Horses
Talk about how important the horse was to the Native Americans.
Cut out a large head/profile of a horse using brown construction paper. Have the children draw on details & glue on yard pieces for the mane.
or
Cut out full body of a horse & let them add designs on the horse. Get books & show the children how the horses were painted up with symbols/designs to copy.
Dreamcatchers - This is one of the childrens favorite activities! Bend coat hanger in a circle, wrap with strips of material or yarn, string with white string back and forth across the circle, threading beads, feathers, use your imagination!
Another idea about the dream catchers that might be a little easier--- Instead of using wire-- Take a small styrofoam plate and cut the inner circle out leaving just the edge of the plate. Use holepunch to make holes. Then use string through the middle. Add feathers and beads.
http://www.makingfriends.com/f_holiday.htm#Native American Friends
http://www.makingfriends.com/native_american_dance_fan.htm
A can with a lid
glue
construction paper
crayons
scissors
Cut a piece of construction paper to fit around the can. Decorate it, Indian style. Cut circles out of construction paper and glue to ends of the can.
A can with a lid
glue
construction paper
crayons
scissors
Cut a piece of construction paper to fit around the can. Decorate it, Indian style. Cut circles out of construction paper and glue to ends of the can.
Sensory Table Set-up
For a unit on Native Americans use sand in the sensory table. Place vinyl canoes, wooden people, and horses from the dollar shops. You can also place plastic trees, etc. from fish tank supplies in there. Have an area with lincoln logs for longhouses, teepees, and a small pond. The kids love it!
Feather Games
Cut Indian feathers from assorted construction paper, or if you can get
different colored "real" feathers, use these.
Game: What Feather Is Missing:
Have the kids sit in a circle. Place four or more feathers in the middle of the circle. One of the children will hide his eyes, while another takes a feather away. The other child will try to guess which color is missing, and which child has the feather. Play this game until each child has a chance to guess the missing color.
Game: Feather Hunt:
Hide the feathers all around the room. Have the children hunt for them and see how many each child has found. This is good for counting and also for identifying the different colors.
Totem Pole
More Kinder Crafts
Make a Totem Pole from a paper towel tube.
Totem poles are made by the Tlingit Indians of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America. Traditionally, each Totem Pole tells the story of a Native American family's ancestral spirits and family history (pictured in human and animal form). They depict the spirits as people, mythical beasts, and wildlife treasured by the Tlingit Tribe. These huge, wooden poles often show the bald eagle, grizzly bear, moose, beaver, otter, mountain goat, wolf, whale, porpoise, seal, sea lion, and salmon.
Supplies needed:
· A paper towel tube · Crayons, tempera paint, or markers · Brown construction paper (a few sheets) · Scissors · White glue · 2 popsicle sticks (optional)
Wrap a piece of construction paper around a paper towel tube to see what size paper you will need. Trim the paper to the right height and width (allow about a half inch overlap around the tube, so you can glue the edges).
Divide the paper into 4 or more horizontal sections. Have the child draw a different animal head in each section. Put most of the facial details in the middle of each section. If you're working with a group of children, cut the paper into sections and have each child draw one face.
Wrap the heads around the paper towel tube and glue the seams.
Draw wings or arms for some or all of the animals. Cut them out and decorate them. Glue them to the back of the Totem Pole.
Optional: Glue 2 popsicle sticks to the base so that your Totem Pole stands upright. Hot glue works well for this.
Dream CatcherMore Kinder Crafts
Dream Catchers are from Native American lore; they trap bad dreams and let the good dreams filter down to the sleeper. For each dream catcher you will need: · a bendable twig about 1 foot long · a few inches of thin wire · some twine · beads with large holes · a few feathers
Use thin wire to tie the ends of a twig together to make a hoop. Have an adult make a hoop from a twig. To do this, wrap a short length of thin wire around the overlapping ends.
Cut a few feet of twine. Tie one end of the twine to the twig hoop. String a few beads onto the twine and push the beads toward the tied end. Wrap the twine around the other side of the hoop.
String a few more beads on the twine and then wrap the twine around the far side of the hoop. Repeat until you have an interesting webbing design.
Tie a short length of twine on the hoop. String a bead or two on it and then tie a feather onto the end. Repeat this a few times (2 or 3 hanging feather strings look nice). Hang the dream catcher near your bed!
Birch Bark Canoe
More Kinder Crafts
Many Native American tribes made finely-crafted birch bark canoes. You can make a small model using construction paper and yarn.
Supplies needed:
· Brown construction paper or brown paper from a grocery bag · Crayons, tempera paint, or markers · Scissors · Yarn · A hole punch
Fold the piece of construction paper in half the long way.
About a half-inch from the fold line, make another fold. Do this on both sides of the original fold. The paper should now look a bit like a capital "W." The folds will be the bottom of the canoe.
Draw a canoe shape on the paper (make sure the folds are on the bottom of the canoe).
Cut out the canoe shape and punch a few holes on each end.
Using yarn, weave through the holes. Push the folded floor flat so that the canoe sits upright.
Tepee
More Kinder Crafts
Many Native American tribes made tepees (also called wigwams) from long tree limbs and animal hides. You can make a wonderful model tepee using a brown paper grocery bag and twigs.
Supplies needed:
· 4 straight twigs (about a foot long each) · Yarn, twine, or a rubber band · A large, brown paper grocery bag · Scissors · A pencil · Crayons, tempera paint, or markers · Tape
Bind the twigs together toward the top using yarn, string, or a rubber band. Leave about 3 inches of twig at one side of the string. Do not bind the twigs too tightly.
Gently adjust the twigs so that they form a tepee shape.
Holding the tepee above a piece of scrap paper, trace the outline of one side of the tepee. This will be your template for making the tepee. Cut out your triangular template.
Open up a large paper bag along its seams. Lay your triangle template on the opened bag and trace its outline.
Trace the triangle 3 more times with the long edges touching.
Cut out this large polygon along the outside edge. Cut a door on one edge. Decorate the tepee using crayons or markers.
Fold the paper along each of the pencil lines. Then form the paper into a tepee shape and tape the edges together.
Snip off the top of the tepee (the twigs will go through this hole).
Put the twigs into the tepee. Tape the twigs into place - each twig is taped along a fold line. You now have a wonderful tepee!
Kachina Doll Craft
Go to a printable version of this page
More Crafts
Kachina (pronounced kah-CHEE-nah) dolls are traditional, hand-carved wooden dolls made by Hopi Indians of the southwestern US. Each Kachina doll represents a spirit in life. Some typical spirits represented by the Hopi in Kachina dolls include: the chief, the corn maiden, the ceremonial dancer, the singer, the ogre, the buffalo, the badger, the crow, the hawk, clouds,the sun, and the rainbow.
You can design your Kachina doll to represent anything you'd like. You can make it from a toilet paper tube, paint, fabric, felt, feathers, beads, and other items found around the house.
Supplies needed:
· A toilet paper or other cardboard tube · Scissors · Tape · Hot glue (and paper glue if you're using construction paper for the clothing) · A styrofoam ball or a ping-pong ball (or other object for the doll's head, like clay or a small box) · Tempera paint, acrylic paint and/or markers · Brushes · Scraps of construction paper, felt and/or fabric · Yarn · Feathers, beads, buttons, shells, ribbons, and other decorative objects · Thick cardboard, cut from a sturdy box (for the doll's base)
Make two slits opposite each other in a toilet paper tube - they should go about a third of the way up the tube. Make two short cuts at the ends of each slit you just made, cutting a "T" shape on each side of the roll (the flaps under the "T"s will be the legs of the doll).
Curve each of the two flaps you just made into small cylinders - these will be the doll's legs. Make sure that the edges meet exactly. Use tape to secure each cylinder (doll's leg).
Using hot glue, attach a styrofoam ball or a ping-pong ball to the top of the tube (this will be the doll's head). You can use other objects for the head, like modelling clay or a small box. If the ball is a bit too small for the tube, make a series of cuts along the top of the cardboard tube, forming flaps. Then fold the flaps into the tube. Glue the ball to the flaps. Let the glue cool and set.
