks.com) and do a research paper

Enrichment/Remediation:

• Interview basket makers for basket-making tips
• Scan photo of finished basket for photo album cover

Teacher Reflections

To be added by user