#flatstanley #flathal
The Flat Fellas were excited to drive across the state line into Oklahoma, so Flat Stanley could visit another State in the United States of America.
Here they encountered, ever so briefly, the Choctaw Nation… a tribe of people who have lived on this continent since before the founding of the United States. In Canada they would be part of the First Nations.
If you moved to a different planet, would you still be a member of your family? Of course! Your family isn’t a house; it’s the people you belong to. A Tribal Nation is like that—it is a family of thousands of people that stays together no matter where the map says they are.
The Great Seal of the Choctaw Nation is more than just a logo; it’s a visual symbol of the Choctaw people and what matters to their nation.
- The Unstrung Bow: This represents a love for peace. The bow is not ready to fire, showing that the nation prefers harmony, though it is prepared to defend itself.
- The Three Arrows: These represent the three original districts of the Choctaw Nation in their ancestral homelands (before the Trail of Tears). It shows that even when moved, they kept their internal structure and unity.
- The Pipe-Hatchet: This is a “peace pipe.” It symbolizes the Choctaw people’s history of diplomacy and their commitment to discussion over conflict.
My Family, My Nation
Name: ________ Date: ________
Part 1: Learning from the Choctaw Nation
In the journal entry, we learned that a Tribal Nation is like a large family that stays together no matter where they are on a map. The Choctaw Nation uses a Great Seal to show the world what they believe in.
Matching Challenge: Draw a line from the symbol to the value it represents based on your reading:
The Unstrung Bow → Love for Peace and Harmony
The Three Arrows → Unity and History of the original districts
The Pipe-Hatchet → Diplomacy and Talking through problems
Part 2: Design Your Family Seal
If your family (your “nation”) had a Great Seal, what would it look like? Think about the things that make your family special—is it music? Kindness? Nature? Sports? Hard work?
In a circle, draw three symbols that show what matters most to your family.
Part 3: Explain Your Symbols
Just like the Choctaw Seal tells a story, your seal tells the story of your people.
Explain why you chose your three symbols:
Symbol 1: ________ What it means to my family:________________________________________
Symbol 2: ________ What it means to my family:________________________________________
Symbol 3: ________ What it means to my family:________________________________________
Discussion Question: If your family moved to a different city or even a different planet, would these symbols still be true? Why?
