Our 4th/5th-grade classes recently traded the classroom for the docks, visiting the Columbia River Maritime Museum. While the entire museum offered a fascinating look at the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” our primary focus was connecting our current reading of Thunder Rolling in the Mountainsby Scott O’Dell to the lived history of the Indigenous peoples of the Columbia River Basin.
Bringing the Narrative to Life
In Thunder Rolling in the Mountains, we’ve been following Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) as they fight to maintain their dignity and connection to the land. Seeing the Native American exhibit allowed students to move beyond the pages of the book and see the tangible craftsmanship and ingenuity of the people we’ve been studying.
- Engineering and Art: Students marveled at the cedar-carved canoes and intricate fishing tools, noting how the Nez Perce and neighboring tribes utilized the river’s resources with such precision.
- Historical Context: The exhibit provided a sobering look at how maritime trade and westward expansion—themes central to our book—impacted the traditional ways of life for Northwest tribes.
Expert Insights from Museum Volunteers
The highlight of the trip for many was the interaction with the museum volunteers. These dedicated experts spent significant time with our students, explaining the nuances of the exhibits in great detail.
Student Takeaways
Discussions in the classrooms after the field trip were electric. Students were debating the strategies used by Chief Joseph and comparing the museum’s artifacts to the descriptions in the novel. It was clear that the “hands-on” nature of the museum bridged the gap between historical fiction and historical reality.
By Rachel Flynn, 4th/5th Grade Teacher, Garibaldi Grade School