First, think of the theme that your doll will represent. Then you can decorate and dress your doll. Paint the head and let it dry. Then draw in the facial features using markers or paint. To make hair, glue on bits of yarn or felt scraps (or something else!).
Cover the body and legs with pieces of construction paper, felt and/or fabric. Glue them to the doll (hot glue works well with felt and fabric - tape or glue is better for construction paper). Decorate the figure by gluing on feathers, beads, buttons, shells, ribbons, and/or other decorative objects.
Make a base (oval, circular, rectangular or another shape) for your doll out of thick cardboard. Think of your doll's theme when making its base. If your doll represented water, you could design a base that looked like a pool of water; if your doll represented the sun, the base could look like a sunburst. Using hot glue, attach the Kachina doll to its base.
Decorate the base using paint, paper, beads, or anything else that fits into the theme of your Kachina doll. You now have your own Kachina doll.
Native American Rattle Craft
More Crafts
You can make a simple yet beautiful Native American rattle from a twig, yarn and beads. When you shake it, it makes a rattling sound.
Supplies needed:
· A y-shaped twig · Yarn · Scissors · Tape · Feathers, beads, buttons, washers, spools, and/or shells with holes in them.
Wind yarn around a y-shaped twig, covering it entirely. Start and end the winding with knots (or tape, if the children cannot make knots). Along the way, wind in a few decorative objects, like feathers or beads.
Tie a short piece of yarn to one arm of the "y." Thread a few beads, washers, spools, or other small objects onto the yarn. Tie the other end of the yarn onto the other arm of the twig.
RainstickMore Kinder Crafts A simple-to-make Rainstick.
Rainsticks are ceremonial musical instruments used to invoke the rain spirits. They are made by people who live in the deserts of northern Chile. In Chile, rainsticks are traditionally made from dead cactus tubes with hundreds of cactus spines hammered into the tube. Tiny lava pebbles cascade gently through the tube, sounding much like rain.
This rainstick is definitely not traditional. It is made from a cardboard tube (instead of the dried cactus) and aluminum foil (in place of cactus spines).
Supplies needed:
· A paper towel tube or other long cardboard tube · Aluminum foil · Small dried beans (like lentils), unpopped popcorn, dry rice, or tiny pasta. · Brown paper (from a grocery bag) or construction paper · Glue · Scissors · Crayons or markers
Trace around the end of your tube onto a piece of brown paper (or construction paper). Draw a bigger circle around that circle and then draw a lot of spokes between the two circles.
Cut along the spokes.
Put glue on the spokes and glue the cap onto one end of your tube.
Cut a piece of aluminum foil that is about one and half times the length of your tube and about 6 inches wide.
Crunch the aluminum foil into two long, thin, snake-like shapes. Then twist each one into a spring shape.
Put the aluminum foil springs into your tube. Pour some dry beans, dry rice, or unpopped popcorn into your tube. The tube should only be about 1/10 full. You can experiment to see how different amounts and different types of seeds and beans change the sound.
Make another cap from brown paper (the same as the first three steps) and cap your tube.
Optional: Decorate the tube by covering it with brown paper or construction paper, and then making designs with crayons or markers (or cut-out paper or stickers). Rainforest designs are nice, especially brightly-colored butterflies, frogs, and flowers. Tiny construction paper butterflies (like the one on the right) are nice glued onto the rainstick.
Native American Vests
Have children choose a Native American name to use in the classroom during the course of study relating to Native Americans (Dancing Raccoon, Little Bear, Pretty Flower)._ Using markers and T-shirt paint, have children illustrate
their name on burlap vests._ Native American symbols can also be used to decorate the vests._ Burlap that is purchased by the yard works great._ Simply cut doubled burlap into 12" pieces and make an opening for the child's head.
Paper bag Vest
Use a large brown grocery bag.j cut a hole for the head at the bottom portion of the bag and then cut a line up the middle and 2 arm holes._ Once cut give the bags to the kids..have them crumple the bags over and over again...if done enough it will take on the feel of suede. Then let them decorate them with colors and feathers and what ever else you have on hand.
Native American Rainstick: use a Pringles can with lid. Cover with brown paper and let kids decorate. Add
rice. Use at circletime while listening to authentic Native American Music.
Indian Teepee's
Materials - Provider template for teepee, brown paper bag, 3 straws per child, crayons or paint to decorate teepees, glue or tape, and newspaper.
This is an oral language discussion done with the whole group._ Have the children sit with you in a group and say, "Thanksgiving will be coming at the end of the month._ We are going to do some fun things for Thanksgiving and will learn about the Pilgrims and the Indians who helped them._ The Indians who helped the Pilgrims were very special people._ They lived in America long before the Pilgrims came here to live._ They wore different clothes then the
Pilgrims and lived in different kinds of homes._ Some Indians lived in homes called Teepees._ The shape of the teepee looked like the bottom of an ice cream cone."
Background Information about the Teepee
(Depending on the age of the children, you may want to use all or part of this information.)
The teepee was covered with buffalo hides._ The teepee was very strong and could not blow over when the wind blew hard._ Teepees were made by the Indian women._ The Indian woman built the teepee and took it down when the Indians
moved to another camping spot._ The men Indians never helped with the teepee. They were hunters and warriors._ An Indian woman was very proud of her teepee. She decorated the outside of it with Indian symbols and bright colors._ It
took two Indian women to put up a teepee._ They worked very long and hard to build the teepee.
Just like your family, the Indians used "good teepee manners" when they visited another Indian family._ If the teepee door was open, all were welcome to come in._ If the teepee flap was closed, a visitor needed to say that they were at the door and wait to be invited in._ Some teepees had a rattle hung outside the door, that was used just like a doorbell._ If the teepee flap was tied down and it had two sticks crossed over it, the door was "locked." Everyone knew that the people who lived there had gone out or did not want to be disturbed.
The Indians loved to tell stories._ When people would come for a visit, much of the time was spent telling stories around the campfire._ People talked one at a time._ No one interrupted the person who was speaking.
1) After you have finished talking about the teepees, ask the children the following questions to check for comprehension:
_______ * What was the name of the home that the Indian lived in?_ (teepee)
_______ * Who put up the teepee?_ (Indian women)
_______ * What shape did the teepee look like? (a cone)
2) Help the children to carefully open their paper bag into one piece._ Soak the paper bad in water.When the bag is fully wet, have the children crush the bag into a tight ball, to wring out the water.
3) Have the children carefully smooth out the bag and let it dry on a piece of newspaper. (You may want to take a break time now, so as to give the bags a chance to dry thoroughly._ When they are dried, the children will be decorating them.)
4) After the bags have dried, have the children make Indian symbols on the outside of their bag or use sponges to sponge paint the outside of the bag with bright colors.
5) Use the provider template for the teepee and lay it on top of the dried bags and cut around the shape of the template. (It's just a cone shape.)
6) Tape three straws, crisscrossed, to the inside part of the teepee shape and bend the teepee around to form a cone._ Join the edges together with tape or glue._ Stand it up.
Teaching Young Children about Native Americans.
Young children's conceptions of Native Americans often develop out of media portrayals and classroom role playing of the events of the First Thanksgiving. The conception of Native Americans gained from such early exposure is both inaccurate and potentially damaging to others. For example, a visitor to a child care center heard a four-year-old saying, "Indians aren't people. They're all dead." This child had already acquired an inaccurate view of Native Americans, even though her classmates were children of many cultures, including a Native American child. Derman-Sparks (1989) asserts that by failing to challenge existing biases we allow children to adopt attitudes based on inaccuracies. Her book is a guide for developing curriculum materials that reflect cultural diversity. This digest seeks to build on this effort by focusing on teaching children in early childhood classrooms about Native Americans. Note that this digest, though it uses the term "Native American," recognizes and respects the common use of the term "American Indian" to describe the indigenous people of North America. While it is most accurate to use the tribal name when speaking of a specific tribe, there is no definitive preference for the use of "Native American" or "American Indian" among tribes or in the general literature.
