How to Bring Native American Culture to Life for Children
In most states, the public school curriculum for third, fourth or fifth grades includes a requirement to educate students about local Native American culture. While there are many successful methods for doing this, one of the most successful and fun is to create an event that brings the culture to life. It's relatively easy and, because it's so engaging, is often the highlight of the year.
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Things You'll Need
- Teepee entrance
- Music
- 10-inch sticks (one per student)
- Yarn
- Feathers
- Beads
- Pipe cleaners
- Shells
- Obsidian
- Bones
- Skull
- Hula hoop
- String
Instructions
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1
Set the mood. Create a teepee entrance that acts as a time machine to transport kids back to the time when the Native Americans thrived in your region. Play music that's reminiscent of the culture.
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2
Create crafts relevant to the culture. Prayer sticks are a great hit and need only a sturdy, 10-inch stick, yarn and beads, feathers or leaves to decorate. Wrap the yarn around the stick until it's fully covered, then decorate the top. As the children work on their sticks, explain about the spiritual beliefs of Native Americans.
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3
Weave baskets. Many Native American cultures wove baskets to transport water, clothes or goods. Create the baskets using pipe cleaners and beads. Talk about how the baskets might have been used by Native Americans of the time.
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4
Explore the region. Take the kids on a hike, pointing out how the local plants and animals helped provide for Native Americans. Point out trees specific to the region--buckeye, for example, that marked the edge of a forest and was used for to stun fish. Plant some feathers, skulls and bones for the children to "discover" and talk about what they might represent. Look at gopher holes and talk about how this would be a sign that snares would be productive. Point out any scat (always a favorite with the kids) and talk about how the hunters would follow the animals based on this and foot or hoof prints.
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5
Teach the kids a game. Most Native American cultures included some form of game that taught the children a critical skill. For example: weave a web of string on a hula hoop so that there's a central and middle ring. Roll the hoop and have the children throw a stick at the hoop, trying to pierce its center. Not only is it fun, it teaches the children skills critical to hunting.
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Tell a story. Choose a story or two that represent the culture. Native American mythology is often foreign to children, so choose stories to which they can relate--either about tricking someone or about how a certain tool or belief was created.
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Barter. Many Native Americans used barter as an early form of trading. Create opportunities for each child to "earn" some shells by doing chores around "camp." End the day by trading shells for obsidian--a critical part of creating successful hunting tools.
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