Introduction

Your class has won a trip to Mexico to visit a sister school in Oaxaca. You have been planning your trip for weeks. You have your passports, suitcases, and maps. Today your class received the following e-mail: “ In Mexico, creating traditional crafts is a part of our heritage. Certain regions of our country are known for certain crafts. Does North Carolina have a tradition making crafts? What kinds of crafts are important to your history? What part does geography play in your craft traditions? Please bring with you any information on your state’s crafts so that we can compare your traditions with ours.”

Task

You have only a short time—your plane leaves next week—and you’re wondering what in the world geography and history have to do with making crafts. Your goal is to learn as much as you can about North Carolina crafts so that you can share your information with your new friends in Mexico. Before you go on your real trip, you decide to take a virtual trip on the World Wide Web.

Process

1. Review North Carolina’s three regions and the geography of each.
http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/kidspg/geog.htm

2. What is craft?
http://www.discovercraftnc.org/about.html#brief

3. Some crafts develop because of location. For example, potters need certain kinds of clay, and boatbuilders are usually situated near water. Other crafts, such as quilting, do not depend as much on geography. Using the links below, research some of the traditional crafts of North Carolina.

Boats and boatbuilding
http://www.coresound.com/fa-rose.htm
http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/kidspg/symbols.htm (Scroll down to “Boat, Shad Boat.”)
http://www.visitperquimans.com/content/Attractions/Periauger.shtml
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=43145&num=42645

Pottery
http://www.mintmuseum.org/craftingnc/02-02-001.htm
http://www.mintmuseum.org/craftingnc/03-01-00-correct.htm
http://www.unctv.org/nctreasures/pottery.html
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=8377&num=7877
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=39129&num=38629

Baskets
http://www.mintmuseum.org/collections.html
http://www.simplybaskets.com/CherokeeBasketryInformation.html
http://www.mintmuseum.org/craftingnc/01_na-01-03.htm
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=37390&num=36890

Decoys
http://www.unctv.org/nctreasures/decoy.html
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=43145&num=42645

Wood carving
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=30353&num=29853
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=5884&num=5384

Quilts
http://www.unctv.org/nctreasures/quilting.html
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=39796&num=39296

Musical instruments
http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/cultures/appalach.html
http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=26259&num=25759

4. Choose one North Carolina craft that tells the story of the importance of geography in the development of that craft tradition. Print out and fill in the work sheet to answer the questions asked by your sister school.

5. Design a poster to help your sister school understand the importance of geography and local materials in the development of one North Carolina traditional craft. Your poster must include

6. Write a poem, song, short story, or play that tells the history of this craft in North Carolina.

7. Research the craft traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico.
http://oaxaca-travel.com/guide/cultural.php?section=cultural&lang=us&getdoc=true&atractivo=10.01.01.01
http://www.oaxacaoaxaca.com/artisans.htm

As a class, compare the craft traditions of North Carolina with those of Oaxaca using a graphic organizer.