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We Love Puzzles.  (2018, October 5) Map of Africa Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QIKnZUpvK0

This video would help further a students understanding of the different regions of Africa.

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Map of Africa: Learn the Countries of Africa! Amazing Play-Doh Puzzle of the Continent!

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C1350 Class.  (2012, March 10)  Native American Regions Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UiWh8auxwM

This video would help further a students understanding of the different regions Native Americans inhabit/inhabited.

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Arty Factory. (2018) Retrieved from https://www.artyfactory.com/africanmasks/

This resource showcases the different types of African Masks and the difference in the tribes.  This can show students that although the cultures are similar they are also different.

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Our African Mask Lessons will introduce you to a range of African masks and the people who use them:

Our African Mask Lessons will enhance your knowledge and understanding of African tribal masks. We also host African Mask quizzes so you may test what you have learned:

Our African Mask Lessons will teach you how to design your own tribal masks and offer free clip art to help with your mask drawings:

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African Masks - Information and Examples

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Our African Mask Lessons will introduce you to a range of African masks and the people who use them: Our African Mask Lessons will enhance your knowledge and understanding of African tribal masks.

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ABC Teach.  (2019)  Retrieved fromhttps://www.abcteach.com/documents/worksheet-native-americans-primaryelementary-15381

This resource would explain further the foundations of the Native American culture. This worksheet would make readings easier to understand for students.

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Worksheet: Native Americans (primary/elementary) | abcteach

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A quality educational site offering 5000+ FREE printable theme units, word puzzles, writing forms, book report forms,math, ideas, lessons and much more. Great for new teachers, student teachers , homeschooling and teachers who like creative ways to teach. Join the popular membership section!!

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August House/Story Cove.  (2006, October 9)  The Clever Monkey. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-rkcencKGE

This video tells the African folk tale of the Clever Monkey. This gives students another visual representation of African folk tales. This video would help comprehension of culture, myth , and legend.

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The Clever Monkey (Animated Stories for Kids)

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The Ghanaian Goldilocks - African Folk Tale Video

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The Ghanaian Goldilocks - African Folk Tale Video

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The English Schoolhouse Publishing. (2014, October 16). The Ghanaian Goldilocks. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWhSlX66fSw

This video offers an African take on the classic tale. This is a great way to create an inclusive classroom for students of color.

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Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Nathan King

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Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Nathan King

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King, N. (2012, April 12)

Legend of the Indian Paintbrush.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyaifWkUWr0&list=PL4-JV5FNLVID8rNNnoOQyk5wmYddnWaI8

Audio recording of the Indian Paintbrush Native American legend.

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Math Activities for "How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have?"

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Math Activities for "How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have?"

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School Time Snippets.  (2013)

How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? Storybook Math Activities

Retrieved from https://www.schooltimesnippets.com/2014/05/how-many-spots-does-leopard-have.html

There are leveled activities within this collection of activities based on the book, "How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have?". There is an addition activity that would be perfect for second grade. There is also an activity where students use poms poms to count tens.

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post may contain affiliate links

I was pleasantly surprised by the different math concepts woven into some of the books we brought home. During the past month, we also read Clay Boy, which would be a creative introduction to comparing sizes and Two of Everything, which is a cute story introducing doubles. Our chosen book, How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? is a rather funny story that weaves in counting, addition, and multiplication into the story.

Storybook Go-along Activity

It all begins with a rather vain Leopard admiring his beautiful spots when Plover comes and agrees that they are beautiful but questions, how many spots he has? Leopard cannot count but with the help of numerous animals he finally comes up with an answer that he is happy with. If you want to know how many spots leopard has, you'll have to read the book for yourself! Until then, here is how we explored different math concepts for this story.

Counting
How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? was a great introduction to counting! Giraffe was able to count the highest, however " when he got to sixty-nine, he paused. Does anyone know what comes after sixty-nine?" "Seventy!" said Tortoise. "No, eighty!" argued Eagle. All the arguing exhausted Giraffe and since no one else could count as high as him, they soon left.

A fun way to extend this concept would be to ask your child, " What comes after.....?" or see how high your child can count!

Addition
Giraffe counted thirty-seven spots on Leopard's tail and twenty-two on Leopard's head, but no one knew how to add the two numbers together.

However, if your child is working on double-digit addition, he/she will be able to!

Multiplication
The concept of multiplication to figure out how many spots leopard has was used by Monkey. Monkey counted to ten spots and then started over again. "Wait!" exclaimed Leopard. "Why did you start over?" "It's multiplication," answered Monkey. [...] Two tens make twenty. Three tens makes thirty."
My son has been interested in multiplication lately, so we did a couple of different activities to explore this concept. First we pulled out our bucket of black pom poms and made groups of ten, just like Monkey.

Another way we explored multiplication was by using our pom poms with a muffin tin. I wrote out several multiplication problems for him to work through. We would fill each muffin cup/ "group" with a certain amount of pom poms to find the answer.

