Education Packet & Lesson Plans

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Education Packet

This packet is full of readings, activities, lesson plans, music, games and ideas that relate to Straits of Mackinac history, as well as Michigan history. Use as a lesson on its own, as a pre/post visit lesson before you come to Colonial Michilimackinac, Fort Mackinac, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse or Mackinac Island State Park or in combination with any other materials. Includes Michigan GLCEs (Grade Level Content Expectations) for each lesson.

Download sections of the MSHP Education Packet in PDF Format. To get Adobe's free Acrobat Reader, please click here. (link will open in a new window)

Story of the Straits and Historic Timeline
Background of the Mackinac Area. NEW GLCEs!

Michilimackinac and the Fur Trade
The Adventures of Jacques and Pierre - a story about voyageurs and their journey to Michilimackinac. NEW GLCEs!

Historic Mill Creek and Water Powered Sawmill
From Muscle to Machine - how a sawmill became Michigan's first industrial complex. NEW GLCEs!

Fort Mackinac and Military Life
A Day with Company K - goes through an ordinary day of a soldier stationed at Fort Mackinac. NEW GLCEs!

American Indians
Learn about American Indian shelters and communities. NEW GLCEs!

Archaeology
Archaeology's long and rich presence in the Straits of Mackinac region. NEW GLCEs!

18th and 19th Century Games
A series of educational games. NEW GLCEs!

Music at Mackinac
A collection of songs from the Mackinac region. NEW GLCEs!

Rendezvous at Michilimackinac
A play set in Mackinac's early fur trading era.

Tales of Mackinac
A pair of folklore tales from Mackinac.

Travels to Mackinac
A collection of research sources highlighting the business of Mackinac's fur trade.

What Did They Eat?
An overview of the diets of the American Indians, traders and soldiers of Mackinac.

Answer Sheet
Answers to all activities above.

A Castle at the Straits - Teacher's Guide
A Castle at the Straits tells the story of the Marshall family that worked and lived at Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

A Place Called Home - Teacher's Guide
A Place Called Home tells the story of the Campbell family that worked and lived at Mill Creek.

Home to Mackinac - Teacher's Guide
Home to Mackinac tells the story of Jack and his journey to Mackinac Island and Fort Mackinac in the 1880s.

Background for Teachers
A quick overview of the general history of the Straits of Mackinac and Mackinac State Historic Parks.

Vocabulary List
A list of vocabulary words used in the readings above.

Teacher ResourcesUPDATED AND REVISED!
A list of materials to be used in the classroom, by the students or background for teachers.