The Role of Harvest Days

Author:

Grade(s): 9th-12th Grades

Suggested Amount of Time: 60 minutes

Curriculum Themes

• Cultural Strengths
• Relationship to Place

Learning Goals

• Students will identify foods harvested in different seasons and their connection to cultural traditions.

• Students will explore the significance of Harvest Days in California Native communities, including their role in food sovereignty and sustainable harvesting practices.

• Students will collaborate to create a poster showcasing a Harvest Day celebration and present it to the class, connecting it to cultural preservation and food sovereignty.

Lesson Overview

This lesson examines the modern efforts of Native communities to restore food sovereignty and traditional ecological practices. Students will analyze case studies of partnerships with local agencies and learn how these initiatives address environmental challenges and cultural revitalization. By designing an advocacy campaign, students will actively engage with the concept of food sovereignty and reflect on its role in creating sustainable, culturally rich communities.  This lesson explores the seasonal Harvest Days celebrated by California Native communities, focusing on their cultural and ecological significance. Students will learn about traditional foods, their harvesting methods, and the ways these practices strengthen community ties. By creating a poster for a specific Harvest Day celebration, students will connect traditional food practices to the broader concepts of food sovereignty and environmental stewardship.