Who knew you could explore counting, addition, and multiplication in one book?--let alone a Folktale!! Definitely thankful for this month's Poppins Book Nook theme; we found several great books to read that we otherwise would not have read.
Keep in touch!! Sign up to get updates via BlogLovin', Facebook, GFC, or Email, or follow along via School Time Snippets Pinterest Board!

Hope you have some time to see what the other co-hosts read this month!

See you next month for the theme, The Great Outdoors!

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©2011-2013 School Time Snippets. All rights reserved. You are free to link back to my website but all text, photos, and other content may not be reproduced without the written consent of the author.

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how many spots does a leopard have? storybook math activities

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How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? Storybook Math Activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
post may contain affiliate links I was pleasantly surprised by the different math concepts woven into some of the books we brought home. During the past month, we also read Clay Boy, which would be a creative introduction to comparing sizes and Two of Everything, which is a cute story introducing doubles.

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Knight, D. (2019)

Native American Myth: Why the Owl Has Big Eyes, Craftivity and Printables. Retrieved from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Native-American-Myth-Why-the-Owl-Has-Big-Eyes-Craftivity-and-Printables-811744

Activities centered around the Native American legend about why the owl has big eyes. OF course you would not necessarily buy this package but you could use the idea and create your own owl print out and go over the legend with students. Important vocabulary moment explaining what a legend, myth, and culture. This would be used at the beginning of the unit on Native Americans.

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Native American Myth: Why The Owl Has Big Eyes, Craftivity and Printables

Perfect for back to school fall months- Native American literature or social studies unit, Thanksgiving, culture, myths and legends. And just because owls are...Fun!

Looks amazing when assembled and colorful for a bulletin board.

Includes:
Owl body parts printables/ cut outs
Read and Write printable /cutout
Words to Know printable /cutout
Reading Response printable/ cutout (includes primary paper, too!)
Teacher's Choice blank printable.
Why the Owl Has Big Eyes myth story printable (2 sided)

You'll also have directions and pictures to follow for guiding your students. I recommend this for grades 2-5. But of course, you know your students best.

skills/materials: cutting, gluing, coloring, painting (optional), reading and writing, a stapler is recommended

Come Together! Connect with Me!

Study All Knight Blog
Study All Knight Facebook
Danielle Knight (Study All Knight) on Pinterest
Study All Knight on Twitter
Study All Knight on Instagram

Created by Danielle Knight, © Study All Knight ™, The Knight Stuff, LLC

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Native American Myth: Why the Owl Has Big Eyes, Craftivity and Printables

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Native American Myth: Why The Owl Has Big Eyes, Craftivity and Printables Perfect for back to school fall months- Native American literature or social studies unit, Thanksgiving, culture, myths and legends. And just because owls are...Fun! Looks amazing when assembled and colorful for a bulletin ...

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Bruchac, J.  (1997)  Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons.

This book could be used in conjunction with the Earth on Turtle's Back activities. This book explores the meaning behind each cycle of moon and how they are all different. A math connection could be made since this is how Native Americans could tell the passage of time.

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Other Categories: Kids Books, Canadian Aboriginal Resource Lists , Alberta Literature to Support FNMI Student Success 2010, Grade 4, Grade 5, Authentic First Peoples Resources K - 9 2016, 2 - 4, BC - In Our Own Words K - 3 2012, Picture Books, First Nations, Indigenous Cultural Practices, Seasons, Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Canadians, First Nations , Abenaki , Indigenous Peoples of the United States, Native American, Abenaki, Reading Connections, BC Core Competencies, Communication, Preschool and Kindergarten, Picture Books, Seasons, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter

Synopsis:

To many Native Americans, the 13 cycles of the moon represent the changing seasons and the passage of time. Each moon has its own special name that, while varying among the tribal nations, is consistent with the legend that the 13 scales on Old Turtle's back hold the key to these moons. The authors present 13 poems that take readers through the year, from the "Moon of Popping Trees"--when the "cottonwoods crack with frost"--to the "Big Moon" of the Abenakis. The book's effective design consists of verses in vertical columns at the left of each spread, with the remainder occupied by Locker's ( Family Farm ; Catskill Eagle ) typically lush artwork. His oil paintings are eye-catching in their depth of color reflecting dramatic seasonal changes. Trees, skies and woodland creatures are rendered in vivid hues that combine to produce an enthralling vision. This unusual and intelligent book is an exemplary introduction to Native American culture with its emphasis on the importance of nature.

All ages.

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Thirteen Moons On Turtle's Back: A Native American Year Of Moons, 1997) - Indigenous & First Nations Kids Books - Strong Nations

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To many Native Americans, the 13 cycles of the moon represent the changing seasons and the passage of time. Each moon has its own special name that, while varying among the tribal nations, is consistent with the legend that the 13 scales on Old Turtle's back hold the key to these moons.

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Knight, D. (2019) Native American Myth: Earth on Turtle's Back Craftivity and Printables.  Retrieved from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Native-American-Myth-Earth-on-Turtles-Back-Craftivity-and-Printables-803449

This resource highlights the personification aspect of Native American culture. This would further drive home the theme that Native Americans used animals as a way of connecting with nature and better understanding themselves and the world around them.

