Website Evaluation Exercise (CRAAP) - The Iroquois of the Northeast

Website:


http://www.carnegiemnh.org/exhibits/north-south-east-west/iroquois/index.html

Currency:

• Website is 11 years old (1998).
• All the links are functional.
• The information seems relatively current (as much of it is about past events and culture). However, there is no information from the past ten years; for example, there is no mention of Native American run casinos.

Relevance:

• The information about the Iroquois Nations is broad but not deep (covers a lot of topics but not much information about each). This website would be a good one for an introduction to the Iroquois (assuming the information is correct; there are no citations) but I would find other sources for an in-depth study.
• I would be comfortable using this website as one of several resources for a research paper. It has no citations but it is maintained by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Authority:

• The site is part of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
• The site is an ".org" site.
• There is no actual "author" listed only a copyright by the museum.
• There is contact information at the Carnegie Museum homepage.
• Except for the fact that there is no actual research cited, this website seems to have a relatively high level of authority.
  

Accuracy:

• This information comes from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
• The information is not supported by evidence.
• The information is neither reviewed nor referred.
  
• I can verify some of the information from personal knowledge.
• The language has no grammatical errors and seems relatively unbiased.
• All in all, this information seems pretty accurate, except for the lack of citations.
  

Purpose:

• The purpose of this website is to inform.
  
• The fact that it is a museum website suggests that its purpose is to provide an accurate depiction of Iroquois history, but there is not purpose stated.
• The information is presented as fact, but there is no actual evidence presented.
• The point of view appears to be objective.
• The fact that this website is from a white American museum means that the information provided is likely to be biased in favor of the white/European perspective of history. The website only mentions peaceful interactions between the Natives and colonists. There in no mention of the white conquest of Native peoples.
  
• The purpose of this website appears to be to provide information about Iroquois cultural traditions, but is biased toward the white point of view as evidenced by the omission of information about white conquest.
  

Peace Monument in Hiroshima

Here is a picture of the monument in Hiroshima Peace Park. The statue on top is Sadako. On Peace Day (August 6th) thousands of origami peace cranes are placed at the monument's base. At the bottom the following poem is inscribed:

This is our cry, this is our prayer; peace in the world.

Book Review: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Coerr, E. (1977). Sadako and the thousand paper cranes. New York: Dell Publishing.

Keywords

Hope, Peace, Hiroshima, Atomic Bomb, Leukemia, Death, Empathy.

Summary

Sadako is a 12 year old girl living in Japan who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb when she was two years old. She loves running and avoids reminders of the bomb, such as survivors with scars. She starts having dizzy spells and finds out the she has the dreaded atom bomb sickness, leukemia. Sadako's friend tells her about a legend wherein if a person folds 1000 paper cranes the gods grant her a wish and make her well. As her health deteriorates, Sadako slowly folds cranes, but she is unable to complete the quest and ends up dying with 356 to go. A monument is erected in her honor and children place origami 'peace cranes' there every year on Peace Day, the anniversary of the dropping of he bomb.

Teaching Suggestions and Caveats

This is a powerful antiwar story. It is appropriate for a wide range of ages. It could be read aloud to younger students and could be read and studied in depth through high school. The story works on many levels. First, it is a sad story about a girl who dies from leukemia. Second, it is a story about the detrimental effects of war in general and the atomic bomb specifically. Third, it is about Sadako's transition from a carefree girl who avoids contanct with reminders of the Bomb (e.g. she won't look at survivers who are deformed) and has little thought for anyone but herself, to a dying girl who if forced to deal directly with the implications of the Bomb and has empathy for others. Fourth, it shows how the death of one person can cause hope in others, as Sadako and her quest have become a rallying cry for world peace.

Book Review: Freedom School, Yes!

Littlesugar, A. (2001). Freedom school, yes!. New York: Philomel Books.

Keywords

Civil Rights Movement, African American History, Racism, Mississippi race relations, overcoming oppression

Summary

Jolie, a black girl living in Mississippi in 1964, is surprised when a brick is thrown through her bedroom window warning her family against housing a young white woman from the North who will be teaching in the black community in a 'freedom school.' Despite this and other harassment and threats from racists, including burning the church down, the black community perseveres and Jolie and others learn about African American history in the freedom school. In the process Jolie learns to be brave and overcome obstacles.

Teaching Suggestions and Caveats

This story seems appropriate for grades 1-5. It would be a great story to read while learning about the Civil Rights Movement. It seems that this aspect of civil rights (freedom schools) is one that is not talked about very much, and therefore it might be an appropriate addition to the regular curriculum. The illustrations by Floyd Cooper are well done and slightly surreal or impressionistic. This provides an interesting juxtaposition to the sometimes intense content (arson, threats), and could have the effect of lessening the impact of the harsh realities of racism in America. This may be undesirable.

The fact that the freedom school teacher is a white woman helps to show that America was not a white versus black culture as it is often painted, but there were many people on the spectrum from racist to antiracist.

Book Review: Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism

Lears, L. (1998). Ian's walk: a story about autism. Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company

Keywords

Autism, family, disability, brothers and sisters, senses and sensation

Summary

The story Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism, by Laurie Lears with illustrations by Karen Ritz, is a picture book that tells a simple but powerful story. It is told by Julie, a young girl (middle school age?) who goes on a walk with her older sister and her younger brother, Ian, who is autistic. As they travel to different places she talks about how Ian experiences the world differently from non-autistic children. When Ian wanders off, Julie, after momentary panic, uses her knowledge of how he thinks to find him, and realizes that she loves him despite his sometimes frustrating condition.

Teaching Suggestions and Caveats

This book would work well to introduce a class to autism. It gives some basic information about autism and how it affects family members of autistic people. The simple story and colorful pictures are easy to understand and yet convey important information. No in-depth information is given about autism and its effects on a family, so other sources would be necessary if a student wanted to learn more. This book seems appropriate for grades 1-3 or so.

The story portrays a white family in a predominately white community. There are several non-whites portrayed but for the most part they are in the background. Minority students might have some trouble identifying with this book. Also, based on its simple prose and storyline, some students might find this book to be boring.