The National Park Service and the Abbe Museum collaborated to create this traveling kit. This hands-on kit uses student-centered activities and tactile elements to introduce students to the richness of Passamaquoddy culture and history. This kit does not attempt to fully teach all Passamaquoddy history. Rather, these lessons and activities should be used as an introduction that will inspire you and your students to learn more about Passamaquoddy and other Wabanaki history.

In 2006, the Passamaquoddy Kit won third place in the curriculum category of the annual competition for media awards by the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). The competition is designed to promote excellence in the delivery of natural, cultural, and historical nonpersonal interpretive services. Nominations include submissions from federal agencies, such as the National Park Service, Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service; state and local parks; private parks; and nature centers.

Kits Available for Loan

The Passamaquoddy Kit is available for loan to schools through Acadia's Education Office (207-288-8822), St. Croix Island International Historic Site (207-454-3871) in Calais, and the Abbe Museum (207-288-3519). It is loaned at no charge for up to four weeks. Teachers are responsible for picking up and returning the kit. For more information, please contact us at the above phone numbers or by e-mail.

Download Instructions

The following links will take you to the background information, lessons, worksheets, and a list of the kit objects with purchasing information--most of which are in PDF format. The downloadable information may be used to create your own kit.

If you have a broadband Internet connection and would like to download this entire web of files in one compressed folder (31 MB), instructions are available.

Although the curriculum was designed to utilize tactile objects to enhance the learning experience, special instructions have been added that will enable you to complete the lessons independently of the physical kit. Digital images of most tactile objects are available for download.

Kit Contents

Introduction

Cover (291KB)

Welcome and Acknowledgements and Contents (177 KB)

Make this Kit Work for You (136 KB)

About Healing Woods (132 KB)

Lesson 1: 12,000 Years: A Passamaquoddy Timeline

Background Information (link to outside website)

Lesson Plan (178 KB)

Conversions reproducible worksheet (69 KB)

Creating a Timeline reproducible worksheet (135 KB)

Timeline Template #1 (266 KB)

Timeline Template #2 (640 KB)

Timeline Template #3 (23 KB)

Teacher's Guide to Dates and Measurements (107 KB)

Answer Key to Conversions worksheet (71 KB)

Teacher's Guide to the Contact Period (36 KB)

Sample Timeline

Lesson 2: Art Everyday--Artifacts!

Meet Donald Soctomah, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (170 KB)

Background Information (186 KB)

Special Instructions for the Digital Version of Lesson 2

Lesson Plan (173 KB)

Artifact Images (1,026 KB)

Reading an Artifact reproducible worksheet (103 KB)

Artifact Catalogue (1,108 KB)

Lesson 3: Ash and Birchbark: The As and Bs of Traditional Baskets

Meet Jeremy Frey, Basketmaker (209 KB)

Background Information (151 KB)

Special Instructions for the Digital Version of Lesson 3

Lesson Plan (170 KB)

Basket Research reproducible worksheet (156 KB)

Parts of a Basket (95 KB) and Basket Weave (1,520 KB) laminated pages

Classroom Basket Worksheet: for teacher use (45 KB)

Fancy (385 KB), birchbark (240 KB) and work (221 KB) baskets

Samples of basketry materials: ash strips, sweetgrass braid, piece of birchbark
(200 KB)

Photos of Minnie Fouts (151 KB) and Moccasins made by Minnie Fouts
(558 KB) (optional assessment)

Lesson 4: Tomah Joseph: A Traditional Passamaquoddy Birchbark Artist

Special Instructions for the Digital Version of Lesson 4

Lesson Plan (162 KB)

Reproducible Tomah Joseph focus worksheets: Log Holder, Picture Frame, Magazine Holder, Handkerchief Box (113 KB)

Photos of Tomah Joseph Handkerchief Box (573 KB)

Teacher's Guide to Focus Worksheets (128 KB)

Lesson 5: Connections to the Land: Resources and Practices

Meet Martin Dana, Asst. Director, Environmental Department, Indian Township (122 KB)

Background Information (210 KB)

Special Instructions for the Digital Version of Lesson 5

Lesson Plan (204 KB)

Resources and Practices reproducible worksheet (392 KB)

Possible Uses laminated cards (537 KB)

Lesson 6: Learning from Stories

Meet David A. Francis & Madonna Soctomah, Passamaquoddy Language Educators (220 KB)

Background Information (154 KB)

Special Instructions for the Digital Version of Lesson 6

Lesson Plan (165 KB)

Audio CD of The Little Spark and the Little Mouse (2,614 KB MP3)

Reproducible transcription of The Little Spark and the Little Mouse (104 KB)

Koluskap and the Windmaker story reproducible worksheet (93 KB)

Reproducible Traditional Stories focus worksheet (79 KB)

Lesson 7: Trading Places

Meet Alison Lewey, Creator & Owner of Lewey's Eco-Blends (126 KB)

Background Information (180 KB)

Special Instructions for the Digital Version of Lesson 7

Lesson Plan (338 KB)

Trade Photos (943 KB)

Trading Needs reproducible worksheet (109 KB)

Exchange Rates laminated worksheets (97 KB)

Trading Map (1,768 KB) and Mapping Your Travels (113 KB) reproducible worksheets

Wabanaki Homelands reproducible worksheet (145 KB)

Trading Outcomes reproducible worksheet (Extension) (99 KB)

European Trade Cards (Extension) (44 KB)

Lesson 8: Epidemics: A Story of Loss

Meet Elizabeth Neptune, Director, Indian Township Health Center (200 KB)

Background Information (166 KB)

Special Instructions for the Digital Version of Lesson 8

Lesson Plan (190 KB)

Community Background Information worksheet (90 KB)

Community Member Profile reproducible worksheets (140 KB)

Impacts of Disease reproducible worksheet (106 KB)

Family Identification pieces (13 KB)

Lesson 9: Talking Politics

Meet Wayne Newell, Educator, Native Scholar and Director of the Indian Township Bilingual Program (170 KB)

Background Information (198 KB)

Special Instructions for the Digital Version of Lesson 9

Lesson Plan (191 KB)

Audio CD recording of the 2002 Speech Made by Governor Doyle (10,754 KB
MP3) and the 1887 Speech Made by Lewis Mitchell (5,103 KB MP3)

2002 Speech Made by Governor Doyle reproducible worksheet (129 KB)

1887 Speech Made by Lewis Mitchell reproducible worksheet (117 KB)

Sample T Chart for teacher use (127 KB)

Major Points for teacher use (107 KB)

Final Assessment

Purchasing Information for Kit Objects

Kit Objects Pricing Guide

Teacher Evaluation (38 KB)

Contact Information

Additional Resources

Video: Our Stories: Healing Woods, Indian Township, Maine, MPBN (1998)

Resource book: The Wabanakis of Maine and the Maritimes, American Friends Service Committee (1989)

Further Questions?

If you have any questions concerning the availability of this kit through this web site, feel free to send us an e-mail and we'll do our best to answer your question.