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Summary and Objective
After reading and discussing the Native American legend of "The Three Sisters", the students will examine "The Corn Sister" sculptures from the American Centuries website. Students will understand that legends are important to many cultures, including Native American culture. They will then discuss the various ways legends have been passed down from generation to generation. They will design and create their own sculpture of "The Three Sisters" referenced in the legend. By the end of this lesson students will understand the significance of the "Three Sisters" as a Native American legend. They will be able to explain how objects or artifacts of everyday life of the past tell us how ordinary people lived.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Read the legend of "The Three Sisters" to the students from "It's a Family Thanksgiving" by Deborah F Fink. Discuss how the legend describes the interdependence between corn, beans, and squash. Tell the students that when the Native Americans speak of "The Three Sisters" they are referring to corn, beans, and squash which are known to the Native Americans as the sustainers of life because they were such important crops.
Step 2.
In small groups the teacher will help the students access "The Corn Sister" sculptures found on the American Centuries website. The teacher will show the students how to use the features on the website to study these sculptures. Give them time to explore both sculptures within their groups.
Step 3.
The teacher will facilitate discussion within the groups regarding the sculpture. The teacher will ask the following guided questions: What do you notice when you look at the sculpture? What vegetable do you see being represented within the sculpture? Why do you think corn is part of the sculpture? Why is there a legend about this one crop alone?
Discuss student observations of how the legend is represented by these sculptures.
Step 4.
Discuss with the students the various ways that legends are represented in history. For example, books, art, oral traditions. Tell the students that the sculptures they have observed today are an example of a legend being represented through art; the story we read together earlier is an example of a legend being represented through books. The teacher will remind students that legends are different from stories people just make up for fun; they have meaning as a cultural explanantion of how things came to be, or the right way to live.
Step 5.
Have the students design and create their own sculpture or drawing representing the legend of "The Three Sisters".
Step 6.
Extension Activity: In small groups students will go to their school garden where the teacher has prepared small mounds of dirt. After planting corn, beans and squash, the teacher will discuss that the corn provides a ladder for the bean vine, and the squash vines shade the mounds and holds mositure in the soil for the corn and beans.
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