Students examine how human activities impact coastal ecosystems and learn ways to support sustainable interaction with these environments. After viewing a science video, students engage in group discussions and design fictional coastal communities that balance human and environmental needs. Emphasizes Indigenous environmental stewardship and systems thinking.
Students explore the deep cultural and spiritual connections Native American communities have with their ancestral lands. Through video storytelling and class discussion, students analyze the impact of land loss and reflect on Native resilience and cultural preservation. Activities include journaling, group reflection, and creative writing from Indigenous perspectives.
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.
In this lesson, students will explore the fascinating world of abalone, sea creatures that live along the rocky coasts of California. They will learn about the abalone’s body parts and where it lives, discovering how these animals are an important part of the ocean habitat. The lesson will also include a traditional story from the local tribes of Northwestern California, helping students understand how Indigenous people have cared for and respected abalone for many generations through their cultural knowledge and traditions.
This lesson invites students into a unique and meaningful exploration of Native California basketry through the lens of mathematics and cultural knowledge. Grounded in the traditions of the Karuk, Yurok, and Hupa peoples of Northwestern California, students will examine traditional basket designs and discover the geometry and symbolism woven into each pattern. Students begin by learning about the importance of baskets in Native communities—not only as tools used for cooking, gathering, and ceremony, but as expressions of identity, knowledge, and connection to the land. They will hear directly from a traditional basket weaver through video and explore visual examples of real baskets, noticing the patterns, stories, and craftsmanship each one holds. The lesson then shifts into hands-on mathematical discovery. Students work with patterns found in basketry to explore the concept of area, building shapes using grid paper or geoboards. By calculating how much space these shapes take up, they’re able to apply their math knowledge in a culturally relevant and visually engaging context. This activity encourages students to think like designers and problem-solvers—just like traditional weavers do. Working in pairs or small groups, students take on the role of young mathematicians and artists as they collaborate to analyze basket patterns and calculate area. Teachers are encouraged to support student dialogue through rich questions that prompt reasoning, exploration, and multiple strategies. To deepen their understanding, students reflect on the materials used in basket making and consider the knowledge systems behind the designs. They learn how traditional weaving is connected to land care, seasonal cycles, and community values—demonstrating how Indigenous knowledge systems incorporate science, mathematics, and sustainability. The lesson concludes with individual reflection, where students demonstrate their understanding of area and share their insights about the cultural significance of the designs they've studied. This is more than a math lesson—it's an opportunity to honor Native perspectives, make learning relevant and engaging, and show students how math exists in the world around them in powerful and beautiful ways. Whether you’re hoping to integrate cultural studies into your math block or looking to deepen students’ understanding of geometry through real-world applications, Basketry Designs and Area provides an interdisciplinary, respectful, and enriching learning experience that students will remember.
