I *herd* it was Jersey Day at #SSPMSpackers. Being the home of the Packers - South Saint Paul being the one time largest stockyards in the world - I assumed that I would see a *flink* of *jerseys* that looked like me in every class. I might have interpreted the day wrong. 🤔 🐮🎽😏🤣
I can't wait to learn with you this year, #SSPMSpackers!
Tomorrow starts another chapter in your lives. It'll be my 17th first day as a middle social studies teacher & I'm humbled and honored to be a small part of your educational experience.
I really like the creativity my #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies students had! One design has two hands (Dakota and German immigrants) holding each other in a sign of reconciliation. Another has a compass/wind come feature using medicine wheel colors. Reconciliation Park redesign.
Eagle feathers were common in many Reconciliation Park redesigns as well. Several students included a statute to Little Crow or borrowed the Winter Warrior statue from across the street at the Blue Earth County Library. #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies
Fire pits were also a common addition for many #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies students as part of their Reconciliation Park redesign.
Keeping the buffalo, which was dedicated at Reconciliation Park in 1997, was also a popular design element for my #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies students.
The medicine wheel was also a favorite for most of my #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies students in their Reconciliation Park redesign. Nearly all designs incorporated one in some way or another.
Multiple students this year incorporated some sort of stage or amphitheater so the Dakota could hold ceremonies and the community could hold some sort of "history lesson gatherings" as several students phrased it. #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies
Here's another #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies student design. Again, the symbolism and reasoning with these Reconciliation Park redesign were very thoughtful.
Some of the Reconciliation Park student redesigns where amazing! I was blown away with the creativity and symbolism. #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies
My 6th hour design included an unfinished tipi w/lights that would shine at night inward towards the tipi. Memorial benches near the giant buffalo hide (that honors the Dakota 38) around the medicine wheel would recognize the 500+ settlers that died. #MNstudies #SSPMSpackers
Long Thread 🧵
We spent a lot of time learning about the U.S. - Dakota War in our #SSPMSpackers #MNstudies class before talking about monuments, memorials & commemorations. One of our goals was to redesign Reconciliation Park in Mankato, MN. We needed to learn what was there & why.
It's tradition at the start of each trimester/semester/quarter to rearrange the #SSPMSpackers #FlexSeating #LearningLounge. Take a look inside our classroom!
There are historic seating options, including chairs from the MN State Capitol, Metrodome Seats & more. There's even an outhouse!
It's time for one of my most favorite lessons of the school year! Upton Sinclair's The Jungle! I brought in treats for my #AmericanStudiesSSP #SSPMSpackers.
Thanks or disgust? 🤔🫢🤢🤮
"I feel like this is going to be turned into a lesson."
"This is really for us... like... no strings attached?"
Call for newspapers!
#Inauguration #ElectionLearningTrunk
C/o @markjwestpfahl.bsky.social & #SSPMSpackers Students
700 2nd Street N.
So. St. Paul, MN 55075
Consider sending your local January 21, 2025 newspapers for my students to analyze for years to come!
