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Museum Education Kits 

The South Dakota State Historical Society offers education kits to South Dakota classrooms and other groups. Each kit contains hands-on objects, relevant lesson text, ready-to-use worksheets, and a variety of fun and unique activities. For more information or to schedule an Education Kit please contact Ronette Rumpca by e-mail Ronette.Rumpca@state.sd.us or telephone 605-773-6011.

South Dakota State Historical Society Education Kit
 The Buffalo and the Plains Indians

Quill Decorating

Objectives:

  • Participants will learn about the Plains Indians culture.

  • Participants will understand how the Plains Indians decorated their clothing.

  • Participants will develop their art skills.

 

South Dakota Social Studies Standards

K

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

 

I.E.1.1

2.US.2.1

2.E.1.1

3.US.2.2

3.E.1.1

4.E.1.1

5.US.1.1

5.E.1.1

6.W.1.1

6.E.1.1

 

South Dakota Communication Arts Standards

K

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

K.L.1.1 K.L.1.2 K.S.2.2

1.L.1.1 1.S.1.1

2.L.1.1 2.S.2.4

3.L.1.1 3.S.1.1 3.S.2.2

4.L.1.1 4.L.2.1

5.S.1.1 5.S.2.2

6.L.2.1

 

South Dakota Visual Art Standards

 

K

1

2

3

4

5

6

Std. 1: Self expression and interpersonal communication,  benchmark 2

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Std. 3: Relationship of art and history/culture, benchmark 2

X

X

X

 

 

X

X

 

Timeframe: 45-60 minutes

 

Materials:

Provided by instructor

Colored toothpicks *

Feathers (optional)

Large brown paper bags or construction paper

 

Provided by participants

Glue

 

*to color toothpicks; soak flat toothpicks in water for about five minutes in small Dixie cups or other containers.  Use one container for each color you make.  Drain the picks and add 5 to 10 drops of  food coloring to the picks. Stir them around to evenly distribute the color.  Spread on paper towels to dry. 

 

Background Information:

The Plains Indians used many different things to decorate their clothing.  One of the things that they used was quills.  They would dye the quills different colors and sew them onto their clothing and other items in colorful patterns.  The colored quills made the clothing and other objects more decorative and more personalized. 
 

Activity Steps:

  1. Cut one shirt shape from the brown paper bags or construction paper for each participant.

  2. Have the colored toothpicks and feathers in a central location.

  3. Have the participants come to the toothpick pile three or four at a time and get a supply of toothpicks and a few feathers.

  4. Using the toothpicks, have each participant work out a decorative pattern for their shirt.  Toothpicks can be broken into smaller pieces if desired.  Encourage them to experiment and try several different designs before gluing the toothpicks and feathers down.

  5. Display the decorated shirts and have participants describe what they designed to the rest of the group.

Download Quill Decorating (pdf)
 
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For More Information on Education Kits please contact:
Ronette Rumpca
Curator of Interpretations
605-773-6011
Ronette.Rumpca@state.sd.us

 

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South Dakota State Historical Society, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre SD  57501-2217  phone 605-773-3458 fax 605-773-6041
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