Learning About the Native Americans

We enjoyed learning a lot about the Native Americans last week. We made canoes, tipis, native american clothing and a totem pole!!! We had so much fun making out totem pole Tuesday morning. The kids brainstormed which animals they thought were the MOST important to the Native American people. After we had our list of animals each person got to vote on which one they would like to help create. The groups were split evenly and we went to work! I LOVE the way it turned out!!! It will be sitting outside our classroom for a long time! 

Here we are making our Native American clothing..

And the finished product!! We got to wear these costumes down to lunch one day to have a feast! (Chicken nuggets.. ;) )

Here is the buffalo group! They added lots of string and tissue paper to make it look hairy...awesome!! The buffalo are important to the Native Americans because they used their skin to make clothing.

Fish are important to the Native Americans because it was one of their food sources! I never would have thought of that! They are such smarties! This group used lots of colorful tissue paper and sparkly sequins for the scales. So cool.

These girls thought the horse was important to the Native Americans because they rode them to get from place to place, to hunt and to sell goods. I love the string the added for the horses mane!

The eagle is usually always at the top of a totem pole. This group got to make our eagle head and wings and did a GREAT job! They were so creative.

Here is the turtle group! We decided turtles were important to Native Americans because they used their shells as shields and turned them into bowls to eat out of. What great imaginations. :) This group worked hard gluing construction paper and tissue paper to make the shell look real. 

And here is our finished totem pole!!!!!! I am one proud teacher. 

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!!! I am so thankful for such a great class and great parents who are supportive and helpful. Enjoy your time with these little guys at home. I will be excited to see them when we get back to school!