Description

This product is a gift to you and many natives for all that I have received from the native voices while researching and doing this block with my daughter. As such, ALL PROCEEDS FOR THIS PRODUCT WILL BE GIVEN TO NATIVE CAUSES as an offering of reciprocity. Thank you to all the native voices that have taught us through this block. I hope it will touch you in the same way.

These are my lessons plans for our sixth grade year US History. It can easy be adapted to accommodate a range of ages from 3rd grade up to 8th. It has a wealth of resources, websites, and links that maybe valuable even outside of this range.

It is roughly 14 to 18 weeks including the nations of Onondaga, Annishanabe, Cherokee, Seminole, Lakota, Deni, and Salish. The block can easily be abbreviated or elongated to suit your child’s needs. There are resources for you to find books and sources for nations not included. The entire document is hyperlinked with video instructions, blog posts, tutorials, supplies, and more. The vast majority of the resources used are in their own voice resources, meaning they are indigenous authors and creators. Non-indigenous authors are noted. This block includes several handcrafts and projects. The main books, used as spines, are listed below. Additional books specific to each nation or theme are listed within the lesson plans.

Books

Spines (These books are used throughout the entire block.)
A Kid’s Guide to Native American History by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hisschfelder
Keeper of the Earth by Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac
Keeper of the Night  by Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac
Keeper of the Animals  by Michael J. Caduto and  Joseph Bruchac
Children of Native America Today by Yvonne Wakim Dennis

General Books about Native America 

Ancestor Approved by Cynthia Leitich Smith (audio)
Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann (non-native author) (audio)
What the Eagle Sees by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
We are Still Here: Native Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac (audio)

Handcrafts   

Corn Husk Doll  (A Kid’s Guide to Native American History)
Beading project
Basket making
Patchwork  (A Kid’s Guide to Native American History)
Pewter molds
Weaving Project
Make Hominy

Projects/Activities

Salt Dough Map
Moon Phase Art
Moon Phase Beeswax Candle
Writing in Cherokee
Campfire Activity
Nature Study and Observation
Poetry Tea Time
Making a Deni code