Nez Perce

We recently did a unit study on the Nez Perce using Little School of Smiths American Girl history lessons. 

The Nez Percé are a Native American people who traditionally lived along the Snake River. The area where they lived is now Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Their name is French and means “pierced nose.” Nose piercing was not common among the Nez Percé, however.

After reading and watching videos the boys put together their notebooking page. 

We watched this video, which goes through the type of clothing, food, shelter, and location of this tribe. 

To complete this unit study the boys made tipis. Instructions for this activity are part of the lesson plans. This was their favorite part of the lesson. 

Exploring an Iroquoian Village

History is a favorite subject around our house. Part of the reason why the boys love it so much is that we keep it as hands on as possible. This year is no exception, we've been learning about Canada's Native Groups.

We had an opportunity to visit a reconstructed 15th century Iroquoian village. From 1973 to 1987, excavations uncovered 11 longhouses on the site and over 10 000 artifacts from day-to-day lives of the Iroquoian people who once lived in the village. Three of the longhouses have been reconstructed based on the archaeological findings. (source:www.conservationhalton.ca)

The boys were in awe and loved every minute of our visit. We didn't go with a group and just did the tour ourselves. It was a good way to review and make some of what they learned in the books come to life.

Inside one of the longhouses

Here, the boys are pretending to pound corn just as the Iroquois did. 

Exploring deer/moose antlers and animal hides.

We even got to look at a turtle shell. 

The boys surprisingly found the beds comfortable.

A baby carrier 

exploring all the different baskets and food they harvested and dried. 

The longhouses were massive and just impressive. 

I hope you enjoyed taking a little tour along with us. The boys want to revisit and see the one longhouse that was under construction. They got to also play a game of lacrosse which was invented by the Iroquois. I didn't get any pictures because my battery died :(. But if you live in the Toronto area this is one place you must visit.

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Canada's Natives: Wampum Belts

Hi guys! We have been studying different native groups in Canada for history. We have loved learning about their history and traditions. The group we are focusing this time is the Eastern Woodland farmers. For this group the boys made a wampum belt.

What is a Wampum Belt?

Wampum beads were used to create intricate patterns on belts. These belts are used as a guide to narrate Haudenosaunee history, traditions and laws, The origins of wampum beads can be traced to Aiionwatha, commonly known as Hiawatha at the founding of the League of Five Nations.
 

The boys started off by first designing a pattern for their wampum belts. We used this printable here. 

Once they completed their designs, they strung the beads to their loom. 

Making the wampum belt took about an hour, but the boys found

it soothing. Well they made the belts we listened to our read aloud. 

Here is both boys completed belt.

To help us learn how to make this project we watched this video series. She walks you through how to set up your loom and step by step instructions on how to complete this project. It was very helpful. I hope you try out this activity!

Notebooking Pages: Inuit of the Arctic

Click on the image to download

Hi guys! I've recently been sharing some vocabulary cards and notebooking pages I created to go along with our Canada's Natives Unit Study. I hope they are of help to you. These notebooking pages contain a student version and a teacher version. The student version is blank and the teacher one is filled out just to give you an idea of some of the narrations the kids could include. But feel free to add your own information.

Some of the notebooking pages included are;

1. Map of Canada
2. The people (family, roles and duties)
3. Shelter (how to build an igloo)
4. Hunting (uses of animal parts)
5. Transportation
6. Clothing
7. Title Page

I hope you enjoy these notebooking pages. Check out our first week here.

Inuit of the Arctic Book List Suggestions

Hi guys! Today I wanted to share with you a book list I put together for up coming Inuit Unit Study. This year our main focus for history is Canada's Natives and Native Americans. To help me with this unit study I will be heavily relying on living books. So, I wanted to share with you my book list in case you want to do a unit study of your own.

Now keep in mind, what I deem appropriate for my boys you may not, so always check books before giving it to your kids. In this list I've included read aloud, readers, and picture book suggestions. Please don't feel like you have to use the books how I categorized them. You know your kids, it is just a book list do with it what you like :).

Click on the image to download your free book list. 

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FREEBIE! Inuit of the Arctic Vocabulary Charts

Hi guys! I've shared with you before that this year we will be studying the different Native American groups in Canada. As we study each group I'll be share some freebies with you guys. The first group we will be focusing on is the Inuit of the Arctic.

Today I wanted to share with you some vocabulary charts and cards. I hope you benefit from them .

Here are all the 12 words that we will focus on; Permafrost, Eskimo, Inuit, Inuk,

Inuktitut, Nunavut, Igloo,Cache, Kayak, Umiak, Komatik, Aumiat. 

I always display our vocabulary words on these clipboards that are mounted on the wall. 

The boys will use these vocabulary cards to record the words.

Click on the image to download your free copy.