HSS 5.3

Dal Castro, Maidu Walk

Dal Castro, Maidu Walk

HSS 3.3.1, HSS 3.2.4, HSS 4.3.3, HSS 5.3, 5.VA:RE7.1, 6.VA:RE7.1

This powerful lesson invites students to engage deeply with a significant and painful chapter in California’s history through the lens of Nisenan Maidu artist Dalbert Castro and his compelling painting Maidu Walk. By exploring this artwork, students will uncover the human stories behind the forced removal of the Maidu and Nomlaki peoples during the Nome Cult March—a 133-mile journey marked by hardship, loss, and resilience. This lesson is designed not only to teach historical facts but to center Native perspectives and voices, fostering empathy and understanding through art as a form of storytelling and social commentary. As students analyze the painting using the SIGHT technique, they will build critical thinking skills while reflecting on the emotions, challenges, and strength of those forced from their homelands. The interactive activities invite students to connect personally with history, encouraging thoughtful expression and respect for Native experiences. This lesson is a meaningful opportunity for educators to guide students in confronting difficult truths with honesty and care, and to inspire them to appreciate the ongoing significance of Indigenous history and culture in California and beyond.

Early Invasion in Northern California

Early Invasion in Northern California

HSS 5.1, HSS 5.3, HSS 5.4, HSS 5.8, W.5.3

This lesson introduces students to a more complex understanding of invasion and colonial settlement in California and builds on elementary knowledge of U.S. history by including an analysis of Russian settlers at Fort Ross, located in present day Sonoma county California, between 1812-1840. This lesson also engages students’ imagination and encourages curiosity about layered and complex histories with a creative writing activity that asks them to describe this historical era from a unique point of view. This lesson is 50 minutes long.

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