Arts and Media Basics:
Folklife Resources

Words to Review: Euro-Americans, Native Americans, seasonal vegetation, agricultural, climate, irrigation, transportation route, technology, engineers, center-pivot irrigation, industries, military personnel

Help students become acquainted with the physical dimensions of the local region. They should understand the local physical geography since it helps shape the way people live in this area. Ask students to think of the many ways that the Columbia River and the rich lands of the Columbia plateau affect their lives and the life of the community. Use a good map of the region to look at these important physical features. Ask what things make a physical region? See if they can figure out where things begin to change physically and where another physical region might begin.

New developments in technology can dramatically change the character of life in a region. Do some historical investigation about what life was like in the area before Europeans came, before irrigation, before the Umatilla Army Depot, and before the McNary Dam was built. Interviews with parents, grandparents, and older local citizens about these specific aspects of the region's past could be helpful. Have the students create a timeline that pinpoints important dates in the history of their region.

Use the student questions at the end of this section to have students write a story. Compile these in a book of family histories of the class.

"Mexican-American Traditional Arts and Culture" is a comprehensive curriculum unit funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts Folk & Traditional Arts Program, the Oregon Arts Commission, the Eastern Oregon Regional Arts Council, and the Hermiston School District. Additional thanks to the Latin American Culture Club.

Produced by the Oregon Folk Arts Program at the Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205. For more information, call (503) 306-5290.


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