DEMOCRACY EDUCATION GUIDES
In three separate guides, students learn about how DEMOCRACY and craft are intertwined with our nation’s defining principles.
DOCUMENTS OF DEMOCRACY
Documents of Democracy explores the work of calligrapher Sammy Little, featured in the Craft in America: DEMOCRACY episode. Students watch calligrapher Sammy Little inscribe a quote from the Declaration of Independence.
ARTIST HARVEY PRATT
Meet Cheyenne and Arapaho artist Harvey Pratt, designer of the National Native American Veterans Memorial at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
VISION AND VOICES OF NATIVE WOMEN ARTISTS
Students will learn about the exhibition Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists at the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
Download the Lesson Guides and Supporting Materials as PDFs to get started in your classroom.
DOCUMENTS OF DEMOCRACY
“Feeling that connection to those times is a wonderful way to appreciate our history; our democracy.”
– Sammy Little
In this lesson, students view two segments from the Craft In America DEMOCRACY episode. Students watch calligrapher Sammy Little inscribe a quote from the Declaration of Independence and curator Joanne Hyppolite, Ph.D., of the National Museum of African American History and Culture shows a patchwork-lettered quilt, one of many museum objects that help to educate citizens about the history of African Americans and the past and present of racism in the United States. After considering the meaning and making of these works, students create a text-based work in calligraphy or stitched lettering that documents an event or commemorates an ideal about the United States.
Grade Level: 8–12
Craft In America Theme/Episode: DEMOCRACY
DOWNLOAD SUPPORTING MATERIAL
Download the Lesson Guide and Supporting Materials as PDFs to get started in your classroom.
Documents of Democracy | Background Information | Vocabulary |
Discussion Questions | Further Information | Teaching Documents of Democracy |
Worksheet #1 | Worksheet #2 | Worksheet #3 |
Calligrapher Sammy Little segment
National Museum of African American History & Culture segment
ARTIST HARVEY PRATT
Meet Cheyenne and Arapaho artist Harvey Pratt, designer of the National Native American Veterans Memorial at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Students will follow the design process as Pratt discusses his inspiration for the design, his artistic process for the design, the symbolism of the design, the design team of family and friends as well as see the construction of the memorial.
Grade Level: 7–12
Craft In America Theme/Episode: DEMOCRACY
DOWNLOAD SUPPORTING MATERIAL
Download the Lesson Guide and Supporting Materials as PDFs to get started in your classroom.
Artist Harvey Pratt segment
VISION AND VOICES OF NATIVE WOMEN ARTISTS
Students will learn about the exhibition Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists at the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. This exhibition explores the artistic achievements of Native women and features a variety of media such as beading, pottery and traditional materials made by Native American women artists.
Grade Level: 7–12
Craft In America Theme/Episode: DEMOCRACY
DOWNLOAD SUPPORTING MATERIAL
Download the Lesson Guide and Supporting Materials as PDFs to get started in your classroom.
Vision and Voices of Native Women Artists segment