Columbia Kids Website

I have been waiting for the perfect time to read and experience the Columbia Kids website.  "A Salish Legend of Mt. Rainier" became on of my favorite Washington legends.  The village children want to hear a legend of long ago, but they have to promise to take a river bath in "exchange for the old man's story."  Also, there is a great article about Fay Fuller's climb to the top of Mt. Rainier.  Fay actually "pounded nails through the bottom of her shoes" to help with traction problems.  Columbia Kids is a great website for kids and educators!!

Copyright L.Hoxie

Washington Historic Places and Research

"Honey, did we just pass a historical sign?” I am curious and desperate to ask the most important question. “What did it say?" My husband's shoulders show me that he was not paying attention. I wish I could stop at each historical marker, cemetery, and site we see on our family vacations. I am quite sure that my husband and son would not consider studying history "a family vacation."  Take a friend or a family member and enjoy finding out more about Washington State history. Happy digging for those of you who love history! Looking for historical photos of Washington.  The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture has large online photo archive site.  Enjoy digging and researching! 


Below are resources for you to pick and choose from.
 

Find a Historical Place in Washington

Markers and Monuments

Washington Historic Place

Washington Cemetery Records

Washington Museum Directory

Washington Scenic Byways and Road Trips

Washington State Historical Society

Carbonneau Castle

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

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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Digging for Washington State Orchard History

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I just love to travel through Eastern Washington. Many would say that the land looks similar.  When looking closely we observe basalt columns, rich farmland, orchards, and vineyards.  My husband’s family owned a large orchard in Yakima.  Parts of the orchard were sold through the years, but to this day families still boast of their long orchard history in and around Eastern Washington.  My social studies textbook does not cover much about Washington State’s agriculture. 
Many of these links do have primary source information. 


Washington State Orchard Information:




Washington State Orchard Information:




http://www.orangepippin.com/orchards/united-states/washington




http://www.orangepippin.com/resources/book-reviews






http://www.washfruit.com/history

Washington Agriculture Museums and Information:

http://scenicwa.com/listing/eastern-washington-agricultural-museum.html






http://centralwaagmuseum.org/






http://co.garfield.wa.us/eastern_washington_agricultural_museum/






http://www.pioneerfarmmuseum.org/directions.html- Eatonville, Washington





http://www.lib.washington.edu/preservation/projects/washag/ag

Deer Park:

http://www.cdphs.org/arcadia-orchard.html

Yakima:

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5356

http://yakimavalleymuseum.org/apple/journey01.cfm

http://www.johnsonorchardsfruit.com/history.html

http://yakimavalleymuseum.org/apple/index.cfm

http://www.treeripened.com/history.html

Wenatchee:

http://www.columbiafruit.com/history.html

http://www.inlandnw.com/?p=214

http://research.washingtonhistory.org/Results.aspx?q=orchards

Washington State:

http://www.bestapples.com/facts/facts_washington.aspx

http://appleorchardtours.com/history.htm

Literature:

Steven Kellogg’s, “Johnny Appleseed”

“Growing Kids and Planting Trees” http://www.weaversorchard.com/growing-kids-and-planting-trees/

 Washington Map

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