Alaska Day Mini Lessons
2nd Grade
Embedded Files
Overview
Overview
In the 2nd Grade Alaska Day Unit, students will explore Alaska Day through the theme of people and place. They will learn how Alaska’s Indigenous peoples lived with the land long before 1867, and how life changed after the U.S. purchase. Using storytelling, images, and comparisons of food, clothing, homes, and tools, students will investigate both continuity and change. Through reflection and creative expression, they will consider what it means to belong to this place and how history is remembered in different ways.
Lesson Summaries
Lesson Summaries
Lesson 1 – Alaska Day Perspectives
Students learn that Alaska Day has different meanings for different groups: U.S./Russia celebrated the transfer, while Indigenous peoples experienced land loss but continued cultural survival.
Lesson 2 – Symbols and Celebrations
Students explore symbols of Alaska and Alaska Day, such as the state flag, parades, and cultural groups, and learn how symbols tell stories about history and community.
Lesson 3 – Belonging to Place
Students reflect on how they belong to Sitka (or their community) by creating drawings and sentences, building a collective mural or book titled “We Belong to This Place.”
Prep Instructions
Prep Instructions
Lesson 1 Alaska Day Perspectives
Review background on Alaska Day
Prepare a T-chart on chart paper: “U.S./Russia Perspective” vs. “Indigenous Peoples’ Perspective.”
Print or project images: Indigenous life, Russians in Alaska, U.S. purchase/transfer ceremony.
Gather an Alaska-themed storybook to help ground the lesson.Have sentence stems ready for discussion:
Print student worksheets for drawing/writing reflections.
Lesson 2 Symbols and Celebrations
Gather photos of Alaska Day parades and celebrations (flags, marching bands, dancers, Coast Guard, etc.). or use the provided slides
Review and prepare to tell the story of Benny Benson, who designed the Alaska flag.
Collect or preview optional resources, such as Benny’s Flag by Phyllis Krasilovsky.
Print or provide visuals of other Alaska symbols (forget-me-not, salmon, ptarmigan).
Prepare art supplies for students’ Alaska Celebration Posters: drawing paper, crayons/markers, optional collage materials.
Lesson 3 Belonging to Place
Revisit and display anchor charts from Lessons 1 and 2:
Select a short excerpt, Elder story, or reflection about belonging to land and community.
Prepare sentence frame handouts: “I belong to this place because…”
Gather art supplies: paper, markers, crayons, pencils.
Collect materials for compiling student work into a mural or class book (large butcher paper or a binder with sleeves).
Prepare to lead discussion connecting Indigenous, Russian, and American belonging to Sitka and how families today connect to place.
LESSON HOW-TO-GUIDE
To view all the lessons, select the button "View Lessons"
Some lessons may have Lesson Slides that accompany the lesson plan. Select "Lesson Slides"
Some lessons may also have a worksheet or activity. Select "Print Outs"
The lesson slides below accompany each lesson within the unit. These can be projected on a screen or printed out.
Read this background information document to learn more about Alaska Day before teaching students:
Questions?
Questions?
Contact act@sitkaschools.org to get more information or support
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