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Native American Myth: Earth on Turtle's Back Craftivity and Printables

Perfect for back to school fall months- Native American literature or social studies unit, Thanksgiving, culture, myths and legends. Can't forget Earth Day. Fun. Looks amazing when assembled and colorful for a bulletin board.

Includes:
-Cover printable/ cut out
-Reading Response printable /cut out
-Words to Know printable /cut out
-Read and Draw printable /cut out
-Storytelling Writing Prompt (includes primary paper)
-Earth on Turtle's Back myth story printable formatted as a booklet.

You'll also have directions and pictures to follow for guiding your students. I recommend this for grades 2-5. But of course, you know your students best.

skills/materials: cutting, gluing, coloring, painting (optional), reading and writing, a stapler is recommended

Come Together! Connect with Me!

Study All Knight Blog
Study All Knight Facebook
Danielle Knight (Study All Knight) on Pinterest
Study All Knight on Twitter
Study All Knight on Instagram

Created by Danielle Knight, © Study All Knight ™, The Knight Stuff, LLC

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Native American Myth: Earth on Turtle's Back Craftivity and Printables

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Native American Myth: Earth on Turtle's Back Craftivity and Printables Perfect for back to school fall months- Native American literature or social studies unit, Thanksgiving, culture, myths and legends. Can't forget Earth Day. Fun. Looks amazing when assembled and colorful for a bulletin board. ...

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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Lesson Plan

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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Lesson Plan

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Woo Jr. Kids Activities. (2019) Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Lesson Plan.  Retrieved from https://www.woojr.com/mufaros-beautiful-daughters-lesson-plan-activities/

This resource can be used for ideas centered around the book "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters".

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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is an African folktale from Zimbabwe, a country in Africa. It is the tale of two very different daughters who learn the ills of pride, selfishness, and fierce competitiveness. It is a wonderfully illustrated picture book with familiar characters- a fairy godmother, an evil sister, and even a Prince- but the real gem of this book is its depiction of a land often thought to be devoid of any beauty or character. Additionally, author and illustrator John Steptoe center Black characters who come to life amongst the vibrant backdrop of nature.

Below are some activities to use in your Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters lesson plan, including worksheets and vocabulary words.

Geography

Activity 1 - Web Hunt / Info Hunt

Send your children on a web hunt of the Republic of Zimbabwe by exploring the website below in search of things that fit each clue. In a classroom, students can work in pairs/groups.
http://www.our-africa.org/zimbabwe
Clues

Z _________________ Clue: The Tonga are an ethnic group in this Valley ( Zambezi)

I _________________ Clue: Many people also hold traditional beliefs in ancestors, as well as in receiving this from the spirits. ( Inspiration)

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M _________________ Clue: This is a type of wooden xylophone played here. ( Marimba)

B _________________ Clue: Harare and this city average around 14°C in July ( Bulawayo)

A _________________ Clue: This industry is very important to the economy here ( Agricultural)

B _________________ Clue: Zimbabweans prefer to have this between themselves and their immediate neighbors. ( Bush)

W _________________ Clue: An SOS Children's Village was founded here and in Bulawayo ( Waterfalls)

E _________________ Clue: This is the official language of Zimbabwe ( English)
Print this activity with these worksheets here:
Activity 2 - Cooking

Mielie Meel (or mealie meal) is a staple in Zimbabwe. It is very similar to grits or polenta and is made from coarse ground white corn meal. Use this recipe to make it for breakfast or a classroom snack.

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Language Arts

Vocabulary words

Transfix (v) - To cause one to stand/sit without movement due to surprise or shock

Chamber (n) - A person's bedroom

Preparation (n) - To make something ready for any sort of undertaking

Flora (n) - All the plants that live/grow in a particular area or environment, or at a particular time

Fauna (n) - All the animals that live in a particular area or environment, or at a particular time

Millet (n) - A type of grass whose seeds are used for food

Bountiful (adj) - Giving or providing many things

Considerate (adj) - Thinking about the feelings, rights of others; showing kindness towards others

Proclaim (v) - To say or state something

Silhouette (n) - A dark shape against a light background

Foretold (v) - To describe something before it happens

Garment (n) - An item of clothing

Commotion (n) - A noisy excitement or disturbance

Reinforce these vocabulary words with these word search and crossword puzzle worksheets:
Literary Elements and Terms

Folktale - a traditional story usually passed down through oral tradition (verbal storytelling)

Moral - a lesson taught in a story

Foreshadowing - a hint of something to come, usually in a story

Conflict - a struggle or strong disagreement between people or with self

Characterization - what a character in a story says, does, thinks, feels

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Why does Manyara believe that kindness is a weakness?

2. "Only a King can choose between two such worthy daughters."- Mufaro Why does Mufaro make this statement? Why do you think he did not want to decide which daughter went to the King and which one stayed behind?

