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Native
American Thematic Units/Native American Lesson Plans
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Native
Americans
Introduce children to
the culture of a variety of Native American tribes through literature and
related activities.
Native
American Interdisciplinary Educational Unit
Students will
learn about another race of People and their culture, lifestyle and about
the many important contributions to the American people.
Native American Unit
1. Develop a healthy respect for Native American heritage and the positive contributions it has offered the world.
2. Appreciate the legends and history that are uniquely Native American. 3. Describe elements of Native American names, games, ceremonies, and cultural symbols.
4. Acknowledge the importance of seeking peace and harmony within society and the environment.
5. Understand the basic rules of reaching consensus, working cooperatively, and making decisions among Native American
people.
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**Project Willow:
Understanding Native American Culture Through Environmental Education.
Don't miss this one!!
Project: Write a Letter to the Editor
The History of the Cherokee, produced by Ken Martin, is a well-organized site that reveals Cherokee history
and present-day culture with maps, photos, information about Cherokee publications, and a selection of other
Native American links. Invite students to learn more about the Cherokee people and the Cherokee syllabary by
exploring this site.
A
Storytelling Festival This activity encourages students to explore the native cultures of the Americas, to learn some aspects of oral storytelling, and
to share their knowledge with others.
Swift
Arrow To learn the character quality of Fortitude. To learn decision making during hard situations. The effect our choices make on our
lives. To learn about the time period, geography, Native American life, frontier life,
etc.. in which the Story Swift Arrow is set.
Teaching
students about Native Americans Not
a unit, but provides positive strategies and discusses those you should
avoid.
Native
American Internet
Resources
Native Americans - Internet Resources
All of the resources you need.
Native American
Powerpoint Presentations
Free powerpoint presentations on Native Americans.
Native
American Arts/Native American Crafts
I decided not to put
arts and crafts on this section. Studies of Native Americans should
focus more on their customs, traditions, their relationship with the land
and each other, their struggles of the past and the present, and what life
is like for them now. The temptation is to throw together a cookie
cut-out unit concentrating on history that is often wrong or misguided and
follow it up by making dwellings, totem polls, and the like. These
items have significant spiritual and custom connotations that we often do
not discuss and it is often demeaning for our students to make crude
representations of them. The following quote is from the Ableza home
page.
"Avoid craft activities which trivialize Native American dress, dance, and beliefs, i.e. toilet-paper
roll kachinas or "indian dolls", paper bag and construction paper costumes and headdresses.
Research authentic methods and have the proper materials. Realize that many songs, dances,
legends, and ceremonies of Native American Peoples are considered sacred and should not be
"invented" or portrayed as an activity. |
