I am aware that this unit can be a particularly sensitive one in many aspects so I wanted to ensure that many of the stereotypical beliefs that go with anything to do with this subject did not creep in to our learnings. If I have in any way made a mistake with regards to this, I apologise.
Firstly I set up a 'learning table' as a rough reference to the many climates and landscapes across North America.
No horses to begin with to correctly replicate the Native Americans living side by side with nature and with no European influence for thousands of years.
We discussed how the Native Americans first arrived on foot by crossing a bridge of land and ice between what we now know as Russia and Alaska; the bridge since disappearing following the end of the ice age, thus ensuring no contact between the two continents until (possibly the Vikings in 800AD) the 'discovery' of the New World in 1492.
The children each created a map of North America to better understand the differences between the tribes and the way of life of each group depending on abundance of food and the climate.
The North - Nomads in the frozen north, following caribou. The latest arrivals before the 'bridge' disappeared.
The North East - using the forests for food, wood for their long-houses, and farming the fertile land.
The South East - living in round-houses made of logs and grass, also known as wig-wams.
The Great Plains - living in tee-pees and hunting buffalo
The South West - living in clay houses.
The North West - with an abundant supply of food in the forests, these tribes had more time for craft. They lived in plank houses and built totem poles.
We made the various types of homes and added them to our Native American landscape.
Tee-pees
Clay-houses for the desert. Cool in the day and warm at night.
A long-house in the fertile farm-land of the North East
I made The Boy some worksheets. Units can be so cross-curricular. This is why I base our mornings on thematic units.
Vocabulary work for the older girls.
Most learning comes from playing.
We chatted about the Sioux tribe and had a look at some of their buffalo hide paintings.
And then we made our own!
Books about Native Americans
We explored some ruins for fun this afternoon (and also to wear this Boy out!)
Someone has uniform inspection at Sea Cadets tonight.
