NATIVE AMERICANS AND THANKSGIVING

When the Pilgrims crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1620, they landed on a newfound land that had been previously inhabited by Native Americans. This week’s blog brings your group some projects that focus on the Native Americans and their culture. November and Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to bring forth these ideas to remember days long ago.

CORN NAPKIN RINGS—
Thank goodness the Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn! That’s why this fun and easy project is a fitting addition to your holiday table.

You will need:
Cardboard toilet tubes
Yellow & Orange poster paints
New pencil with an eraser top
Scissors or craft knife

Cut the toilet tubes into two and one-half inch sections using a scissors or craft knife (adult use only). You will need one for each napkin ring.
Pour a small amount of paints onto a paper plate. Show children how to dip the pencil eraser into some paint and practice stamping corn kernel shapes onto paper. Once they have mastered this printing technique, have children hold the bottom of the ring and print rows of kernels all around the circumference. Mix the colors as you wish. When dry, place cloth or paper napkins through the rings and use to decorate the Thanksgiving table.

NATIVE AMERICAN BRANCH WEAVING

Take children on a nature walk to find branches that can be turned into Native American rattles.

You will need:
Small tree branch that is Y-shaped
Yarn
Plastic or wood beads
Plastic Native American charms like claws or arrowheads (can be found in craft stores—optional)

Starting at the bottom of the branch, loop yarn around and around, continuing to loop out towards the end of the branch. When finished, knot another string of yarn at the top of the one end of the Y-shaped branch. String on some beads and/or charms. Tie off the other end securely.

BEAR SKIN PLACEMAT—

Native Americans wrote with pictographs (picture symbols). Use these symbols to decorate a placemat that can be used at your Thanksgiving feast.

You will need:
Brown grocery bags
Colored markers
Clear plastic adhesive paper (optional)

Cut and open flat a brown grocery bag. Draw and cut out the shape of a bearskin. On the plain side, draw Native American symbols with colored markers. Place clear adhesive paper on top to keep the placemat water resistant. Together discuss the symbols that your child drew on the skin and how they relate to Native American life. Below are links to these symbols.

http://www.geocities.com/ctesibos/symbols/native-american.html


http://www.whats-your-sign.com/native-american-symbols.html

Tania
Associate Editor/ Everydaytlc Online