Native American study

[Vicki]

I'm wondering about adding in some kind of Native American study with our Amer. History studies. I feel that it is important to show how these people lived, and not just portray them as "savages" as some of the literature suggests. I think for an 8 y/o this would be an interesting add-in to our lessons.

I'm wondering what Carrie or anyone else here has either used or suggests for this.

Thanks!

[dale1088]

I agree about the whole "savages" thing. I am part Choctaw and as a girl became enchanted with Native American culture. In wanting to introduce some of this to my own 8yo, I found a book to supplement with called "My People: A History of the Native Americans" by Ka-Be-Mub-Be (also known as William Camus). It's a beautiful book, full of artwork and photos, and I found it pretty cheap at Half Price Books. While we aren't doing a full unit study on Native Americans, I hope to someday when she is older, so we just use this to add more knowledge as we are reading. I am planting a seed, I hope.

[Vicki]

Thanks for the book suggestion. I'm off to google it.

I live near a large Choctow population, and so much of my state's history is involved with Native American past. There are Indian mounds all around us, and so many of our towns have names given to us by these people. I truly think that we need to learn a little more than "Squanto taught the Pilgrims to plant corn with fish"--KWIM?

I have a pattern for a costume that I thought we could sew together and add beading to. I also have some little kits for a canoe and leather pouch. I know these aren't much, but it's a start. I have a package of muted tones of pony beads that I thought we would use for a wampum belt. I also have an old Nature Company book on Native Americans with lots of pictures.

[Sharon]

We've been doing American Indians also and we are currently reading Naya Nuki.
Other readers:
Native Homes, Life in Pueblo, Life in a Longhouse...all Bobbie Kalman books ( There are 22 different books!)
Sign of the Beaver
If you lived books...Iroquois, Sioux, and Hopi


Project books:
More than Moccasins
Southwest Indians and Northwest Indians from Scholastic ( Our Favorites!)
http://shop.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/s ... 0001_10002

There are also some fun project ideas here: http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/index.htm

Here too :
http://www.corpsrediscovery.com/

[Carrie]

I was just going to suggest the books by Kenneth Thomasma, as we have Naya Nuki (which he wrote) included in our newest DITHR Level 4/5 Book Packs, and it is truly wonderful. He is a good author for books on this topic. You may still have to watch out for some mature content, as I haven't previewed all of his books yet.

Blessings,
Carrie

[dale1088]

These are great suggestions! We are in Bigger and dd has enjoyed doing art projects relating to the Indians like coloring a blanket, the sand painting with colored salt, and making a wig wam. But I also like the idea of making sewing projects like a costume, pouch and wampum belt.

Thanks also for the great book suggestions!