3. Why do you think Manyara doesn't not like Nyasha?

4. Do you think that Nyasha is really nice and kind?

5. In what ways could Nayasha and the King have shown Manyara compassion?

6. Is competition bad? Why or why not?

7. What is the moral of this story?

8. Is this story similar to any others that you have heard or read?

9. How did the King judge the women who were competing for the role of Queen?

10. This story has very little to do with romantic love. What is the difference between the goal of the women in this story and that of the women in Cinderella? Why?

Here are the same reading comprehension questions in a printable worksheet format:
Reading Comprehension Activities

1. Choose a character to follow in the story. Write down at least 5 things in each group:

2. Complete a 4-column Somebody-Wanted-But-So Chart the story

1. Somebody - the main character(s)

2. Wanted - what did that character want?

3. But - what was stopping them from getting what they wanted?

4. So - what did they do to overcome the but?

3. Plot this story using the Plot Triangle

1. Exposition - background in story )how it begins

2. Rising Action - what happens as the tension in the story begins to build?

3. Climax - the tipping point, the exploding event

4. Falling Action - how the tensions begin to die down after the Climax

5. Resolution - how is the problem solved?

Math and Science

Hibiscuses are native to Zimbabwe and are nearly symmetrical in shape. Explore this fun page to teach students about the mathematical Fibonacci Sequence in nature.

You can also explore the Fibonacci Sequence by coloring these Fibonacci spiral coloring pages - it's especially fun to color each concentric row a different color on the color wheel!

Art

Animals of Zimbabwe Coloring Pages

Zimbabwe is home to a plethora of wildlife. Here are some coloring pages of some of the fauna found in the country.

Create a Country Travel Brochure

This was our inspiration from The Inspired Classroom
Materials

1 Manila file folder

Printed lapbook templates like the ones on HomeschoolShare

Coloring supplies

Scissors

Glue

Images of various places, attractions, sites in Zimbabwe printed from online sources or drawn yourself. (http://www.our-africa.org/zimbabwe)

Instructions: Open the file folder and fold the sides towards the center so that they both meet in the middle. Use your lapbook templates to organize your information and images. Glue into your folder to make a brochure.

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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Lesson Plan and Activities | Woo! Jr. Kids Activities

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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is an African folktale from Zimbabwe, a country in Africa. It is the tale of two very different daughters who learn the ills of pride, selfishness, and fierce competitiveness.

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Resources for Teaching the Music of Native American Peoples

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Resources for Teaching the Music of Native American Peoples

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Rice, B. (2015) Resources for Teaching the Music of Native American Peoples. Retrieved from https://childrensmusic.org/pass-it-on/features/resources-for-teaching-the-music-of-native-american-peoples.aspx

This website provides resources on how to teach the music of Native American peoples. What questions to ask students and how to activate learning related to decoding indigenous people's music.

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A teacher must understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to students with diverse backgrounds and exceptionalities. The teacher must...understand the cultural content, world view, and concepts that comprise Minnesota based American Indian tribal government, history, language, culture.

I work as a music teacher in Minnesota, both in a Minneapolis public school and as an adjunct faculty member at Hamline University in St. Paul. The quote above is from Minnesota's State Standards for elementary education, which include the requirement that we teach the "contributions of Native Americans, particularly those who live in Minnesota" in all content areas. How do I, as a person who is neither of Native American descent nor related to a Native American person, teach the music of Native American peoples with integrity? This article aims to share what I've learned over the past decade, offering resources and my thoughts on teaching multicultural music.

How do we teach our children about music of other cultures? Many times we find a song from another culture, try to learn pronunciation of the language, and teach it to our students. We can even find Native musicians on YouTube to assist us with this process. Yet performance is not the only way to learn music of another culture. To perform music of another culture with integrity and respect, we need to listen carefully to the music and observe it with the objectivity of a scientist.

I have been fortunate to learn from representatives of the Ojibway and the Dakota, two distinct peoples in Minnesota. Many Native American cultural presenters believe the best way to begin to understand the music is to first listen, then we are encouraged to discuss what we hear. Every time Native music was shared with me in Minnesota, it began with listening. The first takeaway I had using this approach was that I was not taught a song, or product, I could go teach my students, and I began to think about why this is.

Music is a window into another culture. My Ojibway and Dakota guides explained that before replicating the sounds of a culture, an outsider should familiarize themselves with the sounds, learn how sounds are used and understood in the culture. What are the sounds? How are the sounds being used? Do we have questions? We can expect our students to laugh or giggle at first when exposed to the unfamiliar, but as educators our goal is to reduce the giggle response and replace it with curiosity and interest. We promote understanding of other cultures through acceptance of unfamiliar sounds as music.

Descriptive Review
Over time, I've learned that the Native peoples of Minnesota treasure a diversity of responses, and there are often many "right answers" to a prompt. The Descriptive Review protocol is a facilitator's tool that allows many people's voices to be heard. It uses diverse responses to build a more detailed and nuanced picture of the music being listened to. Discussion is key. Many times, after hearing music a second or third time, new aspects of the music are illuminated by other listeners sharing their perspective.

