Education Modules
These lessons, activities, and projects are offered for school age students to preserve and share Kodiak’s history. Each module contains a lesson plan with objectives linked to the Alaska Standards and Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools, and activity sheets or materials to complete the lessons.
Canned Salmon Labels
Students are introduced to a brief history of the salmon fisheries and salmon canneries on Kodiak Island. Discussion centers around the colorfully designed labels that packers used to enhance the canned product, currently found on trash cans around Kodiak. Background on color choices and messages that color can give are discussed. Create Your Own Can Label. (Grades 3-5)
Students learn about and explore Alutiiq, Russian and early American clothing and personal adornment on Kodiak Island. What information can you tell about a person or a time period by looking at their clothing and accessories such as hats and jewelry? How does clothing convey history? A compare-contrast activity culminates this learning activity on a Graphic Organizer – Clothing & Adornment. (Grades 3-5)
Flags Flying High
Students examine flags used by various administrations in Kodiak including the Russian American Company flag, the Russian Navy flag, a 37-star U.S. flag (circa 1867), the Alaska State Flag, and today’s United States flag. They will discuss the use of symbols as used in local businesses’ logos in flag design and complete Flags of our Island. Students will design and construct their own flag. (Grades 3-5)
Kodiak’s Changed Landscape
This lesson encourages students to critically view photographs of downtown Kodiak over several decades, to compare and contrast changes over time. Students will identify well-known locations and discuss the change they observe Analyses of the photographs are completed with specific examples and conclusions drawn from interpretations. Decade Comparisons for Viewing Kodiak (graphic organizer) available for download. (Grades 4-12)
Students explore objects of significance to Kodiak’s history, like tools or clothing, and compare them with today’s counterparts. Examples in Kodiak history include the bi-directional adoption and adaptation of technology by the Alutiiq and Russians. Discuss history and culture including objects of value, materials, material sourcing, how objects were made or where they are from, how they came to Kodiak, and their uses today. This lesson is often presented to school tours visiting the museum. (Grades 3-5)
Students learn about the 1964 Tsunami though lessons that demonstrate the forces that shape the earth through several simulations, using lessons from the Alaska Tsunami Education Program (c.2007). Students will gather experiences of community elders during the tsunami in Kodiak from exposure to historic photographs, oral histories, and recorded footage of the events in Kodiak and south central Alaska. They will compare and contrast Kodiak of 2016 with 1964, and explain what they think is the biggest impact of the Tsunami. Students will record oral histories from community members who were in Kodiak in 1964 and create audio visual productions to become part of the Baranov Museum’s BarMuse collection. Aligned with Learning Outcomes & Standards this project could be as broad or narrow as the teacher and students desire. (Grades 3-9)
Visual Thinking
Visual literacy is about analyzing and creating messages. This lesson encourages students to critically view historical photographs of life in Kodiak in the past and to practice interpreting what they see. Students are shown six or more Kodiak-specific historic images. They take part in a critical thinking discussion and complete a photo-analysis on Interpreting Historic Photographs to practice visual literacy and thinking strategies. (Grades 7-12)
Woody Island Ice Company
The history of Woody Island is shared through pictures and the written history of the Woody Island Ice Company. Students learn how ice was manufactured on Lake Tanignak in the 1860s and shipped to California by sailing ship. Students review the properties and phases of water while learning how to make ice cream. (Grades 3-6)
When I’m 100
What was life like 100 years ago? How would students’ great grandparents have met their basic needs? The purpose of this 2-day lesson is to teach students about life in Kodiak 100 years ago, changes over time and extrapolate that knowledge to predict what life in the future might be like. When they are 100, how will students meet their 5 essential needs in the future for food, clothing, transportation, livelihood, and family life? (Grades 2-4)
For more information or to schedule time to work with the Curator of Education, please email or call 486.5911.