Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona

Now that we've looked at different climates zones in Arizona, let's look at the plants that grow in these regions which basketmakers use in their weaving. Click on the black circle to answer the discussion questions.  

Map 3: Plants of Arizona

How do you experience the environment where you live?
Below are activities and reflection questions to help you consider your relationship with nature and the affects of climate change. Attached are extension activities.

Reflection Activity

Photo: Tucson, Arizona during monsoon season, August 2022. Photo by Lisa Falk

Story: Wind and Rain

Arizona is home to many different environments, from desert to mountains, each with its own climate. But what is a climate? A climate is a weather pattern within an area. This includes the temperature and precipitation, and influences what plants grow where. The elevation, or height above the sea level, plays a role, too. Usually, the higher the elevation, the colder the temperature and the more precipitation. Climate zones impact how people use and live on the land. Check out the hotspots on the map to investigate different climate zones in Arizona. Click on the black circle to access the discussion questions.

Map 2: Climates of Arizona

Currently, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized Native Nations with ancestral and reservation lands in the state of Arizona. In this kit, we look at how changes in the environment have impacted basketmaking practices for Hopi, Western Apache, Akimel O’odham, and Tohono O’odham weavers. Look at the map closely and click on the stars to learn more about these Native Nations and their basketmaking traditions. Click on the black circle to answer the discussion questions. Download the Native Nations activity below to test your knowledge of where the Native Nations communities are located in Arizona today.  

Map 1: Native Nations of the Southwest

Click on the stars to learn more about the highlighted baskets in this Wall of Baskets. Don't miss the 3D model of a special Tohono O'odham basket. Click the black circle for discussion questions.

Interactive Basket Display

Tohono O'odham baskets with traditional and modern designs. Some of the designs are man in the maze, squash blossom, star and wheat. Credit: Arizona Sate Museum, 1972, Tohono O'odham Collection 1970-1980, Helga Teiwes Photographer, https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/94182. 

Interview with Tohono O'odham Basketweaver Terrol Dew Johnson 

* What plants would you want to use to weave a basket?   
* Why would you choose those?     Refer back to the Plants of Arizona activity to figure out where you might find those plants.

Plants and Tools Used in Making Tohono O'odham Baskets

Draw and color on this basket template to create your own basket design. List the basket weaving materials you would use. Refer back to the previous activity to see examples of how the materials are used for ideas.

Design Your Own Basket

Circle Loom Weaving Activity

Can you recall? Draw and write/type on this map to show where reservations of the Arizona tribes are located. Refer back to the previous activity if you need to.

Mapping Activity

This resource kit explores how climate change impacts Native American basketmakers and their communities, and will help students reflect on the impacts of climate change in their own lives. Baskets are an important part of many Native American cultures, but climate change is impacting the resources used to make baskets. Basketmaking practices from Hopi, Western Apache, Akimel O’odham and Tohono O’odham communities are highlighted in this kit.  (All discussion questions for this kit can be found in the Educator Materials).

Kit developed by Arizona State Museum student interns Kat Moore, Will Martin, Kayleigh Heffelmire under the guidance of Dr. Ruth Jolie, and with the support and editing of Lisa Falk and Sarah Willwater.


Educator Overview for Climate Change through Basktry -revised.docx.pdf

Understanding Climate Change Discussion Questions-1.pdf

Understanding Climate Change through Indigenous Basketry

Civics and Government

Social Studies

Economics

Geography

Visual Arts

The Arts

Observation Activity

Matching Activity

Looking at this picture, we see a mother and daughter who were gathering plant items for basket making.

What activities do you do with your family in nature (gardening, hiking, picnics, etc.)?

How do you feel when you spend time out in nature?

Have you noticed any changes in the environment where you live or other places you spend time? If so, what are they?

Photo: Joanna Taylor and daughter Bernadette, Arizona State Museum University of Arizona Helga Teiwes, photographer, 1984.

Let's look at these four photos taken in 1998, 2005, 2018, and 2022 of Glen Canyon Dam (USGS). This dam is essential for creating power in the West Coast, but climate change has yearly increased global temperatures. As these temperatures rise, Lake Powell—created by Glen Canyon Dam—has less and less water each year.

Human diversion of water, through the creation of dams, has impacted activities of all communities in the Southwest. Water is becoming scarcer and scarcer with more people relying on it. Today water levels in dams such as this one and Lake Mead are so low that the Federal Government is working with States and Native Nations to develop conservation water plans to conserve these resources. Over the next decade decisions on water conservation, water allocation, and climate change will dominate politics and the well being of all who live in our region.

How can you lower you water and energy use?

What organizations in your community are working to address water conservation?

Photo Credits: https://eros.usgs.gov/earthshots/glen-canyon-dam

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Understanding Climate Change through Indigenous Basketry

Reflection Activity

Guiding Question

Our Relationships with Nature