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.
Story of the Straits and Historic Timeline (PDF) Background of the Mackinac Area.
Michilimackinac and the Fur Trade (PDF) The Adventures of Jacques and Pierre – a story about voyageurs and their journey to Michilimackinac.
Historic Mill Creek and Water Powered Sawmill (PDF) From Muscle to Machine – how a sawmill became Michigan’s first industrial complex.
Fort Mackinac and Military Life (PDF) A Day with Company K – goes through an ordinary day of a soldier stationed at Fort Mackinac.
American Indians (PDF) Learn about American Indian shelters and communities.
Archaeology (PDF) Archaeology’s long and rich presence in the Straits of Mackinac region.
18th and 19th Century Games (PDF) A series of educational games.
Music at Mackinac (PDF) A collection of songs from the Mackinac region.
Rendezvous at Michilimackinac (PDF) A play set in Mackinac’s early fur trading era.
Tales of Mackinac (PDF) A pair of folklore tales from Mackinac.
Travels to Mackinac (PDF) A collection of primary sources highlighting the business of Mackinac’s fur trade.
What Did They Eat? (PDF) An overview of the diets of the American Indians, traders and soldiers of Mackinac.
Answer Sheet (PDF) Answers to all activities above. Updated soon…
A Castle at the Straits – Teacher’s Guide (PDF) A Castle at the Straits tells the story of the Marshall family that worked and lived at Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. Update to GLCEs soon!
A Place Called Home – Teacher’s Guide (PDF) A Place Called Home tells the story of the Campbell family that worked and lived at Mill Creek.
Home to Mackinac – Teacher’s Guide (PDF) Home to Mackinac tells the story of Jack and his journey to Mackinac Island and Fort Mackinac in the 1880s.
Vocabulary List (PDF) A list of vocabulary words used in the readings above.
