Appalachian
Families Then and Now
Kindergarten Unit Plan
Cora Carringer
Coker - Photo taken late 1920s
Janice Harburn Collection
Statement
of Objectives:
NCSCS Social Studies Goals
The students will:
1. Describe aspects of families (2.1)
2. Distinguish likenesses and differences among individuals and families( 2.2)
3. Compare one's family life with that of another child (2.3)
4. Identify changes in one's family (6.2)
NCSCS Computer/Technology Skills
The student will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of the computer and other technologies
(Competency Goal 2)
2. Use a variety of technology to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply
and communicate information. (Competency Goal 3)
NCSCS Information Skills Curriculum
The student will:
1. Select resources both within and outside the school for personal and informational
purposes (1.08)
2. Demonstrate awareness that resources convey meaning and exist in a variety
of formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia) (1.09)
3. Describe personal cultural heritage and environment (3.01)
4. Collect information about diverse cultures, environments, and people (3.02)
5. Relate cultural similarities and differences to personal life experiences
(3.04)
Introduction:
In this unit the children will begin with a study of the heritage and culture
of their families. Although not all their families have an Appalachian heritage,
they will discover how they came to be in an Appalachian family. They will also
discover what it was like to live in the Appalachian Mountains fifty or more
years ago and compare that life with their Appalachian life today. They will
learn about other children and their families and perceive the likenesses and
differences among people. They will realize that although people have always
had basically the same needs, these needs can be met in a variety of ways.
Activities
Lesson 1: Introduction and Overview (30 minutes)
The unit will begin with the reading of the book, My Great Aunt Arizona by
Gloria Houston. We will discuss the life of "Arizona" and growing
up in the mountains and compare her life with the way we live today. We will
also read and discuss the book, When I Was Young in the Mountains by
Cynthia Rylant. A Power Point presentation, Appalachian
Families, will be shown to the children before we discuss the heritage project
that each child will do and present at the end of the unit. With the help of
parents and grandparents, each child will collect information and pictures about
their families that will depict how their lives compare with that of their parents
and grandparents. A letter will be sent home to parents describing our unit
of study and how they can help their child with this project.
Lesson 2: Music and Storytelling (30 minutes): This lesson will begin with
the reading of the book, Georgia Music by Helen V. Griffith. We will
listen to ballads and dulcimer music by musician
and storyteller, Betty Smith (Then
and Now). We will sing old songs such as "She Will Be Coming around the
Mountain" and "Grandma's Feather Bed" with guest singer, and
guitar player, Turner Guidry. The children may examine a real dulcimer.
.
Lesson 3: Quilts
(30 - 40 minutes): This lesson will begin with the reading of the book,
The Quilt Story by Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola. A local quilter,
Darlene Casteen, will bring quilts to our classroom and discuss the art of quilt
making. The children will design their own quilt square out of paper shapes
and we will design these shapes into a class quilt.
Lesson 4: Field trip to John
C. Campbell Folk School (2 ½ hours)
This school teaches the art of quilting, weaving, making lace, woodcarving,
making pottery, basket weaving, ceramics as well as blacksmithing. These crafts
were a part of the everyday mountain life and a big part of our mountain heritage.
The children will write in their journals what they learned.
Lesson 5: Computer Room - Search the
Library of Congress (30 - 45 minutes)
We will search the Library of Congress American Memory for anything pertaining
to our mountain heritage such as mountain crafts, quilts, pottery, music (dulcimers),
schools, churches and mountain people. We will also download an old cartoon,
Dud Leaves Home, and discuss how cartoons have changed from then to now.
Lesson 6: Closure with Project Presentations (60 minute sessions until complete)
This may take several sessions. Children will be assigned a certain day to present
their project. They may wish to invite their parents and grandparents to help
with their presentation.
Outcome:
The children will gain knowledge about their heritage while at the same time
gain an understanding of what life was like in the mountains years before. They
will begin to value this heritage and take it with them as they grow and mature
into "modern mountain people." Through books, field trips and technology,
they can experience a little of what it was like to grow up in the Appalachian
Mountains and compare that way of life to their own lives today.
Evaluation
:
The children will be evaluated through individual and class discussions as well
as class projects.
Resources
Boosinger, Laura, Cassette, My Carolina Home, Upstream Music, Asheville, NC..
Smith Betty. CD, Then and Now, 1994
Bluff Mountain Music.
Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Betty
Smith and multiple musicians listed, Susan Trump Music, Newtonville,
New York, 1997.
Dud Leaves Home from Us Fellers Series,(© October 9, 1919, Bray
Studios, Inc.) America Memory - Library of Congress
John C. Campbell Folk School, Murphy, NC
Experts
and Contacts
Coker, Virgil. (no email address) 15 Coker Hill Drive, Hayesville, NC 28904,
(828)389-6597.
Native of Appalachian Mountains. (Expert historian of Clay County and surrounding
areas)
Guidry, Turner. 869 Day Lily Drive, Hayesville, NC 28904.
(828)389-6919.
email - tguidry@clay.org. (expert local musician and singer)
Hayesville,
NC. 28904S
Casteen, Darlene, (no email address) Local quilt maker, Hayesville, NC. (Expert
quilt maker)
Story Books for Children
Crews, Donald, Big Mama's, Scholastic Inc. 1991.
Cushman, Doug, Possum Stew, The Trumpet Club, 1990.
Gibbons, Faye, Mountain Wedding, Morrow Junior Books, 1996.
Griffith, Helen, Georgia Music, Mulberry Paper Back Book New York, 1986.
Horstman, Lisa, The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball. Great Smoky
Mountain
Natural History Association, 1997.
Houston, Gloria, My Great Aunt Arizona, Gloria Houston Text Copyright,
1992.
Houston, Gloria, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, Dial Books for
Young Readers, 1988.
Johnston, Tony, Amber on the Mountain, Puffin Books, 1998.
Johnston, Tony and Tomi dePauolo, The Quilt Story, Scholastic Books,
1990.
Parton, Dolly, Coat of Many Colors, Harper Collins Publishers, 1994.
Rylant, Cynthia, The Relatives Came, Scholastic, 1993.
Rylant, Cynthia, When I Was Young In The Mountains, E.P. Dutton, 1982.
Sawyer, Ruth, Journey Cake, Ho! Puffin Books, 1978
VanFlournoy,Valerie. The Patchwork Quilt. Dial Books for Young Readers,
1988
Van Laan, Nancy, Possum Come a-Knowkin', Dragonfly Books, 1990
Internet Addresses
appalachianfocus.org (journal)
bettysmithballads.com (history of
Betty Smith and ordering information)
theblueridgehighlander.com/magazine/index.html
(articles on the Appalachian Mountains)
blueridgeonline.com (journal)
folkschool.com/ (information about John
C. Campbell Folkschool)S
historicdistricts.com/nc/clay/state.html
(information about Clay County, NC)
jcrmusic.com (picture of dulcimer)
memory.loc.gov/ (Library of Congress)
geocities.com/heartland/4603/quiltspic.html
(quilts)
Materials
/ Equipment Needed
Assortment of mountain related childrens books (some are listed above)
CD/Cassette player
CDs or cassettes of mountain music and ballads (Betty
Smith)
A posterboard square (8"x8") for each student - bright colors work
best
An assortment for each student of construction paper shapes for designs
Gluesticks
Hole punch (squares will need about 6 holes on all sides for sewing together)
Yarn
1 Large blunt plastic needle (to sew squares together)
Poster board or large shoe box for each child for project collections
Computer with access to internet