The Descriptive Review or Critical Response protocol was developed as part of tools for Artful Learning and grounded in child psychiatrist Dr. James Comer's idea that "No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship." Similar strategies are employed by visual artists in Visual Thinking Strategies, or VTS. The descriptive review process allows listeners to build a relationship with music by focusing attention on description without judgment.

The first task of the listener is to describe the music in words that answer these questions:

What do you hear in the music?

What is going on in the music?

What do you notice about this music?

All of this is without judgment. Possible sentence starters are "I hear...(instruments, sounds)," "In the beginning (middle, end)...," and "The music reminds me of...."

The purpose of this step is to focus the listener on the sounds and to set the listener up for success by removing judgmental statements such as "It's boring" or "I like it" that allow the listener to dismiss the music from careful attention. Describing music verbally requires the listener to engage with the sounds. The listener strives to describe the music so a person who has not heard it can imagine the sounds of the music.

On repeated hearings, students can answer additional questions:

What does the music remind you of? This can trigger memories, experiences, stories, etc., and there are no wrong answers or associations.

What emotions do you feel when you hear this music? Again, no wrong answers.

What questions do you have about this music? "I wonder..." is a good starting point.

What do you think the purpose of the music is? OR

What meaning do you think might be in this music? This invites the listener to speculate.

I usually ask my students to write their thoughts as they listen in silence to the music. After we listen to a piece all the way through, I ask the first questions and list all the responses. We listen to the music again and focus on what the music reminds us of or makes us feel. I've found that because of the group sharing, the students often hear elements they did not hear the first time. This process builds a relationship with the music, supports developing a habit of careful listening, and actively develops vocabulary to label what one hears.

Post-listening discussion broadens all listeners' experience of the music and brings out a diversity of responses. The beauty of the Descriptive Review is that the protocol can be applied to any and all music. As students become familiar with the process, their responses deepen. With practice, students typically use more musical vocabulary and become more robust and expressive writers. They articulate more specific comments about the music they are listening to. It's almost like a musical journaling experience.

Native American Resources for Educators
Two noted Minnesota organizations have provided valuable resources for educators who want to include Native American music in their work: Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and the Perpich Center for Arts Education.

Minnesota Public Radio has partnered with Lyz Jaakola, a member of the Ojibway people, to produce curriculum and videos with lots of valuable information. Take a look at Lyz's school presentation and her interview. Both come with curriculum guides online. I have used these presentations with my university students, who have responded enthusiastically. In my elementary classrooms, I've used the written curriculum guide to develop lessons. It's worth noting that Lyz Jaakola's 2014 interview is part of MPR's Class Notes series-general music videos that my students are fascinated with.

The Perpich Center for Arts Education library compiled a bibliography of resources in 2010 entitled Minnesota American Indian Music and Art Resources for Teachers. These materials may be checked out by Minnesota residents. For nonresidents, these curated resources may more quickly guide you toward a book or other resource that you can locate in your local library. The Perpich Center even has a presence on Pinterest, New Native American Titles, "the newest Native American fiction and nonfiction titles added to the Perpich library collection."

For print resources, check out the work of Dr. Bryan Burton. Bryan has published several books that include lesson plans with detailed cultural information plus CDs-a must to hear the music. These books include contributions from many Native peoples from a variety of geographical regions of the United States. The titles are Moving Within the Circle: Contemporary Native American Music and Dance, 2nd Edition, Voices of the Wind: Native American Flute Songs, and When the Earth Was Like New: Western Apache Songs and Stories with co-authors Ruth and Chesley Wilson.

Resources for songs in the Ojibway language can be found at ojibwe.net if you are so inclined. You can find traditional women's and men's songs, as well as popular and children's songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" translated into Ojibway. Be sure to listen to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"-which has a very different melody! Each of these types of material can have its place in classroom music.

Another company of interest is Canyon Records, the recording company for Native artists. Their catalog and a sampler CD are both available online, but you also have the option of requesting a print catalog-a rarity these days. They have been recording and distributing Native music since 1951, and you can hear a wide variety of Native approaches to music, from purely traditional to fusions with modern pop, rock, and more.

And in CMN we have Sue Straw, who has produced a wonderful CD of songs and stories adapted from legends of various Native American tribes, Native American Songs & Stories for Children, Volume One. These stories and songs are wonderful for young children because they are short-mostly two to three minutes long-and they are sung in English.

Another way to develop appreciation and understanding of Native music is to read widely about the culture. Two autobiographical books by a Native author I have found both helpful and enjoyable to read are and Beloved Child: A Dakota Way of Life by Diane Wilson.

