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Sacred Images - Story of Rock Art Preservation

Summary

Students will recognize that choices have consequences that affect self, peers, family, and community.


Materials

Websites

  • Sacred Images: A Vision of Native American Rock Art, Leslie Kelen and David Sucec (ISBN 0-87905-734-3)
  • Retold Story
  • I'm In Charge of Celebrations , Byrd Baylor (ISBN 0-684-18579-2)


Background for Teachers

Native Americans have a deep reverence for the earth and nature and a realization of the way we are all connected. Respect for nature and the earth, "our Mother," has been a part of their every day lives.

If we want rock art to last into the future, a respect for its importance and a commitment to its preservation is essential.

Remember to preserve our precious Mother Earth at all times and in all places. Take photos of rock art, but never apply chalk or water or other substances to outline or highlight petroglyphs or pictographs.

Remind the class that the rock art in the Sacred Images photos are hundreds and even thousands of years old. Such art needs our protection. Touching such images, walking on them, making rubbings of them, using other materials to make molds of them is vandalizing. Collecting pieces of art is illegal.

Where can I go to visit petroglyphs in Utah?

  • Nine Mile Canyon, Price
  • Canyonlands National Park, Moab
  • Newspaper Rick Site, Monticello
  • Freemont Indian State Park, Richfield
  • Dinosaur National Park, Vernal


Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a positive learning attitude.
2. Develop social skills and ethical responsibility.

  • Students will hear two stories that illustrate the importance of protecting our environment and cherished rock art.
  • They will discuss ideas and participate in a service project.
  • Students will contribute to the school and community.


Instructional Procedures

  1. Discuss the importance of preserving rock art refer to pictures in Sacred Images.
  2. Read KWL and add information as desired.
  3. Read I'm In Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor and discuss.
  4. Organize groups to clean up the school grounds. Work as a team.
  5. Ask students to share about this service-learning activity and to talk about what they did and what it feels like to make a difference in our world.
  6. Brainstorm about other opportunities the children have for service-learning and conservation projects:
    • Recycling
    • Cleaning off graffiti
    • Planting trees
  7. What things do we use that may be harmful to the environment? What changes could we make? Do we waste water? Etc.


Extensions

Trip to the city dump or refuse location.


Created: 09/21/2006
Updated: 02/01/2018
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