A Life in Beds: The Stories a Plain Dress Can Tell

Hello bloggers!!! Today we’ll review the web page “A Life in Beds: The Stories a Plain Dress Can Tell”, this site is design by The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, gathering various cultural items from different Indian nations and tribes and presenting them in their cultural context in order to be a teaching material for children in grades levels from 4 to 6.

In here the students will meet three generations of Assiniboine/Sioux women who make traditional dresses and with their art and stories they’ll teach the preservation of native culture and great importance of traditions. Also it will teach the students the meaning of symbols and designs.

All this will be accomplish by displaying a poster of an Assiniboine/Sioux dress with all the designs and symbols for examination, explaining the traditions, pronunciation, defining the word tradition and viewing a map with the location of the tribes among other things.  

 

“In this poster, students will be introduced to three generations of Assiniboine (pronounced Uh-SINNA-boyn)/Sioux (pronounced SUE) women who make traditional dresses. Through their stories and their art, students will learn about the importance of preserving Native culture and see how families share and pass down traditions. Students will gain an understanding of the ongoing Plains traditions of beadwork and quillwork—decorative arts done with beads and porcupine quills—and the “giveaway” (an honoring celebration). Students will explore the significance of designs and symbols found on dresses and better understand the Plains peoples’ long-standing, close connection to their surroundings and natural resources.” ¹

In conclusion I encourage everyone, not only the children, to visit http://nmai.si.edu and review this website to learn about this great culture, ways and history!