Second Grade Native American Project

This project takes a couple of weeks but my students really enjoyed it. In addition, they learned a lot about Native Americans in Massachusetts

Start the project by taking the children outside and asking them to look around to the north, south, east and west. Tell them to imagine what there would have been here long, long ago before people were here. Have them draw a picture showing the trees and flowers , water, bugs, water streams and animals.

Once inside the classroom we brainstormed what the children thought would be here. We made a long list on the board.

There was already a large, laminated map of Massachusetts on the bulletin board. Students then made the animals, plants, water bugs, all the "first things." We used construction paper, crayons, glue sticks for our creations.

I stapled them on the board. We put trees, lots of trees, with birds in them and fish for the ocean and the rivers. Moose and beavers and deer etc. were stapled to the board in the woods. It started to take shape and the children loved it.

Time to go back outside and draw a picture of what they thought it looked like when people were here. Did they need shelter, food, and water. Where would they get that?

Back to the brainstorming and getting an idea of what we need to draw now. We read a book about the Native Americans in our area and what their houses were like , what kind of food they ate and where would they live.

Then they went to their seats and started drawing again.

We also made wettus { Native American homes}.

• We used oak tag strips--about one inch in width and about six inches long--and paper coffee filters.
• Staple a piece of oak tag in a circle and then two pieces over the top to make what looks like a hat.
• Glue the paper filter over the "hat" and cut a hole in the front to make a door and you have your wettu.

We stapled the homes on the board all along the rivers and the ocean.

By now the bulletin board is full of information and pictures! We finished by making things like cat tails and berry bushes and canoes with little people in them. The children always amaze me with their imaginations.

They really did a great job and learned a lot about the Native Americans.