A collection of Native American stories and related activities for young children.
Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons, by Joseph Bruchac & Jonathan London
Across First Nations is the belief that Turtle carries upon his back the 13 moons that initiate the changing of the seasons. Travel slowly with turtle and read each poem about the trees, melting snow, spring, and warm summer.
Have students brainstorm the changes of nature and activities that we associate with the seasons. List their ideas on the board, than organize it sequentially based on the calendar year. Then, working in small groups create nature related calendars. Older students can create calendars based on the 13 cycles of the moon. An option is to have a large turtle outline in which students can illustrate each cycle of the moon.
Dreamcatcher, by Audrey Osofsky
With a willow twig and nettle-stalk twine, an Ojibway sister weaves a web like "dreamcatcher" to hang above the crib and sift out bad dreams for a new baby. This lovely, lyrical book expresses the dignity of the Ojibway Indians of the Great Lakes. The Ojibway treasure good dreams as the source of all wisdom. Nets are woven to protect their babies from harmful dreams.
Have students discuss their dreams (be careful not to push). List the good dreams and the bad dreams on the chalkboard. As a follow-up project, have students make mini-dreamcatchers from a folded piece of paper. Trace a circle on top of a folded piece of paper (keeping the fold). Trace, then cut out the shape. Use a hole puncher to punch a hole near the center of the top circle. Using crayons or markers, draw a web and a willow hoop. Inside the folded paper, illustrate a good dream that has drifted through the center hole.
Hawk, I'm Your Brother,
by Byrd Baylor
Rudy Soto is a Native American boy with a strong desire to fly just like the hawks over the Santos Mountain sear his home. The boy envies the hawk's freedom and declares his kinship with the natural world through his relationship with the hawk. Peter Parnall's illustrations earned him a Caldecott Honor medal.
Ask your students if they have ever imagined flying through the air like a hawk. Why would they like to be able to fly? What actions did Rudy take to make his dream come true? What was Rudy's dilemma? Older students can rewrite the story from the hawk's viewpoint.
