Lesson Activity 

1. Ask: “What’s one story only I can tell about Nebraska or America?” or “What’s my Nebraska story? My American moment?”

2. Students write or sketch one meaningful symbol, scene, or moment from their lives or heritage.

3. Explore public art that tells a story. Here’s a few examples: 

   1. Visions of Hope created by Josh Sarantitis and located at Mill Creek Playground in Philadelphia, draws imagery and themes directly from young people in the local community to foster hope and optimism. 

   2. Art has a special way of telling stories and bringing together people and building community. Explore Working Toward a People’s Art mural in Hastings or Called to Walls in McCook, both part of Mid-America Mural Project led by artist David Lowenstein. 

   3. Sleeping Woman by Tom Chimes: is a mile-long poem turned into public art in Philadelphia. 

   4. History of Transportation mural in California: eras and people blend in a visual timeline.

   5. The railroad was extremely important to the settlement of the “Western frontier,” including Nebraska. Explore the Iron Horse Legacy Mural that is located in the Historic Haymarket District of Lincoln. 

4. Help students connect to traditions (family, sports, migration, state landscapes) and express these through their chosen medium.

5. Have students sketch ideas, build clay models, or design murals expressing what matters to them.

6. Encourage students to combine words and images—poem, memory, or favorite place—into mural fragments if they are inspired to do so.