Discover NC! Mecklenburg County

Crafting North Carolina: A Hands on Exploration of North Carolina's Hand-made Heritage

Charlotte, NC (http://www.themintmuseums.org/craftingnc/index.htm)

Provider: Mint Museum of Art

Works of art have wonderful stories to tell. So what better way to learn about North Carolina's geography, history, and resources than to study the crafts of the state? Crafting's unique website combines images of objects plus video clips of artists at work, animation, audio, games, virtual tours, and lesson plans for teachers and parents.

Educator's guide

Crafting North Carolina is geared to meet the needs of grade 4 and grade 8 students studying North Carolina's unique craft traditions in their social studies and literature units. Students can explore the Mint Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Craft and Design without the long bus ride to Charlotte. Images of objects are accompanied by video clips of artists, animations, audio, and activities that give students a chance to interact with the exhibit. FunSheets are available throughout the site, allowing students to pace their own explorations independently, according to their interests, prior knowledge and abilities.

The site is divided into seven sections or units. "From the Land" focuses upon the resources available in North Carolina and the ways craftsmen have used materials at hand. "Early Glimpses of North Carolina" folds in the artistic influences of Native Americans, explorers, and other early inhabitants of North Carolina. Students can see and hear how to "Make a Pot" step by step with a young man drawing upon his family's traditions built over generations of working pottery in Seagrove. Try the games in the "What's the Use?" section to see if you can discern the uses of kitchen pieces from 200 years ago or household items from 100 years ago. The "look@gallery" provides a showcase of work done by North Carolina fourth-graders. Some lesson plans are also available.