NATIVE AMERICAN CEREMONIES

Now that my class understood what Native American life was like in the past and they have made many of the tools and crafts, I wanted to prove to them that the Native Americans were still very much alive and still practiced many of the same crafts, music, and ceremonies.

I love U-tube, because you can find a visual of almost anything you are teaching. Children relate to visual images more than just reading about it in a book.  Seeing and hearing what you are teaching brings everything to life for them. They relate more when they can actually see and hear the ceremonies I have been telling them about. I had pictures I had taken in New Mexico and Arizona of the ceremonies and Indian rodeos and they thought it was interesting, but when I would find an actual rodeo or celebration on U-tube they could see and hear the action. If you have access to a computer you can just Google Native American Ceremonies in New Mexico or Arizona.  You can also type South Western Indian Ceremonies, and then click on video.

My class just got fascinated by the Ceremonial Costumes, the headdresses, the face painting, the clothing and the dancing.

To make a headdress I cut strips out of flat foam sheets (found in any craft store or catalog). I usually cut them one to two inches wide and staple two together to be long enough for a child’s’ head.  Then I put feathers and beads on the art table and let them pick the supplies they want to use.  On the tables I put white glue in a paper cup or plate and show them how to dip the bottom stick of the feather in the glue and to put that on the foam. I make sure that no one is dipping the whole feather in the glue.

It will take at least one day for the feather and the beads to dry.  When it all dries I will staple the headdress to fit the child’s head.  Make sure to put their name on the inside of the headdress.

After all is ready we paint faces, put on the headdresses, bring out our drums and dance. The dance that intrigued them the most was the hoop dance.  I brought in our hula hoops and let them go.  All the kid’s wanted to try. This became their favorite activity and even when we weren't watching the ceremonies the kid's would ask to hoop dance.