K-3rd Grade Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Teamwork and collaboration were on full display at The Learning Center Charter School as students in kindergarten through third grade celebrated Native American Heritage Month in November. The unit ended with a pow wow among all the grades in the school’s Outdoor Learning Center. The classes sat around a bonfire and presented facts, songs, games, and foods of the tribes they each studied.

Each grade level represented a different Native American Tribe across the nation and studied their tribe in-depth. For example, Kindergarten studied the woodland tribe of the Wampanoag. The Wampanoag was the first tribe to meet the Pilgrims. Kindergarten students learned the Wampanoag taught the pilgrims how to survive in their new land and they were also the tribe that celebrated the first Thanksgiving.

“The study of different cultures is an important academic standard for these young students and using the entire month of November to study Native Americans is a wonderful way to honor Native American Heritage Month,” said kindergarten teacher, Louise Smith.

The month-long focus allowed cross curricular exploration of Native American culture. Students practiced counting and patterns with important cultural artifacts and spent time reading and writing about Native Americans. Plus, each class had specific STEM projects related to the unit. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.

For their STEM projects, Kindergarten made seashell necklaces and clam shell rattlers. First grade made stick rattlers and beaded necklaces. Second grade made rain makers and beaded necklaces. Third grade made feather necklaces and hand drums.

“Pow wows are Native American gatherings where Native Americans sing, dance, reconnect with old friends, and celebrate their rich ancestral histories,” said Smith. “Getting the classes together for a pow wow was the perfect way to wrap up our studies.”