STEREOTYPES CHILDREN SEE
Most young children are familiar with stereotypes of the Native American. Stereotypes are perpetuated by television, movies, and children's literature when they depict Native Americans negatively, as uncivilized, simple, superstitious, blood-thirsty savages, or positively, as romanticized heroes living in harmony with nature (Grant & Gillespie, 1992). The Disney Company presents both images in its films for children. For example, in the film PETER PAN, Princess Tiger Lily's father represents the negative stereotype as he holds Wendy's brothers hostage, while in the film POCAHONTAS, Pocahontas represents the positive stereotype who respects the earth and communicates with the trees and animals.
Many popular children's authors unwittingly perpetuate stereotypes. Richard Scarry's books frequently contain illustrations of animals dressed in buckskin and feathers, while Mercer Mayer's alphabet book includes an alligator dressed as an Indian. Both authors present a dehumanized image, in which anyone or anything can become Native American simply by putting on certain clothes. TEN LITTLE RABBITS, although beautifully illustrated, dehumanizes Native Americans by turning them into objects for counting. BROTHER EAGLE, SISTER SKY (Harris, 1993) contains a speech delivered by Chief Seattle of the Squamish tribe in the northwestern United States. However, Susan Jeffers' illustrations are of the Plains Indians, and include fringed buckskin clothes and teepees, rather than Squamish clothing and homes.
AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE 1990s
Native Americans make up less than one percent of the total U.S. population but represent half the languages and cultures in the nation. The term "Native American" includes over 500 different groups and reflects great diversity of geographic location, language, socioeconomic conditions, school experience, and retention of traditional spiritual and cultural practices. However, most of the commercially prepared teaching materials available present a generalized image of Native American people with little or no regard for differences that exist from tribe to tribe.
TEACHING SUGGESTIONS
When teachers engage young children in project work, teachers should choose concrete topics in order to enable children to draw on their own understanding. In teaching about Native Americans, the most relevant, interactive experience would be to have Native American children in the classroom. Such experience makes feasible implementing anti-bias curriculum suggestions. Teachers may want to implement the project approach (Katz & Chard, 1989), as it will allow children to carry on an in-depth investigation of a culture they have direct experience with. In these situations, teachers may prepare themselves for working with Native American families by engaging in what Emberton (1994) calls "cultural homework": reading current information about the families' tribe, tribal history, and traditional recreational and spiritual activities; and learning the correct pronunciation of personal names.
POSITIVE STRATEGIES
A number of positive strategies can be used in classrooms, regardless of whether Native American children are members of the class.
1. PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICANS to balance historical information. Teaching about Native Americans exclusively from a historical perspective may perpetuate the idea that they exist only in the past.
2. PREPARE UNITS ABOUT SPECIFIC TRIBES, rather than units about "Native Americans." For example, develop a unit about the people of Nambe Pueblo, the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, the Potawotami. Ideally, choose a tribe with a historical or contemporary role in the local community. Such a unit will provide children with culturally specific knowledge (pertaining to a single group) rather than overgeneralized stereotypes.
3. LOCATE AND USE BOOKS THAT SHOW CONTEMPORARY CHILDREN OF ALL COLORS ENGAGED IN THEIR USUAL, DAILY ACTIVITIES playing basketball, riding bicycles as well as traditional activities. Make the books easily accessible to children throughout the school year. Three excellent titles on the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico are: PUEBLO STORYTELLER, by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith; PUEBLO BOY: GROWING UP IN TWO WORLDS, by Marcia Keegan; and CHILDREN OF CLAY, by Rina Swentzell.
4. OBTAIN POSTERS THAT SHOW NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN IN CONTEMPORARY CONTEXTS, especially when teaching younger elementary children. When selecting historical posters for use with older children, make certain that the posters are culturally authentic and that you know enough about the tribe depicted to share authentic information with your students.
5. USE "PERSONA" DOLLS (dolls with different skin colors) in the dramatic play area of the classroom on a daily basis. Dress them in the same clothing (t-shirts, jeans) children in the United States typically wear and bring out special clothing (for example, manta, shawl, moccasins, turquoise jewelry for Pueblo girls) for dolls only on special days.
6. COOK ETHNIC FOODS but be careful not to imply that all members of a particular group eat a specific food.
7. BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHICH TRIBES USE PARTICULAR ITEMS, when discussing cultural artifacts (such as clothing or housing) and traditional foods. The Plains tribes use feathered headdresses, for example, but not all other tribes use them.
8. CRITIQUE A THANKSGIVING POSTER DEPICTING THE TRADITIONAL, STEREOTYPED PILGRIM AND INDIAN FIGURES, especially when teaching older elementary school children. Take care to select a picture that most children are familiar with, such as those shown on grocery bags or holiday greeting cards. Critically analyze the poster, noting the many tribes the artist has combined into one general image that fails to provide accurate information about any single tribe (Stutzman, 1993).
9. AT THANKSGIVING, SHIFT THE FOCUS AWAY FROM REENACTING THE "FIRST THANKSGIVING." Instead, focus on items children can be thankful for in their own lives, and on their families' celebrations of Thanksgiving at home.
Besides using these strategies in their classrooms, teachers need to educate themselves. MacCann (1993) notes that stereotyping is not always obvious to people surrounded by mainstream culture. Numerous guidelines have been prepared to aid in the selection of materials that work against stereotypes (for example, see Slapin and Seale [1992]).
PRACTICES TO AVOID
AVOID USING OVER-GENERALIZED BOOKS, curriculum guides, and lesson plans; and teaching kits with a "Native American" theme. Although the goal of these materials is to teach about other cultures in positive ways, most of the materials group Native Americans too broadly. When seeking out materials, look for those which focus on a single tribe.
AVOID THE "TOURIST CURRICULUM" as described by Derman-Sparks. This kind of curriculum teaches predominantly through celebrations and seasonal holidays, and through traditional food and artifacts. It teaches in isolated units rather than in an integrated way and emphasizes exotic differences, focusing on specific events rather than on daily life.
AVOID PRESENTING SACRED ACTIVITIES IN TRIVIAL WAYS. In early childhood classrooms, for example, a popular activity involves children in making headbands with feathers, even though feathers are highly religious articles for some tribes. By way of example, consider how a devout Catholic might feel about children making a chalice out of paper cups and glitter.
AVOID INTRODUCING THE TOPIC OF NATIVE AMERICANS ON COLUMBUS DAY OR AT THANKSGIVING. Doing so perpetuates the idea that Native Americans do not exist in the present.
CONCLUSION
Much remains to be done to counter stereotypes of Native Americans learned by young children in our society. Teachers must provide accurate instruction not only about history but also about the contemporary lives of Native Americans.
Debbie Reese is a Pueblo Indian who studies and works in the field of early childhood education.
Book List
On Mother's Lap - Ann Herbert Scott
The Legend of Sleeping Bear - Kathy-jo Wargin
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush - Tomie de Paola
Songs & Fingerplays
I'm A Little Indian - sung to "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little Indian on the go,
Here is my arrow, here is my bow,
When I go a hunting, hear me shout
Bears and Buffalo better watch out!
~Rita Jamieson
Arts & Crafts
Indian Chief's Headress
Lay out two full sheets of paper per child (takes a lot of room -may try one at a time). Have child paint bright bands of color across the width of both papers. Paint from the top to the bottom with different stripes of color. Let the paper dry. When paint is dry lay one sheet of newspaper on top of the other PAINTED SIDES OUT. Fold the newspapers in half lengthwise. Fringe the papers, cutting from the outer edges toward the fold. Leave about a 3" band along the folded edge. Fit the band to the child's head and staple in place. Fold the rest of the hat for the tail of the headdress.
