Curtis, Asahel. Makah Indian basket weavers. ca. 1910–ca. 1911. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/92513271/.
Most middle school students should have some understanding that handmade baskets and basketry are important to many Native American tribes across the United States, both for cultural and practical purposes. I would introduce the lesson by brainstorming with students different purposes of baskets for Native American communities, focusing on both historical uses and functional uses today. This lesson provides many opportunities for collaboration, especially with an art or CTE class, as students may do the research on basketry in their ELA class and learn some basket-weaving techniques in their art or CTE classes.
Makah women have a tradition of basketry since time immemorial. They use grasses, tree bark, or roots to make a variety of baskets and mats for various uses. Some Makah baskets are so tightly woven that they are watertight. Today, the tradition is carried on by both women and men.
- What are the women in the picture doing?
- What materials are they using? How do you know?
- What might have been the purpose of their activity?
ELA Standards
ELA.W.7.7. Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.
Social Studies Standards
E2.6-8.3. Analyze the production, distribution, and consumption of goods, services, and resources in societies from the past or in the present.
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
- Questions to consider during the lesson: What ways does the Makah tribe use baskets?
- How has the use of baskets and basket weaving changed over time?
- What is the significance of basket weaving to the Makah tribe?
- Extension Questions: How is Makah basket weaving different from basket weaving in other tribes? Why might that be?
- Project the image of the Makah basket weavers so students may write what they see, think, and wonder about the image and basketry in general.
- Students pair/share to discuss what they wrote about the picture.
- Students research Makah baskets and basketry online to create an infographic about the topic and how the Makah have adapted/changed their basket uses and techniques over time. Piktochart and Canva are possible platforms that create clean, professional-looking infographics.
- Some websites students may find useful are the following:
- Extended Activity: Coordinate with the art or CTE classes to have students design and/or create a woven basket of their own.
Native women weaving baskets, Sitka, Alaska. ca. 1897. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2007678562/.