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Native Americans: Discover the History & Cultures of the First Americans with 15 Projects
| Item #: | 075186 |
|---|---|
| ISBN: | 9781619301702 |
| Grades: | 3-7 |
Product Description:
I liked the easy reading level of this interesting book as well as the tribal information. The authors handle a sensitive topic with facts, without being too upsetting or disturbing for the young student. There is a focus on their homes, tools, foods, clothing and the regions they inhabited. Helpful vocabulary words are pulled out and make a nice addition to a history lesson or unit study. The crafty projects are simple but interesting: carving soap, painting on rocks or tree bark, researching various tribal face paint designs, and even a small version of a travois. When it comes to the actions of some of the European colonists and the tragic events that followed, it is not glossed over. This issue, however, is presented in such a way that an elementary student can understand without being too graphic. It will raise questions such as, “Where are they now?” and “Do they still live off the land?” Some of the tribes covered include: Mayans, Iroquois, Cherokee, Lakota Sioux, and more. ~Sara
Publisher Description:
Explore how the first Americans, faced with varying climates in a vast land hundreds and thousands of years ago, developed everything we take for granted today: food supplies, shelter, clothing, religion, games, jewelry, transportation, communication, and more.
Native Americans: Discover the History and Cultures of the First Americans uses hands-on activities to illuminate how the Native Americans survived and thrived by creating tools, culture, and a society based on their immediate environment. Entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebars bring the topic to life, while Words to Know highlighted and defined within the text reinforce new vocabulary. Projects include building an archaic toolkit, creating Algonquin art, experimenting with irrigation systems, inventing hieroglyphics, making a "quinzy," and playing the Inuit game of nugluktaq. In addition to a glossary and an index, an extensive appendix of sites and museums all over the country offers ideas where families can learn more about the various Native American cultures.
Kids ages 9-12 will gain an appreciation for the diversity of people and culture native to America, and learn to problem solve in a way that respects the environment.
Hands-on activities are great for adding some fun to your learning, especially when it comes to an exciting subject like these different historical periods. Each book provides 25 or more hands-on building projects and activities that only require easy-to-find materials like drinking straws, spray paint, rope, newspaper, flour, foil, etc. Detailed step-by-step directions are given for each project. There are lists of materials needed and an estimated time it should take to finish each project, but there's much more to these books than just the activities. Each project is combined with historical facts, anecdotes, biographies, and trivia that somehow ties in with the project. Text boxes, captivating "Did You Know?" segments, and "Words to Know" sections (which define various historical terms) all come together to get the most educational value out of the fun hands-on projects in the books. Included are black and white illustrations and diagrams that add a lot of interest to the information. So, learn about Ancient Egypt as you build your own papyrus boat or bake some flatbread; become a pioneer out west as you construct replica sod houses, learn to cross stitch, and make your own butter; send secret coded messages and construct your own model Anderson shelter as you learn about WWII; sip homemade apple cider as you learn about colonial America and make your own yarn and cloth; and journey to medieval times as you make a model thatched roof, construct a mini trebuchet, create beautiful grails and stained glass, and so much more. With tons of fun projects and great information, these books are great supplements to any history study. Each book is 122 pgs, pb. ~ Rachel