~Submitted by "The Kids Place" Home Day Care and Preschool
Native Americans
Native American Vests
Have children choose a Native American name to use in the classroom during the course of study relating to Native Americans (Dancing Raccoon, Little Bear, Pretty Flower). Using markers and T-shirt paint, have children illustrate
their name on burlap vests. Native American symbols can also be used to decorate the vests. Burlap that is purchased by the yard works great. Simply cut doubled burlap into 12" pieces and make an opening for the child's head.
Paper bag Vest
Use a large brown grocery bag.j cut a hole for the head at the bottom portion of the bag and then cut a line up the middle and 2 arm holes. Once cut give the bags to the kids..have them crumple the bags over and over again...if done enough it will take on the feel of suede. Then let them decorate them with colors and feathers and what ever else you have on hand.
Native American Rainstick: use a Pringles can with lid. Cover with brown paper and let kids decorate. Add
rice. Use at circletime while listening to authentic Native American Music.
Indian Teepee's
Materials - Provider template for teepee, brown paper bag, 3 straws per child, crayons or paint to decorate teepees, glue or tape, and newspaper.
This is an oral language discussion done with the whole group. Have the children sit with you in a group and say, "Thanksgiving will be coming at the end of the month. We are going to do some fun things for Thanksgiving and will learn about the Pilgrims and the Indians who helped them. The Indians who helped the Pilgrims were very special people. They lived in America long before the Pilgrims came here to live. They wore different clothes then the
Pilgrims and lived in different kinds of homes. Some Indians lived in homes called Teepees. The shape of the teepee looked like the bottom of an ice cream cone."
Background Information about the Teepee
(Depending on the age of the children, you may want to use all or part of this information.)
The teepee was covered with buffalo hides. The teepee was very strong and could not blow over when the wind blew hard. Teepees were made by the Indian women. The Indian woman built the teepee and took it down when the Indians
moved to another camping spot. The men Indians never helped with the teepee. They were hunters and warriors. An Indian woman was very proud of her teepee. She decorated the outside of it with Indian symbols and bright colors. It
took two Indian women to put up a teepee. They worked very long and hard to build the teepee.
Just like your family, the Indians used "good teepee manners" when they visited another Indian family. If the teepee door was open, all were welcome to come in. If the teepee flap was closed, a visitor needed to say that they were at the door and wait to be invited in. Some teepees had a rattle hung outside the door, that was used just like a doorbell. If the teepee flap was tied down and it had two sticks crossed over it, the door was "locked." Everyone knew that the people who lived there had gone out or did not want to be disturbed.
The Indians loved to tell stories. When people would come for a visit, much of the time was spent telling stories around the campfire. People talked one at a time. No one interrupted the person who was speaking.
1) After you have finished talking about the teepees, ask the children the following questions to check for comprehension:
* What was the name of the home that the Indian lived in? (teepee)
* Who put up the teepee? (Indian women)
* What shape did the teepee look like? (a cone)
2) Help the children to carefully open their paper bag into one piece. Soak the paper bad in water.When the bag is fully wet, have the children crush the bag into a tight ball, to wring out the water.
3) Have the children carefully smooth out the bag and let it dry on a piece of newspaper. (You may want to take a break time now, so as to give the bags a chance to dry thoroughly. When they are dried, the children will be decorating them.)
4) After the bags have dried, have the children make Indian symbols on the outside of their bag or use sponges to sponge paint the outside of the bag with bright colors.
5) Use the provider template for the teepee and lay it on top of the dried bags and cut around the shape of the template. (It's just a cone shape.)
6) Tape three straws, crisscrossed, to the inside part of the teepee shape and bend the teepee around to form a cone. Join the edges together with tape or glue. Stand it up.
· The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Paul Goble
· Star Boy by Paul Goble
· The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePoala
· When Clay Sings by Byrd Baylor
· Iktomi and the Berries by Paul Goble
· Iktomi and the Boulder by Paul Goble
· Iktomi and the Buffalo Skull by Paul Goble
· Crow Chief by Paul Goble
· Ten Little Rabbits by Virginia Grossman and Sylvia Long
· Corn is Maize by Aliki
· Raven by Gerald McDermott
· Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott
· Quillworker by Terri Cohlene
· Dancing Drum by Terri Cohlene
· Turquoise Boy by Terri Cohlene
· Clamshell Boy by Terri Cohlene
· When Clay Sings by Byrd Baylor
· Rainplayer by David Wiseniewski
· Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
Thanksgiving
· Thanksgiving at the Tapleton's by Eileen Spinelli
· 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
· Friendship's First Thanksgiving by WIlliam Accorsi
· N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims text by Robert San Souci
Link:
Thanksgiving Songs
Ideas:
1. Make beads out of clay. Have the children roll the clay into beads and poke holes in the middle of each using a straw. After they dry, have each child paint their beads. Then, you (the teacher!) spray the beads with a sealer so the paint doesn't rub off. Finally, the children string and wear the beads.
2. Make "Native American" vests. Collect brown paper grocery bags. Cut a slit up the front, a large hole in the bottom and two holes on each of the shorter sides. Have the children decorate their vests and wear them.
3. Have the children write, "I am thankful for _________."
4. Make butter using heavy cream in chilled baby food jars (Keep in the refrigerator. The temperature is the key to the success of making butter.). Sit in a circle on the floor and pass the jars around. Each child gives a few shakes, then passes the jar (I have several jars going around the circle at the same time.). Eventually, butter will start to form (Each year, just as I am thinking that it isn't going to work, suddenly a blob of butter forms like magic!). Pour off the liquid and viola! (Note: You should add a pinch of salt before eating it otherwise it doesn't taste like "real" butter you'd get at the store.).
5. Make popcorn.
Purpose: Students will learn that many years ago there were many different Indian tribes who lived in America, and depended on the land for food, shelter and clothing.
Often, children have developed misconceptions about Native American Indians. I believe that it is most important for students to realize the vast differences in the early Indians' life style from our own today. Hopefully, respect for others and different cultures will develop with this unit of study.
The words Native Americans and Indians will be used interchangeably with the children. Emphasis will be placed on food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and communication. Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science can easily be integrated throughout this unit. I can only begin to scratch the surface of ideals available to incorporate. I've accumulated my ideas from my Colleagues, books, workshops (Barbara Rothman's "Building a More Effective, More Creative Kindergarten Program") and of course, "trial and error."
After several sessions of preparation and learning, use a "Native American Indian" Day as a culminating activity. I've included some ideas for this event. It's a lot of fun for students and volunteers alike.
Enjoy and "happy hunting!"
Cathy Howell
Native American Indians
Discussion ideas: I like to find out what my children already know, so I begin new units with the question, "tell me what you know."
List their thoughts
Then we decide together, "what we want to learn."
Again, make a list.
Of course, it's natural to end the unit of study by discussing and listing or creating a story about "what we know now!" This process keeps you and the students focused and it's a great starting point a reference for each session.
Clothing
Make shirts from paper grocery bags: You prepare sacks by cutting arm holes and a neck hole. children love to use paint, markers, or crayons to decorate their shirts and cut "fringe along the bottom. Students can also add Indian symbols.
Head bands can be made from strips of oaktag or construction paper. Encourage students to select 2 or 3 Indian symbols and create a pattern along the headband. Or use pattern block papers to create patterns. Adding paper or real feathers is always a treat.
Jewelry can be simulated with beads, fruit Loops, and/or rigatoni pasta. Dye the Noodles with alcohol and food coloring in a large baggy. Add noodles and coat with color. It dries quickly when spread on newspaper. String with dental floss taping one end on a paper strip. Students draw a color pattern on the strip and re-create it with the pasta.
A protective shield can be created with a paper plate and a loop handle across the back.
Make a papoose pocket with 12 by 18 inch construction paper. Round the top two corners and fold up bottom to form a pocket (see picture). Children can draw "papoose" and place in the pocket.
