|
Additional Acadians Activities
Constructive Play Students will learn about simple wall construction and bousillage insulation by sinking their hands into a little mud and building examples of braced frames. Supplies
2 buckets Time 30 - 40 minutes spread over a two day period ( 3 day period for white washing ) Vocabulary Bousillage - a form of insulation used in walls of Cajun dwellings which was made from a mixture of mud and Spanish moss. Hay or prairie grass was sometimes substituted when moss was not available. However, these substitutions did not work as well. If interior mud walls were left exposed, they were often white washed. Braced Frame - vertical posts supported by diagonal braces Directions Day 1 1. Each student should build his/her own braced frame with the use of five pop-sickle sticks and glue. Glue four pop-sickle sticks into the shape of a square and one diagonally across the center of the square. [Example] Allow to dry. 2. Show students how Spanish moss looks before soaking. Next, have students gather around to watch as the moss is placed in a bucket full of hot water with a little salt. Have students observe if they see any immediate changes taking place in the moss. Let the moss soak over night. Soaking the moss cleans it. Day 2 1. Remove moss from water and add to bucket of mud. There should be twice as much mud as there is moss. Mix thoroughly with a long handled spoon or a stir stick. 2. Allow each student to grab a small hand-full of the newly mixed bousillage to smooth over their individual braced frames. Day 3 1. Very lightly dilute white paint with a little bit of water. 2. Instruct students to brush the thinned white paint on the sides of their bousillage frames. Construction of the Acadian Flag The Louisiana Acadian flag was designed by Thomas J. Arceneaux to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Acadian exile into Louisiana and to serve as reminders of other important influences on Acadians. After studying the flags of other cultures, students will be able to identify the significance of each element of the Louisiana Acadian flag design. Supplies
Flag
Worksheet Access
to the following website to review “Flags of Interest,” images and
descriptions of flags that influenced the design of the Louisiana
Acadian Flag:
Time 1 hour Directions 1. Either allow computer time for students to look up the above mentioned web site or print out copies for students to see. Review the flags from other cultures. Point out in discussion symbols and color schemes that are reminiscent of the Acadian Flag. 2. Have the students study further by reading the descriptions of each of these flags. 3. Download a copy of the Flag Worksheet for each student. In the designated spaces, instruct students to write about the significance and origins of each portion of the Louisiana Acadian flag. 4. Encourage students to think of what symbols they might use to create a flag representing their own family’s heritage. Further Your Studies Laissez les bon temps rouler (Let the good times roll) The Cajun culture is known for singing, dancing, and “joie de vivre,” or love of life. Even today, it is hard not to get excited and tap your toe when hearing the up-beat rhythm of Cajun tunes. However, did you know that many of the lyrics sing of the hardships of the Acadian/Cajun peoples? Try contacting someone from the Cajun French Music Association to visit the classroom or simply bring in a Cajun recording for which you can find the translation to play and discuss in class. Ça c’est bon! (That, it is good.) Bring in a Cajun dish or invite students to bring in family favorite Cajun dishes to sample in the classroom! This Cajun “Taste-Fair” could be complimented with a discussion of the ingredients and the origins of the recipe and what other Louisiana cultures may have influenced the dish. A great resource for this activity would be a cookbook entitled The Evolution of Cajun and Creole Cuisine by Chef John Folse. Bibliography Folse, Chef John. The Evolution of Cajun and Creole Cuisine. Donaldsonville, LA: Chef John Folse and Company, 1989
|
