November is American Indian Heritage Month
Thanksgiving - Celebrating the Harvest
Before the Pilgrims had their famous Thanksgiving feast in 1621, native people all over the continent had been holding their own feasts of thanksgiving for the harvest for thousands of years.
Students learn about the Indian Allotment Act of 1887, which paved the way for opening Indian land to homesteading.
What was it like to be a child - Indian or settler - in the early days of Oklahoma Territory? Includes games played by settler children and Indian children.
The Great Seal of the Creek, or Muscogee, tribe has as its center a sheaf of wheat and a plow. The Creeks were agriculturalists from their earliest days. After coming to Indian Territory the Creeks grew small grains, especially wheat, oats and rice, and large crops of corn in the rich lands bordering the Canadian and Arkansas rivers and their tributaries. Their success with these crops brought prosperity to the tribe. The Green Corn Dance was celebrated in summer as a thanksgiving celebration.
November 26 is Thanksgiving Day
The holiday we celebrate as Thanksgiving is a harvest feast. All over the world, throughout history, people have celebrated the end of the hard work of harvest by feasting on the fruits of their labor. More about Thanksgiving, with lessons and activities
Turkeys
Turkeys are not a major agricultural commodity in Oklahoma, but wild turkeys are abundant in our state. Some of the first records of Oklahoma turkeys are found in the writing of Washington Irving. In his 1832 book, A Tour on the Prairies, he describes large turkey populations near what is now Oklahoma City and Tulsa. More about turkeys, with lessons and activities
Look for Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom at these events in November:
3—OAITC curriculum review, OKC - Come help us align lessons to the new math P.A.S.S. Contact Dana.
4—Peters Elementary, Union School District, NSU class 4:30 - 7:30
5—Western Heights Elementary, OKC
6—Schools for Healthy Lifestyle Conference, Clarion Meridian, OKC
6-7—OSU Ag in the Classroom 1-hour credit course
7—Childcare Conference, Miami
11—Crescent Public Schools
12—Winter Smith Lodge, Ada
23—NSU Broken Arrow Campus
23—Okeene 7th grade 24—Watonga 4th/5th grade
For information about onsite training in your school or any of these events, contact one of our training coordinators.
November 21 is Pumpkin Pie Day
Pumpkins and Other Lessons for Fall
Oklahoma Vegetable of the Month: Broccoli
Thomas Jefferson introduced broccoli in the US. He recorded his planting of broccoli on May 27, 1767. Although broccoli has been grown in the US for over 200 years it did not become a popular food until the 1920s, when Italian immigrants began planting and selling it. Broccoli was a popular vegetable in ancient Rome. More about broccoli, with activities...
Oklahoma Fruit of the Month: Pears
Pears were among the Oklahoma crops big enough to report in the 1900 census, a few years before statehood. Today pears are not grown commercially in the state but they can still be found in home gardens and for sale in some farmer's markets. More about pears, with activities...
Writing Prompts
November is National Novel Writing Month - Challenge students to write 50,000 words in 30 days.
- American Indian Heritage Month
- Things to do With Your Leftover Pumpkin
- Writing Prompts
- Ag in Art: Two Pears, Georgia O'Keeffe
Things to Do With Your Leftover Pumpkins
The leaves are falling, and so are the pecans
Pecans start falling from Oklahoma trees this time of year. In 2007, pecans ranked number 12 in value of all Oklahoma commodities, and Oklahoma ranked number 4 in the nation in the production of pecans. More about pecans, with lessons and activities...
Red Dirt Groundbreaker: Henryetta Vann
When the Europeans first encountered the Five Civilized Tribes in the eastern part of the continent, they were living in agricultural villages. Men were hunters and warriors, and they cleared land. Women cultivated fields and raised children. Women held very high status in these communities. They owned virtually all the family possessions, including the home, the fields and the crops. Read more...
Sandwich Day is November 3rd
John Montague, born in 1718, was an English nobleman who loved to play cards. Once in 1762 he played cards at a men's club in London for 24 hours straight. More on Sandwich Day, with activities...
Geography Awareness Week is November 15-21
Ag in Art: Two Pears, Georgia O'Keeffe (1927) |
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