Lucreaty Clark, White Oak Basket Maker

White Oak Basket Making: Conveying Culture
4th Grade Lesson Plan

This lesson has been reviewed and approved by CPALMS.

Background Information

Lucreaty Clark was born in 1904 in Jefferson County, Florida. She learned to make white oak baskets from her parents, who had learned from their parents. Originally, these sturdy baskets were used to hold cotton and carry vegetables from the plantation fields in North Florida. Through interviews and photographs, Clark shares the unique folklore and heritage of her life as she demonstrates the complete process of her basket making.

The interviews were conducted by the Florida Folklife Program in 1979 and 1980. The photographs were taken at the same time.

Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze photographs of white oak basket making.
• Listen to the interview with Lucreaty Clark.
• Describe the historic significance of white oak baskets in the culture and economy.

Materials Needed

1. Recording of the interview with Lucreaty Clark
2. Sound Recording Analysis Worksheet from the National Archives
   

Procedure

Part I: Introducing Content

1. Activate prior knowledge. What do students know about pioneer Florida and plantation life?
2. Have students consider the following question: If you lived in rural Florida and couldn't go to the store to buy a basket, how could you make one?
3. Ask students to name different materials that could be used to make baskets.

Part II: Document Analysis

1. Have students analyze the audio recording of the interview using the Sound Recording Analysis Worksheet from the National Archives.
2. Have students discuss their findings in pairs or small groups.

Part III: Synthesis

1. Conduct an in-class discussion of what students learned during the sound recording analysis.

Questions for students:

• How did Lucreaty Clark learn to make baskets?
• Why did she make the baskets?
• What year (approximately) did Clark learn to make these baskets?
• What did you learn about this time period?

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards

Visual Arts

• VA.4.H.1.1:  Identify historical and cultural influences that have inspired artists to produce works of art.
• VA.4.H.1.3:  Describe artworks that honor and are reflective of particular individuals, groups, events, and/or cultures.

Economics

• SS.4.E.1.1: Identify entrepreneurs from various social and ethnic backgrounds who have influenced Florida and local economy.

American History

• SS.4.A.1.1: Analyze primary and secondary resources to identify significant individuals and events throughout Florida history.

Florida Standards

• LAFS.4.RI.3.7: Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.