Humans and the environment

 

Pre-contact Native Americans compare to Colonial Towns

 

 

PRINT RESOURCES: NON-FICTION

 

     Native American

 

A Native American Thought of It: Amazing Inventions and Innovations, Rocky Landon   

http://www.amazon.com/Native-American-Thought-Inventions-Innovations/dp/1554511542/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243313242&sr=1-8

Using resources available, the author, an Ojibway tribal member, details how Native Americans used their ingenuity to adapt the environment to fit their needs.

 

American Indian cooking before 1500, Mary Gunderson

http://tinyurl.com/prmtve

This for grades 4-6 and on such a unique topic.  Has a section on Pacific NW Peoples and what foods and cooking techniques they used pre-contact.

 

Houses of Wood: Native Dwellings: The Northwest Coast, Bonnie Shemie

http://www.amazon.com/Houses-Wood-Dwellings-Northwest-Sagebrush/dp/0785737049/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241471391&sr=1-1

Check out this whole series as it relates to how Native Americans from different regions built their homes using materials available in their specific environments.  Perfect for your topic. This title not available at Amazon right now, but you should be able to get it from different sellers.

Houses of snow, skin and bones,   http://www.amazon.com/Houses-snow-bones-Native-Dwellings/dp/0887763057/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

Mounds of earth and shell,  http://www.amazon.com/Mounds-earth-shell-Native-Dwellings/dp/0887763189/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

Houses of hide, earth, and wood, http://www.amazon.com/Houses-hide-earth-Native-Dwellings/dp/0887763073/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Houses of Adobe, http://www.amazon.com/Houses-Adobe-Native-Dwellings-Sagebrush/dp/0785780467/ref=pd_sim_b_1

  

If You series

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b_0_17?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=if+you+lived+with+the+iroquois&sprefix=if+you+lived+with

You may be aware of this series but thought I'd throw it in the mix as they are basic but do work for students, especially those lower end readers. 

 

Indians of the Southwest : traditions, history, legends, and life, Lisa Sita 

http://tinyurl.com/r5jz2t 

Check out the first four titles listed on this page.  This series has more information than the Daily Life in the 1700's and is written at a bit higher reading level. Strong reviews with comments that include how for example, SW Natives dealt with arid conditions.  Gr 4-6.

 

Native nations of North America (series), Crabtree Pub. Co

http://tinyurl.com/re4sn4

Many of the books in this series looks perfect for you!  It discusses region by region what Native Americans ate, cooked, wore, used for tools etc by emphasizing the resources available in their environment.  Check out What Native Americans Wore among other titles.

  

The buffalo and the Indians : a shared destiny, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

http://tinyurl.com/p9ewf5

Reviewers really liked this book and would be good for teaching about Plains Indians and their reverence for the once prolific buffalo as a key part of their lives and culture.

 

The Northwest Indians : daily life in the 1700s, Judy Monroe

http://tinyurl.com/qwhzw7

This is a basic book series written at the 3rd grade reading level, which might be good for some of your ELL students. 

 

     Colonial Towns 

 

Colonial Life, Bobbie Kalman

http://tinyurl.com/peb5wd

This is great for giving the social and culture background for everyday life in this era. Other books from this series might be of interest. 

Historic Communities Series http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=historic+communities&x=12&y=19

 

COLONIAL DAYS: American Kids in History

http://www.amazon.com/Colonial-Days-American-Kids-History/dp/0613164822/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243380082&sr=8-1

Follows a year in the life of a family living in Colonial times.  Show how they provide for themselves and includes creative projects that students can do including making quill pens and playing games.

 

     Legends

 

Between Earth & Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places, Joseph Bruchac

http://www.amazon.com/Between-Earth-Sky-Legends-American/dp/0152020624/ref=pd_sim_b_4

I just love Bruchac for his respectful, simple, without being simplistic, prose.  He writes in a way that kids "get" without loosing the importance of the story he is telling.  Grades 3-6.

 

They Dance in the Sky: Native American Star Myths, Jean Guard Monroe

http://www.amazon.com/They-Dance-Sky-Native-American/dp/0618809120/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243313242&sr=1-3

Reviews state as well researched and written as the various star myths make a good read aloud.   As many cultures have strong oral traditions, carrying this on in the classroom seems even more fitting.

 

The Earth under Sky Bear's Feet, Joseph Bruchac

http://www.amazon.com/Earth-under-Sky-Bears-Feet/dp/069811647X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

A grandmother tells stories to her granddaughter of the Big Dipper (Sky Bear) using tales from Native Americans from all over N America.  

 

 

PRINT RESOURCES: FICTION

 

Frog girl, Paul Owen Lewis 

http://tinyurl.com/qk7o3k

Local Lummi Island author and a highly regarded book that if isn't in your collection, you might consider.  Good for literature circles or read aloud.  

 

Storm Boy, Paul Owen Lewis

http://tinyurl.com/qlnytx 

 

When Clay Sings, Bryd Baylor 

http://www.amazon.com/When-Clay-Sings-Byrd-Baylor/dp/0689711069/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243433174&sr=8-1

You cannot go wrong with this book or anything written by Byrd Baylor.  Powerful, simple prose that gets to the heart of Native American spirituality and respect for the earth. 

 

 

 

DVD/CD-ROM RESOURCES

 

AMERICAN HISTORY FOR CHILDREN VIDEO SERIES

http://tinyurl.com/dms8bl

Short, 25 min. sections which is nice for classroom setting. However, I could not find reviews.  Has one section on "Native Americans" It is really hard to find quality history DVDs and I'm not sure this is the one, though one to check out and see if it fits your needs.

