Native Poetry, Art and Film: Voices of Northern and Southern California
Grades 9-12 Curriculum Unit
Lessons
Introduction
This unit introduces students to several Native cultures of the far northern and southern regions of California. Varied cultural expressions and life experiences are explored through poetry, reflective essay, art and film. These works illustrate: Native people’s connections to their environment and the world; the significance of ceremony and “home”; trauma, healing and hope for the future. The complexity of identity, Indigenous methods of land stewardship and the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women are also addressed in multiple pieces. The teacher allows students to explore how these themes function throughout multiple works. Each work will be experienced to allow space for the expression of thoughts, feelings, and multiple interpretations. Students will closely examine the ways writers use structure, imagery, tone and cultural views to shape their work. As a culminating project, students will write poetry, a reflective essay, or create a visual art piece to express something culturally relevant to their experience. Technology, found objects and/or art supplies will assist the students in producing their work.
Unit Core Themes: Indigenous Knowledge, Ecology, Cultural Stewardship, Cross-Curricular Learning
Unit Summary
This unit introduces students to several Native cultures of the far northern and southern regions of California. Varied cultural expressions and life experiences are explored through poetry, reflective essay, art and film. These works illustrate: Native people’s connections to their environment and the world; the significance of ceremony and “home”; trauma, healing and hope for the future. The complexity of identity, Indigenous methods of land stewardship and the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women are also addressed in multiple pieces. The teacher allows students to explore how these themes function throughout multiple works. Each work will be experienced to allow space for the expression of thoughts, feelings, and multiple interpretations. Students will closely examine the ways writers use structure, imagery, tone and cultural views to shape their work. As a culminating project, students will write poetry, a reflective essay, or create a visual art piece to express something culturally relevant to their experience. Technology, found objects and/or art supplies will assist the students in producing their work.
Unit Objectives
- Identify an acorn and its parts (cap, nut, shell).
- Understand the relationship between acorns and oak trees.
- Recognize the role of acorns in the ecosystem.
- Engage in creative and sensory activities to explore acorns.
- Recognize Native American resilience and cultural contributions through literature and historical accounts.
- Identify acorns and their role in nature.
- Understand how Indigenous knowledge relates to nature and ecosystems.
- Connect ideas from a Molly of Denali video to real-world learning about acorns.
- Engage in hands-on exploration of acorns.
- Explore the ecological role of acorns in supporting wildlife and plant communities.
- Learn how California Native American tribes harvest and prepare acorns as a traditional food source.
- Recognize the ongoing stewardship practices of Native communities in protecting oak ecosystems.
- Connect classroom learning to storytelling and media (e.g., Molly of Denali) that elevate Indigenous voices.
- Participate in collaborative, hands-on, and creative activities such as crafts, writing, and nature observation.
