Montana: Symbols of the State
By: Madalen Sugrue
Jane Kemper-Solan
Lisa Scherman
Nancy Stavanja
Grade Level: 4
Subject: Social Studies, Art
Description: To identify and describe the important symbols in Montana history, e.g. Montana Seal, Flag, Song, Bird, Flower, Tree, Animal, Fossil, Gemstone, Fish, Butterfly, Grass, Nickname, and State Motto.
Goals: Students will utilize art, storymapping, and Creative writing to present their research in group settings and in individual testing situations. Students will design their own symbol art.
Objectives:
1. Students will gain an appreciation of the symbols of Montana and
an understanding of how they relate to the Montana heritage.
2. Students will be introduced to various activities with special emphasis
on memory mapping and symbol art for use in storytelling.
3. Students will learn Indian stories and tales and the use of symbols
in storymapping.
4. Students will use Cowboy art in relating to symbols such as brands,
paintings and art work.
Materials: art supplies (i.e. crayons, markers, colored pencils)
Procedure:
1. Montana State Seal:
A. Discuss the history of the state seal and the significance of seal
designs.
B. Duplicate the Seal using art supplies.
2. Montana State Flag
A. History of the State flag
B. Significance of the design
C. Duplicate the design or use print out as an art project.
3. Montana State Flower: The Bitterroot
A. Introduction of the Indian legend for the naming of the Bitterroot
B. Review the history, vocabulary and areas of growth
C. Integrate art by drawing, mapping, labeling or coloring the Bitterroot
D. Utilize legends and stories to story map and introduce storytelling
in original activities based on student skills and interests.
E. Teacher Resource: Put those Books Down and Tell the Stories by Susie
Wiseheart.
4. Montana's State Song and Ballad
A. Introduce vocabulary for the songs "Montana" and "Montana
Melody" by LeGrande and Carleen Harvey.
B. Introduce the music and teach the songs to the students.
C. Classroom discussion
5. Montana's State Bird: Meadowlark
A. 1931 the legislature adopted the Meadowlark as the state bird.
B. Flight habits, song, warbling, whistle, and nesting
C. Art: use print out to fill in characteristics and color
6. Montana State Tree: Ponderosa Pine
A. Adopted in 1949. Discuss the history and development of the Ponderosa
Pine in the West.
B. Lumber harvesting: value, beauty and growth patterns
C. Art: design, draw and label parts of tree
7. Montana Gemstones: Sapphire and Montana Agate
A. Adopted in 1969
B. Significance and locaton of mining sites
8. Montana Grass: Bluebunch Wheatgrass
A. Adopted in 1973
B. Discuss importance to Montana and identify grasses of the region
C. Use field trips to look for examples, use observation sheet
9. Montana State Fish: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout
A. Adopted in 1977
B. Correlate with Science lessons, fly tying, videos on the life cycle
and recreational fishing areas.
C. Visit the local fish hatchery
10. Montana State Animals: Grizzly Bear and Beaver
A. Adopted in 1982
B. Identify habitat, anatomy, behavior, diet and classification
C. Video: Grizzly bear and Beaver
D. Worksheets: animal quiz, color sheet, and the uses of hide and fur
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/bear/Bearquiz.shtml
11. Montana State Fossil: Maiasaur or the Duck-billed
Dinosaur
A. Adopted in 1985
B. Identify history, habitat, anatomy, behavior, size, diet and classification
Resources: (These are not links)
1. http://montanakids.com
2. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/montana/
3. http://travel.state.mt.us/history/
4. http://nps.gov/grko