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HISTORICALLY
SPEAKING LOUISIANA PATCH PROGRAM 1. Louisiana, the Pelican State, is the 18th state of the United States. It is the only state that divided into parishes instead of counties. Locate the state on a map of the United States. Identify the capital, state bird, flower, and flag. 2. In 1714, the first permanent settlement in Louisiana was founded by a Frenchman named Louis Juchereau de St. Denis. The settlement was known as Natchitoches. The residents of Louisiana celebrate their culture, resources and heritage with festivals, holidays, or special events. One of the well-known celebrations in Louisiana is called Mardi Gras. It has been celebrated for almost 300 years and has its origins from the original French settlers. Choose a festival to celebrate or learn more about. Some examples are Cajun Music Festival, Taste of Bayou, Aviation Festival, or Gusher Days Festival. http://www.louisiana.worldweb.com/Events/Festivals/ 3. The music known as Jazz was created around 1895 in New Orleans. It combined elements of African Rhythms, marching band music and Blues. Learn more about Jazz music. Listen to a song, research a musician, or dance to the tunes. http://www.redhotjazz.com/ 4. By the 1700’s, there were 15,000 Native Americans living in Louisiana. Four of the largest tribes in the state were the Caddo, Atakapa, Chitimach, and Muskogean. Create an art project depicting Native American culture; visit a pow wow, or area depicting the Native American culture. Examples of crafts are pictographs, basket weaving, pottery, or ornaments made of seashells. 5. Creole cooking comes from the recipes used by early French and Spanish settlers. Cajun cooking was developed by Acadian settlers who migrated from Canada to Louisiana. To completely understand the unique culinary culture of Louisiana you need to try a recipe of these special dishes. Learn more about the culture by trying a food or cooking a dish. Some examples include gumbo, jambalaya, Cajun chicken, seafood, crawfish, red beans and rice. 6. In the 1800’s, cotton, rice, and sugar cane became essential crops for Louisiana. Name four items that use sugar, rice, or cotton OR have a taste test of sugar products. Which item do you think has the most sugar? OR have a touch test of different fabrics. Which fabric contains cotton? OR have a taste test of a variety of rice recipes. Which one do you like best? 7. Forests cover over half of the state of Louisiana. There are 19 state parks inside the borders of Louisiana. Visit a state park, observe wildlife, collect litter in the parks, take a nature hike or study the flowers, trees or animals in your area. 8. Lucille May Grace was the first woman to run for governor in the United States. Research two famous people that resided in Louisiana. What did they accomplish and where were they from? Some examples are: Louis Armstrong, Geoffrey Beene, Jerry Lee Lewis, or Lillian Hellman. 9. Some of the dialects that are spoken in Louisiana derived from the Cajuns and Creole settlers of state. Today, some of these unique words are still used to reflect their cultural contributions. Choose two words to learn the meaning of. Examples are: dat, cher, bayou, rue, or dose. 10. Louisiana has a variety of historic areas and museums to visit. Choose a historical site or museum to explore or learn more about. For example: the Louisiana Museum offers a passport program whereby you can earn a certificate, t-shirt, and patch. Other areas to visit include Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, Southern Forest Heritage Museum, Bernard-Bertand House, The Enchanted Mansion, or the Rivertown Science Center http://www.louisianamuseums.org/trail/pages/main.html 11. Archaeologists have found ancient mounds in Louisiana that are the oldest such mounds in North America. One of the areas they found is a group of several mounds that are in the shape of a giant bird soaring in the air. Visit a mound, find out more about a mound, or have a pretend “archaeological” dig in loose dirt or sand. Suggested items to hide in the dirt are rocks, acorns, nuts, leather string, dried corn, husks, or wood, etc. 12. Louisiana has a distinctive shape and boasts varied geographical areas. Choose an area to explore and complete an outdoor activity. Examples are swimming in the Gulf of Mexico; fishing in a lake; biking in your neighborhood; hiking in the mountains or camping in the plains. Make sure you have the proper training and equipment before you go on your adventure. If you cannot go on an adventure, you can draw a picture of yourself in the outdoors. 13. Watch a movie like the Princess and the Frog movie or read a book relating to Louisiana .
This patch program will help its participants learn more about the history and sites in this country. If you have the privilege of visiting this country, you can complete some of these requirements there. It would be helpful to learn more about the country prior to your visit. Use the library and the internet to research more. |