Bite-sized History
Explore bite-sized history activities! Use our teen-created podcast, Rainy Day History, as a starting point to look at muddy and complicated waters of Seattle’s past; watch a MOHAI Minute and create engaging activities; or go back in time and explore MOHAI’s past exhibits.
We welcome your thoughts and feedback on these activities! Email your thoughts and suggestions to education@mohai.org.
Rainy Day History
Rainy Day History is a podcast by the MOHAI Youth Advisors (MYA). Dive into the muddy and complicated waters of Seattle’s past, its struggles with inclusion and exclusion, and histories of community, resilience, and belonging. Use this podcast as a fun way to introduce new topics, start discussions, or practice research skills during distance learning.
Past Exhibit Packets
Explore exhibit-throwback teacher packets from past MOHAI exhibits.
-
Edible City: A Delicious Journey
What are Seattle’s iconic foods and where do they come from? What industrial and economic forces have influenced where Seattleites get their food? How is Seattle’s food scene a reflection of the city’s different cultural communities?
-
Use MOHAI’s resources to explore the Pike Place Market and Seattle’s iconic foods, and learn about the impact of the Boldt Decision on Tribal food sovereignty.
Classroom Activities
- Pike Place Market over time photo investigation with conversation and activity prompts
- Boldt Decision document and photograph investigation with conversation and activity prompts
Download Teacher Packet
Native Food Sovereignty Video
-
WW1 America
The WWI era—1914 to 1919—saw America transformed. It was a time of extremes that pulled Americans between fear and hope, and between deepening cynicism and broadening optimism.
-
Explore how WW1 impacted lives on the American homefront, and practice critical thinking and media literacy skills with students by uncovering the meaning behind WW1-era propaganda posters.
Classroom Activities
- Helping on the Homefront photograph investigation with conversation and activity prompts
- Persuasion and Propaganda poster investigation with conversation and activity prompts
Download Teacher Packet
-
Seattle on the Spot: The Photographs of Al Smith
Al Smith’s photography chronicles Seattle’s vibrant Central District neighborhood and the city’s African American community during the mid-20th century with great warmth and intimacy.
-
Through the works of Al Smith, explore Seattle’s Central District—past and present, consider who and what makes a community, and how communities change and are remembered.
Classroom Activities
- Community Snapshot photograph exploration with conversation and activity prompts
- Jackson Street After Hours photograph exploration with conversation and activity prompts
Download Teacher Packet
MOHAI Minute Exploration & Activity Prompts
The MOHAI Minutes video series is a fun look at small snippets of Seattle-area history. Check out our suggestions for a variety of ways to use them to engage students in a variety of creative historical exploration.
Download: MOHAI Minutes and Exploration Activity Prompts (PDF)