 

Anna Jefferson [videorecording] : Northwest Native American basketweaver

http://tinyurl.com/r446nk

Mary Jo at the Whatcom Museum recommended this one. She said it is only out on VHS form, but to let her know if you need another copy (by that I think she means DVD format.)

 

Johnny Moses [videorecording] : storyteller from the Northwest Pacific Coast.

http://tinyurl.com/oyqzno

Preview this one before showing as there are no reviews.  Contents show he tells a story about Bear and Ant, Octopus and Crow among others. 

 

 

MAPS

 

Washington Territory Indian Nations and Tribes

http://www.washingtonhistoryonline.org/treatytrail/teaching/pdfs/1854-Lambert-census-map.pdf

This is off of OSPI's website. 

 

HISTORICAL MAPS OF THE UNITED STATES

http://tinyurl.com/qlhdnx

Printed on heavy cardstock, this well priced map set includes 2 of pre-contact Native American tribes. 

 

Google image search found these:

Native American Tribes: http://www.manataka.org/images/Native_American_Tribes_Wall_Map_068L.jpg 

To purchase: http://www.manataka.org/page287.html

 

 

CURRICULUM RESOURCES

 

Colonial Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in the New World (A Kid's Guide series), Laurie Carlson

http://tinyurl.com/qnd4jf

Reviews say these two from the series have clear instructions and use everyday items.

 

More Than Moccasins: A Kid's Activity Guide to Traditional North American Indian Life, Laurie Carlson 

http://tinyurl.com/oz4zgk

 

Pushing up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children, Joseph Bruchac

http://www.amazon.com/Pushing-Sky-Native-American-Children/dp/0803721684/ref=pd_sim_b_4

Short, simple scripts that help guide young (gr 2-5) actors through Native American stories, most of which are "pourquoi" stories that explain how things came into being.  Great way to get kids up out of their seats and interacting.  Speaking and non-speaking parts.

 

Smithsonian in your classroom: Native American Dolls

http://www.nmai.si.edu/education/files/SiYC_Dolls.pdf

This pdf file has pictures and lesson plans for looking at dolls made in different regions of US by native cultures.  Students can infer how natives used environmental resources available as well as much about the culture.  Includes interviews with doll makers and native history.

 

Smithsonian Global Sound

http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/geocache.aspx

This is really a cool site.  Stream music from any culture in the world and you can even limit it to one instrument just to hear what it sound like.  You can type the tribes name into the "quick search" The top half is for purchasing, but the bottom half of the page allows you to play samples. 

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

 

Burke Museum:

Burke Boxes: Classroom Collections   http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/education/study.php

This is such a great resource!  They have boxes on all sorts of NW topics, including one on Native Peoples and their Environment. You can sign up online and boxes come with lots of extras depending on the topic you picked.

 

Archives:http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/ethnology/collections/browse.php?ID=170561

If you do the activities using McNutt's books, there are great photos of actual button blankets etc on this site.

 

          Burkemobile: http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/education/burkemobile/

A new program that was piloted this past year.  They bring museum to your classroom, for free!, and help students connect with the artifacts.  They have 3 lessons, one called Living Traditions: Native People of Washington State.  Looks superb!

 

Teacher guide for Basketry of NW Native Americans

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/baskets/Teachersguideforbasketry.htm

Gives information on the different types of weaving and patterns from various groups, then has students draw on patterns using basic outline on paper.  Maps in the beginning are worth looking at and using.  If you do more on baskets, there is a DVD through WCLS called Baskets of the Northwest People: Gifts from the Grandmothers that you may be interested in pairing with this project.

 

Edward Curtis's North American Indian

http://curtis.library.northwestern.edu/curtis/browsetribes.html#region

Published between 1907 and 1930 by Edward Curtis in an attempt to record traditional Indian cultures.  This link will allow you to look at amazing photos of Native Americans from that time period.  You can look by region or by tribe name.  Using enlarged, laminated photos, students could do a visual search for how Natives used their environment.  As you search, make sure to limit your VIEW as ILLUSTRATIONS  ONLY so you get the photos and not the text.

 

Nan McNutt's Activity Books: many are also available from WCLS

The Spindle Whorl: An Activity Book Ages 9-12, http://www.amazon.com/Spindle-Whorl-Activity-Northwest-Discovery/dp/1570611157/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243479681&sr=1-1

The Button Blanket: An Activity Book Ages 6-10 http://www.amazon.com/Button-Blanket-Activity-Northwest-Discovery/dp/1570611181/ref=pd_sim_b_1

The bentwood box : an activity book for kids from ages 9-14, http://catalog.wcls.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?index=.TW&term=bentwood+box&profile=#focus

 

 

General Resources

 

Digital History

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/

This digital US history book that you can also get to through the reference portal found on the WCLS site.  It is dedicated to helping teachers use technology to liven up Social Studies curriculum.  For example, there is a whole database of film trailers that can help you introduce Hollywood's version of history.  How have Native Americans been shown and how does that differ from reality? 

Also, check out the Lifespan Timeline!  It is so cool.  http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/timeline/timelineO.cfm  Move the gold bar, which represents one lifespan, through an American history timeline to find out what economic, social or political events occurred and graphically displays them on a US map.  There is also a section on primary documents, but none of the links worked.

 

Mt Baker School District: CBA support

http://www.mtbaker.wednet.edu/elemlib/

Kim, your district is so very lucky to have you.  This is awesome and I have recommended your site to other teachers with whom I have met.

 

Whatcom County Library Tours and Card Applications

http://www.wcls.org/content/view/93/172/ 

 

World Book Online (Access from WCLS website)

http://tinyurl.com/ozkv83

A great encyclopedia with lots available for you from regional information to maps and video clips. Just about everything you need at a kid accessible level is here! Too many links for me to spend time, but a good place for you to find information fill in the gaps.