Explore Native American Cultures! with 25 Great Projects introduces readers to seven main Native American cultural regions, from the northeast woodlands to the Northwest tribes. It encourages readers to investigate the daily activities—including the rituals, beliefs, and longstanding traditions—of America’s First People. Where did they live? How did they learn to survive and build thriving communities? This book also investigates the negative impact European explorers and settlers had on Native Americans, giving readers a glimpse into the complicated history of Native Americans.
Readers will enjoy the fascinating stories about America’s First People as leaders, inventors, diplomats, and artists. To enrich the historical information, hands-on activities bring to life each region’s traditions, including region-specific festivals, technology, and art. Readers can learn Native American sign language and create a salt dough map of the Native American regions. Each project is outlined with clear step-by-step instructions and diagrams, and requires minimal adult supervision. Explore Native American Cultures! meets common core state standards in language arts for reading informational text and literary nonfiction. Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.
School Library Journal
"This lively and informative introduction is divided into six regions (Northeast Woodlands, Southeast, Southwest and Mesoamerica, Great Plains, Pacific Northwest, and Arctic). Each section provides a concise overview of the tribes, their food, housing, ceremonies, clothing, and games. There are roughly dive kid-friendly activities per regions, ranging from shell rattles to Mayan glyphs, a bear-claw necklace to Inuit sculpture. A “Words to Know” box appears on almost every page, explaining highlighted words that are used in the text. Although the format is somewhat busy, the scattered sections of text and black-and-white drawings are relevant and fun. “Then and Now,” “Wow” facts”, and occasional, playful “Just for Laughs” box, complement the overall package. (What has hundreds of ears but can’t hear a thing? A crop of corn!) And children will lean that the phrase “bury the hatchet” (meaning to make peace with) likely comes from literally putting one’s war tools underground. A wide range of ages will be able to take something away from this entertaining and useful title. "
The Midwest Book Review
"Explore Native American Cultures! is an enrichment text and workbook for students of Native American studies ages 6-9. Containing 25 diverse hands on projects to help explore different Native American cultures and contributions, Explore Native American Cultures! presents interesting factual information on Southeast, the Southwest and Mesoamerica, the Great Plains, the Pacific Northwest, and the Arctic. Black and white illustrations and gray highlighted sidebars present additional information in handy formats, such as “Then & Now” or “Words to Know”, and “Just For Laughs.” Interesting project directions include make your own Katsina doll, Mayan glyphs, bear claw necklace, soft twine bag, and many more. A timeline, introduction, and glossary complete this handy Native American crafts and studies text for elementary age students."
Barry D. Kass, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, SUNY Orange
“An interesting and entertaining introduction to native North American cultures for young readers. This valuable educational resource helps young minds overcome negative cultural stereotypes of native people and better understand native people as fellow human beings who led complex and creative cultural lives.”
Marla Conn, Educational Consultant
“Explore Native American Cultures! enables students to gain an understanding about how important historical events are in shaping our modern world. Young readers will develop their perspectives of the world and understand the relationships between people, places, and environments.”
Gr 3–6—This lively and informative introduction is divided into six regions (Northeast Woodlands, Southeast, Southwest and Mesoamerica, Great Plains, Pacific Northwest, and Arctic). Each section provides a concise overview of the tribes, their food, housing, ceremonies, clothing, and games. There are roughly five kid-friendly activities per region, ranging from shell rattles to Mayan glyphs, a bear-claw necklace to Inuit sculpture. A "Words to Know" box appears on almost every page, explaining highlighted words that are used in the text. Although the format is somewhat busy, the scattered sections of text and black-and-white drawings are relevant and fun. "Then and Now," "Wow" facts, and an occasional, playful "Just for Laughs" box, complement the overall package. (What has hundreds of ears but can't hear a thing? A crop of corn!) And children will learn that the phrase "to bury the hatchet" (meaning to make peace with) likely comes from literally putting one's war tools underground. A wide range of ages will be able to take something away from this entertaining and useful title.—Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library