There are many others! Another fascinating book for adults is Anton Treuer's Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask. Books for children on Lakota culture include Dance in a Buffalo Skull by Zitkala-Sa, Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Sa by Gina Capaldi, and Lakota Hoop Dancer by Jacqueline Left Hand Bull and Suzanne Haldane. Books and book suggestions can be found at Birchbark Books, the Minneapolis bookstore owned by famed Native author Louise Erdrich. One focus of the bookstore is to provide materials for educators.

For those who want to explore the contemporary Native American culture and art on a national level, Planting Truthful Seeds About Native Americans by Dr. Amanda Morris is an excellent place to start. The blog post links to diverse resources including films, current music, designers, journalism, and even stand-up comedy.

In conclusion, as we consider teaching music of multiple cultures, we should place ourselves in the role of guide rather than sage, and learn alongside our children. We should listen and use discussion as active and important ways to learn about a culture and its music. Performance is only one of many paths we can take. Listening is the first pathway to understanding.

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Resources for Teaching the Music of Native American Peoples

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A teacher must understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to students with diverse backgrounds and exceptionalities. The teacher must...understand the cultural content, world view, and concepts that comprise Minnesota based American Indian tribal government, history, language, culture.

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Courtney, L. (2019)

Literature Unit Study: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears. Retrieved from https://www.proverbialhomemaker.com/why-mosquitoes-buzz-in-peoples-ears.html

This resource gives activities for language arts, social studies, and science all related to the book, "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears".

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Literature Unit Study: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears (FREE Printable!)

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Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People's Ears by Verna Aardema is one of my favorite read alouds. Besides the fun of the story, it's also a great book to use for a literature unit study because

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Layers of Learning. (2019) Anansi African Folk Tale Craft. Retrieved from https://layers-of-learning.com/african-folk-tales/

On this page you will find directions  on how to make an Anansi craft that could be done after the students view the videobook feature on this padlet.

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This exploration is for all ages, as the colored smilies show. You can learn about African Folk Tales with your whole family together!

The Anansi and Turtle craft is an arts exploration from Layers of Learning Unit 1-14 about African Tales. Layers of Learning has hands-on explorations, experiments, and fun art projects in every unit of this family-friendly curriculum. Learn more about Layers of Learning.

African folktales, like Anansi and Turtle, help kids learn about other parts of the world. In Nigeria, folktales are very popular and perhaps the most popular are tales about Anansi. Anansi is a West African god who often takes the form of a spider. He is the son of the sky god, Nayame, and the earth goddess, Asase Ya. One of our favorite tales is called Anansi and Turtle. It's a moral tale somewhat like Aesop's Fables. We'll read the tale and then make a craft about Anansi and Turtle, the two characters.

Step 1: Library Research

Before you begin exploring, read some other African Tales. Here are some suggestions, but if you can't find these, look for books at your library about African stories, African folk tales, or African literature. The colored smilies above each book tell you what age level they're recommended for.

by Eric A. Kimmel

by Celia Barker Lottridge

by Adwoa Badoe

Ten Ananse stories, told by an author from Ghana

Step 2: Anansi and Turtle African Folk Tale Craft

You'll need an egg carton, scissors, paints and brushes, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes, and glue to make the Anansi and Turtle craft.

First, look up Nigeria on a globe and then read this Nigerian folk tale about Anansi, the trickster.

Now, make some spiders and turtles using egg cartons.

Spiders

1. Cut apart an egg carton, so each egg cup is separate (you only have to cut as many as you intend to make spiders for).

2. Paint the egg cup black or any other color you wish your spider to be.

3. Poke eight holes around the rim of the egg cup, four on each side, using a sharp pencil or wooden skewer.

4. Thread four pipe cleaners through the holes so you end up with eight legs. Trim the pipe cleaners to the length you desire.

5. Glue on wiggly eyes.

Turtles

1. Use egg cups again, but this time paint the egg cup green.

2. Make four legs using pipe cleaners, poked through holes on the egg cup.

3. Add wiggly eyes.

For teens:

1. What was the very first thing that happened in the story?

2. Who was the host at the first dinner party? Was he a good host? Why?

3. Who was the host at the second dinner party? Was he a good host? Why?

4. Does it make a difference that Turtle came very hungry and tired to ask Anansi for help? What if he had just been greedy and wanted to take food from Anansi? Does the attitude and condition of Turtle at the first dinner party make any difference in how you perceive Anansi's behavior?

5. What was Anansi's major fault in this story? Do you think this is a common human fault and why is it a problem?

6. Were you glad that Turtle got back at Anansi and taught him a lesson? Why? Would you behave that way if someone treated you badly or tricked you? Why? Do you think Anasi learned because of what Turtle did?

7. In African tales often cleverness is the most important trait for a character. The stories are often solved with the brain. What do you think this says about what West African cultures value?

8. What lesson is this tale trying to teach?

9. Do you agree with the message? Why or why not?

Step 3: Show What You Know

Use the figures to retell the story of Anansi and the Turtle in your own words.

Additional Layers

Additional Layers are extra activities you can do or tangents you can take off on. You will find them in the sidebars of each Layers of Learning unit. They are optional, so just choose what interests you.

