Horseracing on a Course Behind the Mandan Village

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting today! It shows something that happened a long, long time ago. Are you ready to see it? nn

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This painting is called "Horseracing on a Course Behind the Mandan Village." It was painted by a man named George Catlin, a very long time ago – between 1832 and 1833! Can anyone guess how old that is? (Give children time to guess and offer praise for their attempts). That's right, it's super old! This painting is like a time machine, showing us what life was like for some people a very long time ago. nn

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Look at all the people! They are called the Mandan people. See how they're all dressed in different colors? What colors do you see? (Encourage children to name colors). Their clothes are made of leather and other materials. They're watching a horse race! Do you like horses? What do you think it was like to watch a horse race back then? nn

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Look at the horses! They're running really fast, aren't they? The artist, George Catlin, was really good at showing how things move. He painted the horses and riders so we can almost feel the excitement of the race! The ground is all grassy and flat. Can you see the sky? What color is it? (Encourage children to describe the sky). It's a peaceful sky, even though the race is exciting. nn

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This painting isn't just a picture of a horse race. It's a story about the Mandan people. It shows us how they lived, what they wore, and what they enjoyed doing. It's like a snapshot of their lives, frozen in time. It helps us learn about a different culture from a long time ago. Isn't that amazing? nn

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George Catlin painted lots of pictures of Native American people. He wanted to show the world what their lives were like before things changed. He was a very important artist because he helped us remember their history. So, next time you see a painting, remember that it can tell a story, just like this one! Do you have any questions about the painting? nn

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Thank you for looking at this amazing painting with me today! I hope you learned something new and had fun!