Teaching with Artifacts: Lessons Ideas Part IIINative American Ration Card Pouch This lesson invites students to take a look at the clash of cultures and asks some questions about how we carry the past forward as conditions change around us.WHAT YOU WILL NEED:1. Super Zoom image of the ration card pouch2. Photographic image: Ration CardEXERCISE:1. Project the Super Zoom image of the ration card pouch from the collection.In groups, have students analyze and describe the object.Have them write down their observations on paper so that they can share with the entire group later.DO NOT ACCEPT GUESSES OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT MIGHT BE AT THIS POINT.2. Have the students report their findings to the entire group. Be sure that you write their observations and descriptions on the board. (It is usually best to make a list)3. Give the students the dimensions of the object: 3.5" X 3.0"ASK: HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THIS ITEM WAS USED? (WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM?)4. Give the students the date that the object was made.ASK: HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THIS ITEM WAS USED?(WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM?)5. Provide the students with the photographic image: Ration CardHave the students analyze this and describe it.Description:Weekly Ration CheckFrom the 1870sLists: Name of Tribe and Agency - Band Number - Family Number - Number of Men, Women, Children and the Total - Numbers at the bottom indicate the # of individual items issued.Why do you think the Bureau of Indian Affairs would want this information?Tell the students: THIS ITEM IS APPROXIMATELY 3.0" X 3.5"6. RETURN TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE POUCH WAS USED FOR?7. EXTEND STUDENTS' THINKING:WHY WOULD NATIVE AMERICANS UTILIZE TRADITIONAL ITEMS TO CARRY AN ITEM THAT REPRESENTS AN END TO THEIR TRADITIONS?8. ARE THERE EXAMPLES IN OUR DAILY LIVES OF US DOING THE SAME OR SIMILAR THINGS? ARTIFACTS TEACHStart your 30-day free trial. No credit card required. Get Started
