To finish up our Haudenshanee unit, we looked at the stories that were associated with the different clans of the heron, turtle and beaver. Students learned about the importance of the natural world to each tribe and where some of their folk stories came from.
As we continued our study of native tribes, we then took a look at natural resources and their importance in determining homes for different tribes. Our natural resources topic started with reading the story Weslandia and a discussion on how a young boy used this one plant to create so many things from clothing to shelter to food. Lengthy discussions and activities occurred about what a natural resource was and where our items we use today come from in the natural world.
Reflecting back to the different areas of the United States, we mapped where homes and tribes were across the states. Children colored and placed stickers to show homes from long houses to wickiups to chickees to tipis to igloos. Once we mapped out the different native homes, we looked at each area and discussed the natural resources found in each location and then why a home may need to be on stilts or moveable vs stationary.
Children were then assigned one home to build a model of while being careful to represent the natural resources used to create the home. Students represented plank homes, adobes, grass houses and more.
As a wrap up to our social studies class this year, we learned about renewable and nonrenewable resources and what we can do to preserve and protect our resources. Students even learned a song about resources.