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This exploration is for all ages, as the colored smilies show. You can learn about African Folk Tales with your whole family together! The Anansi and Turtle craft is an arts exploration from Layers of Learning Unit 1-14 about African Tales. Layers of Learning has hands-on explorations, experiments, and fun art projects in every unit of this family-friendly curriculum.

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Links to Native American legends and African Folk Tales

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Links to Native American legends and African Folk Tales

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San Antonio College.  (2018, August 7)  Folklore, Fairy Tales, Mythology, & Customs.  Retrieved from https://sacguide.libguides.com/c.php?g=272342&p=1817550

This can be used to access multiple legends or folk tales to share in class with students and to  base lessons around.

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Currie, J.  (2019, May 31)

Rain Sticks – Kids Can Create the Sound of Falling Rain! Retrieved from https://happyhooligans.ca/rain-sticks/

This could be used to teach students about the purpose of rain sticks and why Native Americans used them and made them.

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Last updated on

How to make a rainstick with a cardboard roll and some basic materials. Pretty, easy and inexpensive! Ideal for toddlers and preschoolers.

You'll find lots of super spring crafts for kids here, and today's rain sticks are no exception! They're easy to make, the kids loved decorating them, and they sound great! Before we get started though, you might be wondering...

What IS a rain stick?

Traditional rain sticks are instruments made with hollow cacti, thorns and lava pebbles, and are used in some cultures to invoke the rain spirits. Ours are simplified rain sticks, and I'm not sure how effective they'd be for calling up any spirits but they were fun to make, and they sound lovely when you up-end them.

When I say ours our "simplified", I mean that we didn't put nearly as many nails (or tacks) into them as we should have. Pop over to Planting Ideas to see how to make a real rainstick. It requires many more nails than what we used, which would slow the flow of the materials inside, producing a longer and gentler sound.

I think ours turned out just great for the hooligans though, and the process was easy, using materials we already had on hand.

P.S. If you're looking for more cardboard roll crafts, you'll find over 30 of our favourites here.
For your conviencience, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
To make our rain sticks, you'll need:

You could use a paper towel roll for this project, but food wrap tubes are more sturdy. We used cardboard rolls that had once held plastic wrap (i.e. Saran Wrap) and aluminum foil, and I also had a long, sturdy tube that a poster came packaged in.

Because some of our tubes were too small in diameter to insert nails into, without them poking out the other side, I brainstormed up a couple of alternatives: thumb-tacks and brass-tacks.

How to make a rainstick:

Push, hammer or tap your tacks and nails into the tube. (I made small cuts with an exact-o knife to insert the brass-tacks).

Once you have all of your nails and tacks in, (remember: more is better than less), roll your tube up in aluminum foil.

Squeeze the tin foil tightly around the tube and stuff the excess into one end of the tube to form a plug of sorts. (see finished photo at the bottom of this post).

Pour your filler items (beads/rice/small corn kernels etc.) into the open end of the tube. Keep your items small (rice is ideal) so they don't get jammed between the nails and tacks. Now seal up the open end just like you sealed the bottom.

To decorate our rain sticks, we decoupaged them with tissue paper and watered down white glue.

When they were dry, we decorated our rain sticks craft-foam stickers. The hooligans love these things because, well, what kid doesn't love a sticker? And I love them because peeling the backs off the stickers gives little fingers a real fine-motor work out.

When you're finished decorating your rain stick, tip it end-over-end. The rice sounds like the soft pitter patter of raindrops as it cascades through the tube.

More Spring Crafts for Preschoolers:
8 Gorgeous Homemade Wind Chimes for Kids to Make Pringles Can Windsock Craft Styro-framed art
rainbow collages
Paper Plate Birds

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Rain Sticks for Kids to Make - Happy Hooligans

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Last updated on How to make a rainstick with a cardboard roll and some basic materials. Pretty, easy and inexpensive! Ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. You'll find lots of super spring crafts for kids here, and today's rain sticks are no exception! They're easy to make, the kids loved decorating them, and they sound great!

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Discovering and Writing Native American Folk Legends

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Discovering and Writing Native American Folk Legends

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Denton, S. (2019)

Discovering and Writing Native American Legends.  Retrieved from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/17-18/discovering-writing-native-american-legends/

This link  is to a proposed lesson plan from Scholastic  that will introduce a Native American legend "How Lizard Lost His Color" and encourage and instruct students on how to write their own legend.

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Preinstructional Planning
Students will:

Understand characteristics of Native American legends

Demonstrate understanding of legends by writing a legend of their own

Engage in the writing process through planning, editing, and revising

How Lizard Lost His Colors by Sara Shapiro, or another Native American legend such as The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac, How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by James and Joseph Bruchac, The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie DePaola, The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie DePaola, or Moon's Cloud Blanket by Rose Anne St. Romain

Chart paper and markers

Story Elements Graphic Organizer printable

Lined writing paper

Optional: Projector

1. Pre-read the legend you choose. How Lizard Lost His Colors is used throughout this lesson plan.

2. Make a copy of the Story Elements Graphic Organizer printable for each student.

Step 1: Introduce the topic by asking your students, "What is a legend?" Explain that today you will be sharing a Native American legend. Tell the class:

Native Americans have a strong tradition of oral storytelling. These stories were told to pass down traditions and values. Legends were told to answer questions that people wondered about, and to teach lessons.