Shelter
Discuss and show pictures or models of various Indian homes. Create a teepee in your classroom using four 2x8 pieces of wood tied at top to create frame. Cover with 2 sheets. Children love to draw Indian symbols onto paper and I attach the symbols to the teepee. This becomes a center where children can string beads, make clay dishes, tap rhythms on drums, or create instruments with oatmeal boxes or pebbles and paper plates. Let your imagination create fun ideas!
Children can use a circle to create a teepee. Of course this leads to understanding of the geometric solid cone shape.
(picture).
Native American Indian Day
This event serves as a wonderful culmination activity. Centers Can be set up in classrooms or outside. The children like to wear the "clothes, jewelry and papoose" made earlier. Divide students into tribes and they spend about 15 minutes in each center. We ask parents to send in items used in centers, and to volunteer to be a helper that day.
Cooking Center (two parts)
Part I
Scatter cranberries in a grassy area just before Indians arrive to this "bog."
Indians pick cranberries (ask them to count 10 berries) and put the berries in their baskets.
Take Berries to the "river" ( the river is a wash tub with water).
Take the clean berries to a cooking area ( an electric skillet will do the trick ).
Sauce recipe
2 Cups of Cranberries
1 Cup of Sugar
1 Cup of water
1 tablespoon of Cinnamon
Listen to them pop!
Save Sauce for "Thanksgiving Feast."
Part 2
Children remove corn from Cob and crush with rocks.
Use cornbread mix to prepare cornbread to be eaten at "Thanksgiving Feast."
Planting Center
Indians take corn kernels from cob and plant in mild cartons (saved from cafeteria) 1/2 filled with potting soil.
Place 1/2 sardine over corn and cover with soil and spray with water.
Place carton in baggy with student's name. This corn will grow if it receives the essential needs!
Tee Pee Center
Students sit around "fire" (Gather rocks and stick to create fire area).
Students rub sticks to create imaginary fire.
Using prepared balls of clay (the type that does not need firing to harder) Indians create a "thumb print" bowl (Use toothpick to make names on bottom).
Hunt Center
Plan this ahead:
"Buffalo" - sawhorse frame wrapped with newspaper for stuffing and covered with brown butcher paper. The head is a stuffed paper bag with yarn hair, cone horns and feathers.
"Spears" - 3 foot sticks with feathers attached by wrapping with yarn.
"Fish" - cut from construction paper.
Students throw "spears" at "Buffalo" and at the "fish" that are floating in wading pool. Hang "fish" to dry on clothes rack.
Snack Center
Students sit on floor around edge of sheet that has electric corn popper in center. Adult pops popcorn in pan with no lid.
Allow corn to pop out as children sing to tune "Frere Jacques."
Popping Popcorn
Popping Popcorn
Pop, Pop, Pop
Pop, Pop, Pop
Popping, Popping Popcorn
Popping, Popping Popcorn
Pop, Pop, Pop
Pop, Pop, Pop
Songs and Chants
Let's have a pow-wow (students echo each line).
Oh the first Thanksgiving
Your bring the turkey
I'll bring the corn
We'll do an Indian Dance
You may say the blessing
We'll have a happy time
Making new friends
(Don't forget to sing "10 Little Indians" and of course count actual children as you sing!)
(Tune is "I'm a Little Tea Pot")
I'm a little Indian
On the Go
Here is my arrow
Here is my bow
When I go a hunting
hear me shout
"Bear and buffalo
you better watch out."
Music to play or buy
"Indian Ribbon Dance" from record, "Look at My World," by Kathy Poelker.
Books to Read
Little Hiawatha Walt Disney
Brother Eagle Sister Sky Susan Feffers
Dancing with the Indians Angela Meadearis
Long before the Europeans came to North America, Native Americans lived here. The Native Americans believed firmly that the land was to be shared and taken care of by all people. Native Americans proudly call themselves by their tribe names, and many still celebrate and pass down their tribal customs today.
Literature
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Chief Seattle
Native Americans by Jay Miller
Corn is Maize by Aliki
The Talking Earth by Jean Craighaed George
Bufffalo Woman by Pail Goble
Gift of the Sacred Dog by Paul Goble
If You Lived with the Sioux by Ann McGovern
Where the Buffalos Begin by Olaf Baker
Annie and the Old One by Miska Brown
Pueblo Boy by Gerald McDermott
Ka-ha-si and the Loon by Terri Cohlene
Whale in the Sky by Anne Siberell
Activities
1. Make a chart of all the regions where Native Americans live that you will be studying. Keep facts like jobs, homes, clothes, etc., on the big chart to refer to.
2. On a map of north America show the regions where different tribes lived and some still live today.
3. Wampum necklaces. Use macaroni with holes so that you can string them. To dye the macaroni you will need a large zip lock bag, 2 tbs. rubbing alcohol and food coloring. Shake the bag once you add the macaroni then let it dry on paper towels. Here are some ideas to use once you have it finished.
Have each child make a patterned strand of wampum.
Assign each color a value and have the children add the value of their necklaces
Keep the "wampum" and a chart of things Native Americans would need to buy at the math center. Assign each color a value to see what the children can buy.
3. Make a mask. Several Indian tribes would wear ugly masks to scare away illness. Have you students make masks with poster board, yarn and paint.
4. Bowl Game. Cut out 6 Styrofoam circles and decorate one side with markers. Put them in the bowl. The child tosses them and catches them in the bowl. Heads up, or the designed side is one point, the blank side is zero points. The kids can keep score with craft sticks one for each point. Or if like us you study tally marks in math, this is a great chance to use them!
5. Totem Poles were used to record a families history through art. Have the children think of 3 or 4 important events in their life and decide an animal that matches each? For example learning to read might be an owl, learning to swim a fish etc. Have the draw and cut out the animal shapes on tag and color? Then have them cover a paper towel tube in brown paper and clue their symbols. The children can share their totem pole with the class and tell why they chose each animal.
6. South Western Indians often made clay coil pots. Where clay was made into long "snakes" and coiled to make the pot. Using this clay recipe have your students make a clay coil pot. They will need a round cookie cutter to make the bottom of the pot.
Clay Recipe
1. Mix together 1 cup corn starch, 2 cups baking soda, and 1/4 cup water in a pan.
2. Cook over medium heat until the clay forms (about 8 minutes)
3. Spread the clay and knead till smooth.
4. Cover with a damp towel to cool and keep moist.
5. Store in plastic Bags till ready to use.
7. Make a Fetish, or native American Good Luck Charm. They can be made several ways. The fetish is to be worn around the neck for good luck, and is usually in the shape of an animal or other living thing. They can be made from Styrofoam, cardboard, soap or clay. Also put a few beads on the string for detail. The details on the fetish should be simple.
8. Practice Picture Writing. Explain how Native Americans often used pictures to write. Make up a class code together on a large chart. (good for interactive writing)
9. Make a class talking stick. Go on a walk to find the perfect stick for your class. Add leather laces to wrap around, feathers, beads, stones and yarn. During your native American studies, only the person with the talking stick can speak.
10. Make a dream Catcher out of sticks yarn and feathers. Explain why the Native Americans used dream catches to catch their bad dreams and let the good ones through. In the morning the trapped bad dreams were "killed"
11. Jewelry Beads:
Materials:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cup salt
1 cup water
2 tbl. Paprika.
Measure all dry ingredients and put into bowl. Mix in the water till it becomes like a dough. Form the clay into small balls and tubes. You can add small beads, sand, etc., to give your beads texture. Use a toothpick to make a hole through the beads. Bake in 200 degree oven for an hour.
12. Discuss the importance of corn int he native American diet. Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to estimate the number of corn kernels on a cob of Indian corn. Then have them count and draw their corn cob.
13. Make a corn Husk pouch. You will need 2 corn husks (paper bag strips can be used if needed instead) Rubber band or yarn. Have the children lay their husks perpendicular and fold up the sides? Secure with a rubber band or yarn.
