In the Land of the Sioux, via The Smithsonian Institution
{photo taken by Edward S. Curtis, no known copyright restrictions}
This week we dive into the rich history of the North American Indians, so we have a few optional mix-ins to share. There is obviously much more you can find and do with this topic if you have the time and desire, but below are just a few things to explore.
As always, please remember that these mix-ins are completely optional, and there’s no pressure to add anything to your home days. But if your child shows an interest, or you have a little extra time and want to supplement what we are already doing with some fun options, we hope you will enjoy the following links as part of the freedom you have with the homeschooling piece of our program.
(And also as always, we don’t preview every website or video in its entirety, so use your own discretion when sharing these resources with your kids.)
VIDEOS:
Native Americans People of the Plains – A 30-minute documentary by Discovery Education:
People of the Woodlands – A 12-minute video about the native people in the eastern woodlands:
Education on Demand: Native American Cultures – This site lists several streaming videos about Native American culture. Some of these would fit in more with our history a little later in the year, but it’s still worth mentioning!
WEBSITES:
The National Museum of the American Indian – This website features exhibitions and collections to explore, including an education page and a “Did You Know?” Q&A section.
Map of United States Indians by State – Click on each state to see a tribal map and listing of Native American tribes that have lived there.
The Map Of Native American Tribes You've Never Seen Before – Aaron Carapella, a self-taught mapmaker in Warner, Oklahoma, created a map with the locations and original names of hundreds of American Indian nations before their first contact with Europeans. This article tells his story and includes a link to view a pdf of his map.
NativeTech – A website of Native American technology and art, including crafts, games, stories, recipes… lots to explore here!
Identify the Tribe – Here’s a game kids can play (and they will learn a little something too!). If they want to read more about the different tribes before playing the game, start here.
Native American Legends – A collection of Native American folktales and traditional stories that can be read online.
Plains Indians Unit Study and Lapbook – This might be a bit much and we aren’t suggesting you do all the activities here! But there are a few fun ideas, downloads, and more links if you want to take a look.
