Wigwams and Family Fun

Last night families had the opportunity to come to school and make their very own wigwam that represented the dwellings of the Lenape nation. Students painted a plastic jug (that was cut in half) with glue and placed felt pieces on it that represented bark. Our wigwam village is sitting outside our classroom and will be taken home after our Powwow on Friday.

Pow Wow Preparation

THE EVENT of the Kindergarten year is fast approaching...it's time for the annual Powwow. Each Kindergarten class is learning about a specific Native American tribe. The tribes include the Inuit, Hopi, Nez Perce, Seminole, Sioux, Iroquois, Nootka, and our very own Lenape tribe. The Lenape come from the areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Students are not only learning about their food, clothing and shelter, but also, how much the Lenape are so similar to them. The Native Americas loved to play games, fish, and help at home. The students have been working on the turtle shakers and shell necklaces that they will be carrying and wearing during our Powwow. Homework has included storytelling, picking a Native American name, and decorating a Lenape girl/boy on a cardboard cut out. We read a wonderful book called, "Rainbow Crow" that was an authentic story past down from the Lenape tribe. In Reader's and Writer's Workshop, we are making our own "All About the Lenape Tribe" book that we will soon share with you. In Reader's Workshop, the class learns about nonfiction conventions (labeling, captions, headings) and in Writer's Workshop, we are modeling the overall look of an "All About" book. On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to visit a 5th grade class that was also studying the Lenape tribe and they shared their diorama and information with us. Upcoming events include "Make and Take" night, where parents and children are invited back to the school to
make their own wigwams (see below).