Step 2: Tell your students about Native American legends.

Native American legends include all of the basic story elements: character, setting, plot, problem, and solution. They may include the Great Spirit, and themes such as the importance of nature, and respect for nature and one another. Native American legends sometimes include animals or objects that can talk. Plots may explain how something came to be, or the story may teach a lesson.

Step 3: Prepare to read How Lizard Lost His Colors to the class. This legend explains how the lizard was once colorful, but lost his colors and now lives camouflaged against the desert sand. Ask the class to think about the message of the story as they listen.

Step 4: Review the legend with your class. What caused Lizard to lose his colors? Was this good or bad for the lizard? Was the legend teaching a lesson or explaining how something came to be? Use the Story Elements Graphic Organizer printable (on projector or chart paper) to identify and fill in story elements as a class.

Step 5: Now have your students plan to write their own legend. Brainstorm possible subjects as a class. Some ideas: why a thunderstorm roars, why there is snow, how the stars got in the sky, what makes the waves of the ocean, why an animal looks a certain way, etc.

Step 6: Have students pick a topic and plan their story using the the Story Elements Graphic Organizer printable.

Step 7: Have students edit and revise their stories with a partner, or with you or another instructor.

Step 8: Have students write their legend on lined paper, and illustrate.

Does the student understand Native American legends? Can he or she give an oral explanation of a Native American legend?

Does the student's legend include each story element discussed in the lesson?

Did the student participate in the entire writing process (planning, draft, editing, publishing)?

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.2
Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

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Discovering and Writing Native American Legends | Scholastic

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Preinstructional Planning Students will: Understand characteristics of Native American legends Demonstrate understanding of legends by writing a legend of their own Engage in the writing process through planning, editing, and revising How Lizard Lost His Colors by Sara Shapiro, or another Native American legend such as The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac, How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by James and Joseph Bruchac, The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie DePaola, The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie DePaola, or Moon's Cloud Blanket by Rose Anne St.

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Rainbow Bird Read Aloud and Writing Prompt

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Rainbow Bird Read Aloud and Writing Prompt

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Sunny Days.  (2013, November 10)

NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS - LESSON PLANS AND FREE MATH GAME Retrieved from http://sunnydaysinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/2013/11/native-american-legends-lesson-plans.html

This book will be used as an introduction into Native American legends.  The Rainbow Crow will serve as a way for students to write a prompt about what animal they would send to the Great Sky Spirit.

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Native American legends are one of my very favorite things to expose my kids to. It's a genre of literature they don't usually gravitate to naturally, so it's like I'm opening up a whole new area of reading to them. I love teaching them that a legend tells how something in nature has evolved to be what it is today. One of my very favorite legends of all is The Rainbow Crow. If you're not familiar with the story, it tells how the crow was once a beautiful, colorful songbird who sacrificed its voice and appearance to save all the animals of the world. We also learn how the sacrifice turns into a gift. It's really a touching tale with so many teachable moments!

I searched and searched for some ready to use resources for this great book, but didn't really find any that fit my needs. So, I stopped searching and started creating. This is a bit different from my usual stuff, but my entire team has been using this as our whole group reading plan and it's been working really well! I included a 5 day lesson plan breakdown and a printable for each lesson. I also noted Common Core Standards for grades 2, 3, and 4. I'm working on the same type of format for the other legends we're working on. {Links at the end, as always}

Another favorite of mine is the Native American stick game called Pugasaing. I really have no idea where I first saw this, I just have my sample game stowed away with the early versions of this unit. It's great math practice and the kids really dig it. First, I introduce some tribal patterns I found online and let the kids have at some jumbo popsicle sticks with red and black markers. They need 3 sticks altogether each with one black and one red side. We talked a lot about how Native American children would make the game with tree bark and carvings instead of popsicle sticks and sharpies. When I gave them a pipe cleaner to hold them together, they told me that the kids would probably use a long piece of grass. They got it! Huzzah!

I'm working on the plans and products for this unit as I'm teaching it, kind of like learning how to fix planes in the air, but isn't that how teaching is most of the time?

Great Resources I'm also Loving!

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Native American Legends - Lesson Plans and Free Math Game

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Native American legends are one of my very favorite things to expose my kids to. It's a genre of literature they don't usually gravitate to naturally, so it's like I'm opening up a whole new area of reading to them. I love teaching them that a legend tells how something in nature has evolved to be what it is today.

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Anasi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti

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Anasi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti

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Carswell, A.  (2012, April 19).

Anansi the Spider Videobook.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcKelcbas9s

This video is a reading of the book.  This book could be used as an introduction into African American folk tales.