14. Make a Kachina Doll. Paint a toilet paper tube white and poke a small hole on both sides. Paint a design on the belly with paint. (I just did this project and those paint pens were perfect, and they came out great!) Trace a mask pattern from the foam craft sheets and cut out eyes. You can use a Sharpie to make a design on the mask. Glue on. Glue feathers behind the head. The push a white pipecleaner through the holes. I like to double the pipe cleaner, which gives me closeable "hands" I have a feather in one hand and beads strung on leather cord in the other.
15. Make a piece of silver jewelry. Trace a cardboard circle and cover with several sheets of aluminum foil. Use a pencil to draw a design on the foil. (if the foil rips just cover it with another sheet) You can use a black stain to age it and help the design show up better, rub it off once applied and it stays in the creases. Punch a hole in it and string it.
Recipes
1. Fry Bread
Ingredients 4 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup powdered milk
2-3 cups corn oil
Mix all the dry ingredients. Pour the water in mixing well. Add 1/2 cup at a time till the dough is smooth and sticky. Put a little oil in a bowl and place the dough in it cover and leave to rise in a warm spot. Add the oil to the electric frying pan. Take a walnut sized piece of dough and flatten, pinch a small hole in the middle. Then add to the oil the dough should rise tot he top. Turn over when it becomes golden brown. Lay on towels to blot and add honey or powdered sugar.
2. Succotash
Ingredients
4-6 strips of bacon
1 chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper,
2 cups cooked corn,
2 cups cooked lima beans.
Fry the bacon, drain the fat. Add the onion and green pepper. When the onion is golden brown, add the corn and lima beans. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Dried Corn Stew Recipe by Elaya K Tsosie
Ingredients
3cups water
1 cup dried corn
1 pound beef stew meat
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
In saucepan, combine water and corn (or garbanzo beans); bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand several hours. Return to boiling; simmer, covered, 1/2 more than an hour if using corn or 1 hour if using garbanzo beans for this recipe. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer, covered, until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Season to taste. Makes 4 servings.
Bannock Recipe
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons oil
Mix ingredients and add water until you have a doughy consistency. Knead approximately 10 minutes
You can add cinnamon/brown sugar to make it taste a bit differently.
Grease and heat a frying pan. Form the dough into cakes (sort of like tortillas or pancakes) about 1/2 inch thick and dust lightly with flour.
Lay the bannock in the frying pan.
Wiggle the pan every so often to keep the bannock from sticking.
Once a bottom crust has formed and the dough has hardened enough to hold together, turn them.
Cooking takes 12-15 minutes.
If you don't have a frying pan you can make a thicker dough by adding less water. Roll the dough into a long snake, no wider than an inch. Wind this around a preheated green hardwood stick and cook over a fire, turning occasionally, until the bannock is
cooked.
Native American Craft Materials you will need are a toilet paper roll, a printer, paper (I prefer construction paper or another heavier paper), scissors, glue, and something to colour with.
Print out the template of choice.
Colour pieces, as necessary.
Cut out the pieces. This step may require adult assistance.
Glue the large rectangular piece around the tp roll.
Glue on the head, arms and legs.
Templates:
Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).
http://www.dltk-kids.com/t/thanksgiving/bindian.htm B&W
http://www.dltk-kids.com/t/thanksgiving/cindian.htm COLOR
TOTEM POLE CRAFT
"Becky" saw some kids making totem poles out of toilet paper rolls at the bookstore and thought it looked fun, so she asked her mom for some ideas (and her mom asked me). Thanks for the suggestion!
In North America, totem poles often served to proclaim a clan's status. The figures (often animal spirits) carved onto the poles symbolize a clan's mythological history, as well as the rights and privileges it enjoys.
Unlike aboriginal peoples in the United States (who prefer to be referred to as Native Americans), the aboriginals in Canada are known as the First Nations peoples. There are about 600 aboriginal bands who still call Canada home. Totem poles were made by Native Americans and First Nations people.
Materials:
The totem pole is made with a toilet paper tube, a printer, a piece of paper, some crayons, scissors and glue. I always prefer to use a heavy paper (like construction paper), but it isn't necessary.
Instructions:
Print out the template of choice. If using the black and white template, try printing it on brown construction paper.
Colour (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces.
Glue the large rectangular piece on first to cover the tube.
Glue the three faces one on top of the other (like in the picture above).
Glue the wings onto the back of the tube.
Keep in mind that the totem's faces may be a bit scary for some of the younger kids (though my 5 year old thought they were cool).
Alternative Decorating Idea:
A second option is to replace all or some of the template pieces with totems representing your own family history. These could be photos of family members or "animal spirits" (your teddy bear, pet dog or cat, a favorite zoo or farm animal) cut from photographs, colouring books or magazines. If the template pieces are too scary for your child, this is a great alternative!
Templates:
Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).
http://www.dltk-kids.com/t/canada/btotem.htm B&W
http://www.dltk-kids.com/t/canada/ctotem.htm Color
Native American
Doll Costume
Turn ordinary lunch bags into an extraordinary Native American outfit for your 18" doll.
You need:
Three Lunch Bags
Iron and Adult
Suede Cord
Turkey Feather
E-Beads
Tacky Glue and Toothpick
Instructions:
Crumple up three paper lunch bags. Open them up and crumple again. Continue until the bags are soft and pliable. Iron the bags flat. This will take out the wrinkles but give a leather texture to the bags.
To make the vest, cut one paper bag in half. Cut up the middle of the bag and onto the bottom. Cut out a hole for the neck and one for each arm. Shape the front of the vest with a "V" neck. Cut 1/2" slits all around the bottom every 1/4" to make fringe.
Cut the bottom 2" off a second paper bag. Fringe the bottom. Slip it up to the doll's chest and tie a piece of cord around her waist to hold the skirt in place.
To make the shoes cut two ovals 4" x 6". Gather them around the feet over the ankles. Tie a cord around the ankles.
Cut a 1/2" band for the doll's head. Glue into a loop. Glue on a feather. Use the remaining cord to wrap the doll's hair.
Native American Dance Fan
Native Americans made dance fans from natural materials to use in their ceremonies. Our dance fan resembles one made from birch bark by tribes in North America.
You need:
Pattern
Tan Craft Foam
Foamie Shapes and/or Craft Foam Scraps
Two Jumbo Craft Sticks
One Yard #20 Hemp
Turkey Feathers
Tacky Glue
1/8" Hand Hole Punch
Scissors
Instructions:
Cut two fans from pattern out of tan craft foam. Place one on your work surface and arrange feathers to stick out of the top. Glue in place. Glue second fan piece on top. Glue a jumbo craft stick to each side to make a handle, lining them up and gluing the bottoms together. Let dry. punch holes along both side of the handle and lace with a piece of hemp. Decorate fan with foamie shapes or scraps.
Native American
Medicine Pouch
Many woodland Indians, including the Cherokee and Iroquois, carried a medicine pouch. These bags were used to hold plants for medicine and also to hold personal items and good luck charms.
You need:
Pattern
Imitation Leather, Craft Foam or suede
4' Satin Cord or Plastic Lace
Wooden Barrel Bead
1/8" Hand Hole Punch
Scissors
Our project prepack contains everything you need to make this project.
Instructions::
Print pattern. Staple to leather or foam all around the outside of the outer line. Punch holes using 1/8' hole punch. Cut out.
Cut cord into two 4" pieces and two 20" pieces. Use a 4" piece of cord to tie to a barrel bead to the front of the small piece of the pouch. Lay the small piece of pouch on top of the larger piece of the pouch placing the fringe between the two pieces at the bottom edge and lining up the holes.
Make a knot in one end of each 20" piece. If using satin cord, stiffen ends with white glue. If using plastic lace, cut ends into a point. Start at the bottom front of one side of the pouch and stitch around the side to the top. Make a knot at the back of the top hole. Repeat for the other side, using the second 20" piece of cord. Tie both cords together at the ends.
Use the remaining 4" cord to make a loop to go around the bead on the back of the flap, threading through the holes.
Native American
Sand Art
Our Native American sand art project is based on the Navajo Sand Paintings used by medicine men for healing.
