Washington History: Women Who Impacted the Northwest

I have found that my classroom history text could use more biographical information, especially the history of Washington women leaders. “Bold Spirit” is one of my favorite stories. Author Linda Hunt explains Helga Estby’s 1896 “walk across America.” What motivated Helga to walk across the country? Did she make it to the end? The rest of the details can be found in this book.  Helga’s journey was taken before “Racing the Planet,” “Survivor,” and “Dual Survivor" became popular.  

WashingtonWomen’s History

Esther Clark Short (December 25, 1845)

Helga Estby (1860-1942)

• More Information

May Arkwright Hutton (1860—1915)

Bertha Pitts Campbell (1889-1990)

Dorothy Stimson Bullitt (1892-1989)

Elizabeth Ayer (1897-1987)

• More Information

Roberta Byrd Barr (1919-1993)

Gold Fever in the Northwest

So many textbooks focus on the California Gold Rush. I tend to focus on “Gold Fever in the Northwest.”  It is hard to ignore names such as "Soapy Smith," George Washington Carmack, and Erastus Brainerd.  Some of these men were considered heroes and others were considered “con men.” Many of these sites do have teacher lesson plans. The University of Washington has a wonderful site called, "Klondike Gold Rush: The Perilous Journey North."  This topic is full of adventure, challenge, and discovery.  Watch out!  This topic could be contagious.

Klondike Gold Rush 1897:

 

Teacher Lesson Plans:

• Set #1

• Set #2

• Set #3

• Professional Development

 

History Information:

• PBS
• Historylink
• Historylink #2
• More Information
• Belinda Mulrooney Carbonneau
•  Carbonneau Castle

 Stampeder Genealogy:

• Information

Chilkoot Trail:

• Site #1

Extra:

• Site #1

Northern Idaho, 1881-1942:

• Site #1
• Site #2
• Site #3
• Site #4

 

Living History: Part 2

What would happen if students dressed up as characters from history and interacted with other local historical characters? This is what happens in our classroom each year. Students are persuaded to choose characters not found in a history book, but to investigate and discover stories from within our own community. It sounds tough and it is! This classroom based assessment (CBA) project is rewarding for the students, teachers, and community members.

Our students did not memorize a speech, but had to dig into primary sources, documents, and interviews to help develop the character.  Many of the students selected a family member, homesteader, politician, Tribal Elder, family member, and much more. Seeing and hearing first-hand accounts allowed the students to learn so much more about history.


Preparation:

   Timeline Lesson (making connections)

• personal timeline

1.       Introduce primary sources

2.       Learn to analyze primary documents

3.       Develop interview questions

a.       Interview a friend

4.       Develop research questions

a.       How to use the library

5.       Research and note taking (Research PowerPoint is developed by Tracy Dick)

6.       Write a letter through your characters eyes.

7.       Teacher demonstrates a character example/skit

8.       Students practice character with peers

9.       Living History Day (more information available at our TPT store. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Liz-And-Ron

Sample Parent Letter

Living History: Part 1

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Family interviews help students engage and dig into their personal history. I find that this is one of the best ways to introduce “primary sources.”  Often my students are required to develop a set of questions for a “family member interview.”  After gaining more confidence the students then prepare to interview community members. The T. Harry Williams, Center for Oral History has a wonderful list of questions organized by topic.  Scholastic developed a kid friendly interview process.  Listening to the stories from “way back when” can be a gift to the listener and the speaker.  It is my belief that communities bond through this type of activity.
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Washington State: Classroom Based Assessment Lessons (CBAs)

CBA Lesson Plans:

http://stories.washingtonhistory.org/education/teachers/index.shtml

http://stories.washingtonhistory.org/treatytrail/teaching/lessons.htm

OSPI

National Archives

• 100 Milestone Documents (sorted by era)

Washington Library Media Association (Tribal Sovereignty, etc.)

• Museums, Libraries and Other Archives
• Elementary CBA Topics
• CBA School Topics 
• High School CBA Topics
• Research Process
• CBA Lesson Plans

Washington State CBA/links to the National Archives

CBA Support Whatcom County

Northwest History: Early Missionaries

This week my reading has been more focused on the early missionaries. These  missionaries demonstrated a strong vision, motivation, and determination to overcome many obstacles. Many of these stories are filled with conflict and reconciliation. The primary documents are housed in library archives, but the collection overviews are very detailed.

Spalding Church

Catholic Missionaries:

Father. Peter DeSmet

Reverend. Joseph Cataldo, S.J established missions in Idaho, Eastern Washington, Montana, northeastern Oregon, Alaska, and California.  He also founded Gonzaga University in 1887.

• History Link

Father Charles M. Pandosy

Congregational Missionaries:

Reverend Elkanah Walker (1805-1877). Pioneer Congregational missionary in Oregon and Washington.

• Historylink
• Mary Walker
• Elkanah and Mary Walker Papers

George Henry Atkinson and Nancy Bates Atkinson

Methodist Missionaries:

Alvan F. Waller, pioneer Methodist missionary in Oregon. (1838)

David Blaine (1853)

Presbyterian Missionaries:

Henry Spalding was a Presbyterian pioneer missionary to the Oregon Territory. (1836)

• More Information

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman

• Whitman/Spalding Mission Party Arrive at Ft. Vancouver
• Narcissa Whitman
• November 29, 1847
• Nancy Jane Fenn McPherson Letter    

 Henry T. Cowley came West in 1871 to serve as a Presbyterian missionary to the Nez Perce Indians.

• More Information

 

More People:

William Hentry Gray

ReverendDavid Leslie

Washington State History: Traveling Trunks

Collecting objects and information for an "artifact box" or "traveling trunk" can be a fun activity for a class or family.  Grants help many agencies put together extensive traveling trunks for public use.  Most trunks are designed to be shipped to your school location.

Each year my 4th grade class designs a "personal artifact" box.  They are limited to eight items.

Traveling Trunk Programs:

Maryhill Art Museum-History Boxes

Yakima Valley Museum

History Boxes

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture

San Juan History

Whitman Mission

Natural History Center

Olympic National Forest 

Alaska National Park Educational Sites

Idaho State Historical Society


Sample Artifact Box Parent Letter:

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Washington State: The Selkirk Loop

Falls, Trains, and Caves

Trip #3 Map

The sound of a great locomotive whistle, the feel of a damp dark limestone cave, and the beauty of a cascading waterfall beckons my family to Pend Oreille County.

Day 1:

Usk Bar and Grill-The back bar arrived on a river steamship in 1921.

Tiger Museum

Sweet Creek Falls

Ione: Lions Club Excursion Train- (Look at schedule)

Sweet Creek Falls -Milepost 10.72

Crawford State Park-Gardner Caves

Boundary Dam-

• Meet the people of Pend Oreille County

• Culture and attractions of Pend Oreille County

• Campground-free (reservations are not taken) Metaline Falls: Cutter Theater

• 

  Crawford State Park

  History
• Kirkland Kelsey Cutter

Sullivan Lake

• Noisy Creek Campground
• East Sullivan Lake Campground

Day 2:

Kalispel Tribe

• History
• Camas Aquatic Center-(Located inside the Camas Wellness Center)
• Annual Pow Wow
• Salish Language

Newport Washington

• Pend Oreille County Museum
• Lavendar Festival
• Historical Tour of Newport