Native Indians

 

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This series of activities is offered in November.

Large groups are divided into two or four groups, otherwise the class does each activity as a whole.

Time frame for this series is about 1 1/2 hours.

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The Native Indian series of activities was inspired by the idea of the time of the year for Thanksgiving and the desire to inform students about how Indians native to Alabama would have lived. During the Herb Walk and Talk students are shown plants native to Alabama that the Indians used in everyday life like boiling sap from pine trees and using it as an aniseptic wash for acne and a deoderant, or just the sap as chewing gum, or chewing parsley as a breath freshner.

 

 Activity 1     Activity 2    Activity 3    Activity 4

Native Indians    List of Series       

 

 

Activity One

Herb Walk and Talk

This is a walk through the woods looking at plants and other signs of Native American Indian inhabitancy of Alabama. The students will be shown certain plants and told how they were used by the Indians for food and medicinal purposes.

1. Students will be told what the activity is about and ask if anyone in the group knows any information about plants that Indians used.

2. Docent will lead the students on the walk.

SWBAT discuss how plants were used by Native American Indians. SWBAT recognize another aspect of how the Indians functioned in the natural world. SWBAT compare and contrast the use of herbs today and the use of herbs by the Indians.

Activity 1     Activity 2    Activity 3    Activity 4

Native Indians    List of Series       

Activity Two

Lore and Learning

The students will be participating as a group in this activity. The docent will first read a Native American nature story, folklore, or myth, and then discuss the story with the group in terms related to biology, ecology, habitat, entomology, etc. using pictures when necessary, or available.

1. Students will be put into a semicircle on the floor or ground.

2. Docent will read the story selected and then ask students to identify characteristics that they liked about the story.

3. The Docent will then try to encourage the conversation to look at the story and how scientists explain what the story talked about.

SWBAT discuss the life process the Indians explained and associate it with scientific study. SWBAT explain why certain processes or characteristics happen in nature through scientific means and Indian explanations. SWBAT discover aspects of a different culture.

 

Activity 1     Activity 2    Activity 3    Activity 4

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Activity Three

The Stalking Game

The students form a circle around one person about 20 yards away. The stalkers try to approach the center person. The center person is blindfolded and uses sound to point to stalkers who make a sound while trying to approach. If the point is true, that stalker must "freeze" until the pointer makes three consecutive bad points. Docents will determine the trueness of the point.

1. Docent will read the activity explanation about how Indians would walk through the woods.

2. Docents will explain of how the game is played and ask if there are any questions.

3. One person is picked to be put in the middle and blindfolded.

4. Other students are put into a circle around the chosen pointer.

5. Students then begin to play the game.

SWBAT recognize the balance and strength it takes to walk silently through the woods. SWBAT determine how to manipulate their bodies to master the task of walking silently. SWBAT discover characteristics about themselves such as patience, strength, concentration, and focus. SWBAT associate bodily skills as well as hunting intelligence with Native American Indians.

Activity Four

Turkey Craft

This craft uses fallen pine cones, feathers, leaves, nuts, etc. that the students gather on their walk and assemble to look like a turkey.

1. Students will go out into the Arboretum for a short walk to collect the parts for their turkeys.

2. Docent will help the students put their turkeys together.

SWBAT determine what kinds of materials they want to use to create their turkey. SWBAT perceive the use of natural materials to create meaningful objects.

Activity 1     Activity 2    Activity 3    Activity 4

Native Indians    List of Series       

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