You need:
Turtle Pattern
Craft Sand
Wooden Beads
3 Yards #20 Hemp
Scissors
Tacky Glue
Small Paint Brush
Tan Card Stock
1/8" Hole Punch
Instructions:
Print pattern on tan card stock. Cut out. Punch holes where indicated in pattern. Begin with the darkest color sand and paint an area with glue. Sprinkle on sand. Shake off excess. Continue until the entire turtle is colored in with sand.
Fold hemp in half. Tie a knot 1" down from fold. String hemp through the top hole of the sand art, pulling up to the loop. Lace all around the artwork in both directions stringing on a bead every other stitch. Tie together at the bottom. String three beads on each end. Tie a knot to keep beads in place. Trim.
Kokopelli Necklace
The Hopi tribe of the Southwest is know for its finely carved "overlaid" silver jewelry. This flute playing Kokopelli is made out of shrink art to resemble this technique. The Kokopelli has been a sacred figure to Native Americans of the Southwestern United States for thousands of years.
You need:
Pattern
1 Piece of Shrinkles
Silver and Black Crayons or Colored Pencils
1 Yard Black Suede Cord
Silver Metallic Pony Beads
Black Marker
Scissors
Instructions::
Print pattern. Lay shrink material, frosted side up, over pattern. Use black marker to trace over outlines. Cut out both pieces. Color the Kokopelli silver and the background piece black. Shrink according to package directions.
Glue Kokopelli to the black background.
Bring ends of suede cord together and tie a knot 3" from the ends. Glue cord to the back of the Kokopelli piece. Slide two silver beads on each cord end and secure with a knot.
Note: We were able to run our Shrinkles through our inkjet printer for black outlines. This material is not considered inkjet compatible but you may have good results also.
Dream Catcher
According to Native American legend, the Dream Catcher allows good dreams to pass through and slide down the feathers onto the sleeper. A bad dream becomes entangled in the web of the Dream Catcher.
Project by Linda Musante. Reprinted with permission from Hands-On Crafts for Kids.
You Need:
Tacky Glue
6” Metal ring
Assorted Pony Beads
(we used reg 6mm x 9mm and the new mini beads)
8 yards Beige Suede Cord.
Natural cotton twist cord (we used twine from the hardware store)
Feathers
Scissors
Ruler
2 Clothespins
Instructions:
Wrap the ring: Spread glue on first inch of suede lacing and hold in place on the ring with a clothespin. Wrap the lacing around the metal ring, being careful not to twist the lacing. Glue the end to the lacing where they meet and hold with the clothespin until dry.
Tie the webbing: Roll cotton cord loosely into a ball. Knot one end of cotton cord around the metal ring then seal the knot with glue. Tie approximately six half hitches every three inches around the ring. Pinch each completed knot as you begin the next. Add a half hitch next to the knot where you began. Then begin tying half hitches in the middle of the cord you already added. Continue until you complete a total of three more circles of half hitches. Weave in some mini beads if desired. Double knot the cord in the center of the webbing then seal knot with glue. Cut off excess cord.
Adding the hanger: Cut three 10” lengths and three 12” lengths of suede lacing. Knot ends together of one 10” length and insert one end of loop through metal ring at the top. Draw knot through loop and pull tight.
Adding the dangles: Knot one end of each of the other laces. Thread an even number of beads onto each lace then knot other end. Slide the same number of the beads up to each knot. Fold lacing in half then attach the same way as the hanger.
Glue on feathers if desired.
Yarn Dream Catcher
Recommended for ages 7 and up.
You need:
Lid from Round 1/2-Gallon Ice Cream Container
Yarn in Two or More Colors
White Glue
Scissors
Hole Punch
Instructions:
Cut or push out lid top leaving only the rim ring. Punch holes all around rim. We used an Eddy's container. The stripes make it easy to evenly space holes.
Cut yarn into 3 yard lengths. Stiffen one end of each piece with white glue. Feed one piece of yarn through a hole in the rim. Pull through to other end and tie into place. Weave randomly back and forth through rim. Tie off, glue and trim. Repeat with one or more pieces of yarn.
Make three tassels by wrapping yarn several times around four fingers. Leave about a few inches of yarn on one end. Remove from fingers and pinch together at that end. Use another piece of yarn to wrap pinched strands together. Tie off. Cut open loops on other side. Push long piece of yarn through a hole punched in the rim. Glue and trim.
Pocket Dream Catcher
Submitted by Kari Carpenter,
Leader of Brownie Troop 1263, Ohio
You Need:
Tacky Glue
1-1/4" Key Ring
(or you can use the plastic rings from soda bottle tops)
Assorted Pony Beads
Embroidery Floss or Yarn
Safety Pin
Scissors
Instructions:
Cut a 6 yard piece of yarn or floss. Slip one end in the split of the ring to hold in place. Wrap the lacing around the metal ring. Glue the end to the lacing where they meet.
Roll a 1 yard piece yarn or floss loosely into a ball. Knot one end of yarn around the metal ring then seal the knot with glue. Tie approximately four half hitches around the ring. Pinch each completed knot as you begin the next. Add a half hitch next to the knot where you began. Then begin tying half hitches in the middle of the cord you already added. Double knot the cord in the center of the webbing then seal knot with glue. Cut off excess cord.
Cut a 4” length of yarn. Knot ends together and insert one end of loop through metal ring at the top. Draw knot through loop and pull tight. Add a pin.
Cut three 4" pieces of yarn. Fold each piece in half and tie to ring bottom using a half hitch. Lace a pony bead through both ends and knot in place. Cut off excess.
Native American Dance Stick
Recommended for ages 7 and up.
You need:
Stick (measuring 1/2" x 24")
Yarn
Fur Scrap
2 Jingle Bells
12" Suede Cord
4 Pony Beads
2 Feathers
Tacky Glue
Scissors
Instructions:
Cut a piece of fur 1" x 2". Wrap it around the end of the stick. Use tacky glue to secure it. Spread a little glue at the end near fur. Wrap yarn tightly around stick adding more glue as needed. Cover about 5" of the stick changing the color if desired.
Tie suede lace near the bottom of the yarn wrap. Lace through bells, knot again. String 2 pony beads onto each end. Tie off and trim. Slip feather ends up through beads with a little glue to secure.
Indian Vests
Make and decorate vests from paper grocery bags.
Indian Head bands
Make headbands from strips of construction paper and feathers.
Teepees
You can show the children how to make teepee's from paper by making the paper into a cone shape and taping it. Have the children decorate their teepee's.
Bead Necklaces Have the children make necklaces out of colored macaroni noodles and yarn. Head bands Have the children cut paper strips to make a head band out of. They make glue, staple or tape the head band together. Provide the children with feathers, glitter, sequins or other materials for them to decorate the headband with. Feather Painting Provide each child with a feather, paint and paper. Ask the children paint a pictures using the feather as a paint brush.
Feather Games:
Cut out feather shapes from different colors of paper. Give each child one feather. Ask the children to find one person with the same color feather.
Cut out feather shapes from different colors of paper. Cut the feather in half using a puzzle type cut, like zig zag or interlocking pieces. Give each child one half of a feather, and ask them to find the person with the other half.
Or Give the children two pieces and have the children make a circle, with one child that has one match on one side and the other match on the other side. You may end up with 2 or more circles depending on how the feather pieces are distributed.
Cut out feather shapes from one color of paper. Cut the feather in half using a puzzle type cut, like zig zag or interlocking pieces. Give each child one half of a feather, and ask them to find the person with the other half.
Or Give the children two pieces and have the children make a circle, with one child that has one match on one side and the other match on the other side. You may end up with 2 or more circles depending on how the feather pieces are distributed.
Cut the feather shapes from one color of paper. Label one set of feathers with numbers, i.e. if you have 20 children, label the feathers with the numbers one to ten. The other half, draw one dot on one, two on another, and so on until ten. Give each child one feather and have them find the child with their match.
Cut the feather shapes from one color of paper. Place matching stickers on two feather. Give each child one feather and have them find the child with their match.
Cut the feather shapes from one color of paper. Cut the feather in half using a puzzle type cut, like zig zag or interlocking pieces. Place matching stickers on each half of a feather. Give each child one feather half and have them find the child with their match.
Try all the above, but in a file folder format. Glue one part of the feather to the file folder and laminate it's match.
Feather Sorting
Cut out several different feather shapes from construction paper or provide the children with store bought craft feathers (can be used the above activity as well). Ask the children to sort the feathers according to color. Ask the children "How many red feathers do you have?" etc.
Ten little Indians
1 little, 2 little 3 little Indians,
4 little, 5 little, 6 little Indians,
7 little, 8 little 9 little Indians,
10 little Indian boys and girls.
They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over,
They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over,
They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over,
10 little Indian boys and girls.
They swam and they swam and they swam to their mother,
They swam and they swam and they swam to their mother,
They swam and they swam and they swam to their mother,
10 little Indian boys and girls.
She hugged them, kissed them, and sent them to bed,
She hugged them, kissed them, and sent them to bed,
She hugged them, kissed them, and sent them to bed,
10 little Indian boys and girls.
I'm a little Indian Boy - sung to "I'm A Little Teapot"
I'm a little Indian on the go.
Here is my Arrow, here is my bow.
When I go a hunting, hear me shout
Bears and Buffalo better watch out!
Chant
Keeper's Of The Earth
Keeper's of the Earth
Keeper's of the Earth
Native Americans are keeper's of the Earth
Respecting the Land
respecting waters far and near
keeping the waters clean and clear
Respecting animals where they roam
Respecting home!
Keeper's of the Earth
Keeper's of the Earth
Native Americans are keeper's of the earth.
You can make rattles out of tp tubes or paper towel tubes...beans on inside, taped ends, child decorates (paints, draws) outside.
Drums from coffee cans covered with brown bags and decorated with feathers hanging down.
Teaching Respect For Native Peoples
(I find the following guidelines to be helpful in a daycare/school setting. Note that making "headdresses" (a common preschool activity) is not recommended in a respectful environment.
This is excerpted from an Oyate organization publication. Oyate is a Native organization working to see that Native peoples lives and histories are portrayed honestly:
Don't teach Indians only at Thanksgiving. Do present Native peoples as appropriate role models with whom a Native child can identify. Don't assume that you do not have any Native children in your care. Do use respectful language in teaching about Native peoples. Do talk about lives of Native peoples in the present, not just the past as if they do not exist anymore. Do look for books and materials written and illustrated by Native peoples. Don't use books that show Native people as savages, war-lovers, primitive crafts people or other characteristics of now extinct cultures. Don't use storybooks that show non-Native children playing Indian. Do avoid arts and crafts and activities that trivialize Native dress, dance, or ceremony. The headdress is considered sacred by most Native American cultures; so do not imitate it by making paper headdresses for children to play with. Do learn the history of Native peoples, past and present, before you attempt to teach it. Do present Native peoples or tribes as separate. Do use materials that show Native women, elders, and children as important to Native societies. Don't assume that every Native American will know about every other Native Nation (tribe), or that children will know details about their own tribe.
Resource Person
Invite volunteers to demonstrated Native American dance.
Music
Listen to tapes of Native American music while working on art projects or other times throughout the day.
Headdress
We read where the Native Americans had to earn feathers for their headdress. Well, during the week we study Native Americans my students make a headband on Monday it is hung on our clothesline with their name on it. During the week every time they do a kind deed they earn a feather. I do make sure every one has at least one feather by Friday in on their headband.
Teepee
Supplies needed:
5 straight twigs (about a foot long each)
Yarn, twine, or a rubber band
A large, brown paper grocery bag
Scissors
A pencil
Crayons, tempera paint, or markers
Tape
Bind the twigs together toward the top using yarn, string, or a rubber band. Leave about 3 inches of twig at one side of the string. Do not bind the twigs too tightly. Gently adjust the twigs so that they form a tepee shape. Holding the tepee above a piece of scrap paper, trace the outline of one side of the tepee. This will be your template for making the tepee. Cut out your triangular template. Open up a large paper bag along its seams. Lay your triangle template on the opened bag and trace its outline. Trace the triangle 3 more times with the long edges touching. Cut out this large polygon along the outside edge. Cut a door on one edge. Decorate the tepee using crayons or markers. Fold the paper along each of the pencil lines. Then form the paper into a tepee shape and tape the edges together. Snip off the top of the tepee (the twigs will go through this hole). Put the twigs into the tepee. Tape the twigs into place - each twig is taped along a fold line.
RAINSTICKS
Supplies needed: A paper towel tube or other long cardboard tube Aluminum foil, Small dried beans (like lentils), unpopped popcorn, dry rice, or tiny pasta. Brown paper (from a grocery bag) or construction paper, glue, scissors, crayons or markers
Trace around the end of your tube onto a piece of brown paper (or construction paper). Draw a bigger circle around that circle and then draw a lot of spokes between the two circles. Cut along the spokes. Put glue on the spokes and glue the cap onto one end of your tube. Cut a piece of aluminum foil that is about one and half times the length of your tube and about 6 inches wide. Crunch the aluminum foil into two long, thin, snake-like shapes. Then twist each one into a spring shape. Put the aluminum foil springs into your tube. Pour some dry beans, dry rice, or unpopped popcorn into your tube. The tube should only be about 1/10 full. You can experiment to see how different amounts and different types of seeds and beans change the sound. Make another cap from brown paper (the same as the first three steps) and cap your tube.
Optional: Decorate the tube by covering it with brown paper or construction paper, and then making designs with crayons or markers (or cut-out paper or stickers).
TOTEM POLES
Supplies needed: A paper towel tube
Crayons, tempera paint, or markers
Brown construction paper (a few sheets)
Scissors
White glue
2 popsicle sticks (optional)
Wrap a piece of construction paper around a paper towel tube to see what size paper you will need. Trim the paper to the right height and width (allow about a half inch overlap around the tube, so you can glue the edges). Divide the paper into 4 or more horizontal sections.
Have the child draw a different animal head in each section. Put most of the facial details in the middle of each section. If you're working with a group of children, cut the paper into sections and have each child draw one face. Wrap the heads around the paper towel tube and glue the seams. Draw wings or arms for some or all of the animals. Cut them out and decorate them. Glue them to the back of the Totem Pole.
Optional: Glue 2 popsicle sticks to the base so that your Totem Pole stands upright. Hot glue works well for this.
DREAM CATCHERS
For each dream catcher you will need:
a bendable twig about 1 foot long
a few inches of thin wire
some twine
beads with large holes
a few feathers
Use thin wire to tie the ends of a twig together to make a hoop. Have an adult make a hoop from a twig. To do this, wrap a short length of thin wire around the overlapping ends. Cut a few feet of twine. Tie one end of the twine to the twig hoop. String a few beads onto the twine and push the beads toward the tied end. Wrap the twine around the other side of the hoop. String a few more beads on the twine and then wrap the twine around the far side of the hoop. Repeat until you have an interesting webbing design. Tie a short length of twine on the hoop. String a bead or two on it and then tie a feather onto the end. Repeat this a few times (2 or 3 hanging feather strings look nice.) Hang the dream catcher near your bed!
BIRCH CANOE
Supplies needed: Brown construction paper or brown paper from a grocery bag
Crayons, tempera paint, or markers
Scissors
Yarn
Hole punch
Fold the piece of construction paper in half the long way. About a half-inch from the fold line, make another fold. Do this on both sides of the original fold. The paper should now look a bit like a capital "W." The folds will be the bottom of the canoe. Draw a canoe shape on the paper (make sure the folds are on the bottom of the canoe). Cut out the canoe shape and punch a few holes on each end. Using yarn, weave through the holes. Push the folded floor flat so that the canoe sits upright.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/na/teepee/
http://www.nativechild.com/
Here are some files associated with this theme.