The Sign Of The Beaver (Newbery Honor Winner) - Learning About Native Americans

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We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Newbery Honor Books" Keep reading to learn more about the book we read and grab some great resources. To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.

Books:
This month we read "The Sign of the Beaver". This was our second time reading this book. We chose to read it again because it ties in nicely with the Native American fieldtrips we have over the next few months. The book teaches children about what life was like during the 1700's for pioneers and Native Americanrs. It examines the relationship between two boys from different cultures who come to appreciate each other. In this fantastic survival story children learn details about living in the wilderness and the relationships that formed between white settlers and Indians. With each turn of the page came more excitement and the children begged me yet again to keep reading. Who says books aren't just as good the second time around?

Here are a few of the things we learned about: Maine, natural remedies, relationships, survival, Beaver Clan, stereotypes, cause and effect, values, story elements and more.

Additional Resources:
-Sign of the Beaver movie
-Pan Flute Craft
-Make Your Own Native American Instruments
-Native American Lesson Resources

Native American Journal Page:
I created this journal page to compliment an event we had earlier this year with Chipa Wolf. This FREE Native American Journal Page can be utilized with any Native American event or studies.

Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - 3 Dinosaurs - ABC Creative Learning - As We Walk Along the Road - Brain Power Boy - Chestnut Grove Academy - Embracing Destiny - Every Bed of Roses - Farm Fresh Adventures - Growing in God's Grace - Kathys Cluttered Mind - My Bright Firefly - Peakle Pie - Preschool Powol Packets - Pray Species - SAHM I am - Stir The Wonder - Sunny Day Family - Sweet Silly Sara - Teach Beside Me - To the Moon and Back - Tots and Me - Tree Valley Academy - Witty Hoots

An InLinkz Link-up

Image attribute: Melonheadzdoodles CollectiveCreation

Native American Folktale, Flute Craft And A Giveaway

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2014. This month's theme was, "Folktales" Keep reading to learn more about the books we read and fun crafts we made. There is also a giveaway is at the end of the post!

Books:
Gwyn is fascinated with Native Americans and it is one topic that she is constantly exploring. Earlier this month we attended the Mothers Day Powwow in Canton, GA. This event is held every year and is one that we try not to miss. There are arts and crafts, tasty foods, tepees, demonstrations, dancing, music and warriors on horseback.

So it comes as no surprise that the kids picked out a Native American folktale book for this months book club. Night Dancer is a lyrical picture book poem about Kokopelli a southwestern Native American God. The book is 32 pages and great for children of all ages. In the book Kokopelli, the god of dance and music travels through the desert at night playing his flute and inviting the desert animals to join him. Along the way Coyote, Snake, Tortoise, Javelina, Jackrabbit, Tarantula, and the children of the Rio Grande Pueblo village follow Kokopelli and join his midnight dance.

Craft Project: 

Here is the fun project we did to go along with this months theme.

Straw pan flutes:

Materials:
-8-10 Straws (larger straws like the ones from McDonalds will probably work better)
-Tape
-Scissors

What to do:
There are a few ways you can make these and we opted for the easier way, but if you want to work in some math you can have children measure out the straws to these measurements 3-1/2 inches, 4 inches, 4-1/4 inches, 4-3/4 inches, 5 inches, 5-1/4 inches, 5-3/4 inches, 6 inches

1. Have children line up 8-10 straws. The straws should form steps and each one should be about 1/2 inch shorter than one before.
2. Next place a piece of tape on the table and lay the straws onto the tape. After all of the straws are placed onto the tape take the ends of the tape and fold them over the straws to secure them together.
3. Finally cut one side so that the straws are straight across and even.
4. Blow gently across the flat side to make some pretty sounds.

Let the children experiment with the straws adding more or less, cutting different lengths, etc. It is tons of fun and a great lesson in music!

Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom ~ 3 Dinosaurs ~ To the Moon and Back ~ Planet Smarty Pants ~ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Growing in God's Grace ~ Chestnut Grove Academy ~ Learning and Growing the Piwi Way ~ The Usual Mayhem~ Preschool Powol Packets ~ Monsters Ed Homeschool Academy ~ Adventures in Mommydom ~ Teach Beside Me ~ Life with Moore Babies ~ Kathy's Cluttered Mind ~ Are We There Yet? ~ Our Crafts N Things ~ Hopkins Homeschool ~ ABC Creative Learning ~ Joy Focused Learning ~ P is for Preschooler ~ Laugh and Learn ~ A Mommy's Adventures ~ Inspiring 2 New Hampshire Children ~ World for Learning ~ Ever After in the Woods ~ Golden Grasses ~ Our Simple Kinda Life ~ A glimpse of our life ~ Journey to Excellence ~ Happy Little Homemaker ~ Little Homeschool Blessings ~ Simplicity Breeds Happiness ~ Raventhreads ~ Water on the Floor ~ Learning Fundamentals ~ Tots and Me ~ As We Walk Along The Road ~ Stir the Wonder ~ For This Season ~ Where Imagination Grows ~ Lextin Academy ~ The Canadian Homeschooler ~ School Time Snippets ~ Peakle Pie ~ Mom's Heart ~ A Moment in our World ~ Every Bed of Roses ~ Finchnwren ~ At Home Where Life Happens ~ Suncoast Momma ~ The Library Adventure ~ Embracing Destiny ~ Day by Day in our World ~ Our Homeschool Studio ~ A "Peace" of Mind ~ Thou Shall Not Whine ~ SAHM I am ~ eLeMeNo-P Kids ~ Simple Living Mama

Poppins Book Nook Giveaway! 
Every month the Poppins Book Nook group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win a copy of the E.H.M. curriculum Journey into the World of Folktales and one copy of the book that is required to teach it called Around the World in 80 Tales by Saviour Pirotta to further their learning alla bout folktales. If you wish to become a E.H.M member to receive access to hundreds of printables join here for only $15.00.

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are alsoacknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the Rafflecopter terms& conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here.  Just enter the Rafflecopter below to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with: Jay Daniel 4's Mom, Mama to 4 Blessings

Mother's Day Powwow - May 10th - 11th Canton, GA

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Are you looking for a fun way to celebrate Mother's Day weekend? Then I highly suggest attending the Mother's Day Powwow in Canton, GA. It is totally worth the drive (even if its a 3-4 hour drive)! This is the 25th year this event has been held. We have attended about 4 times and each time we have a blast. Watch the advertisement video here.

This year our family will be volunteering at the Save the Horses booth. Be sure to stop by to say hello!

Here are some photos from previous years we attended:

Event details:

25th Annual Cherokee County Indian Festival

& Mother's Day Powwow

May 10 - 11, 2014

Boling Park in Canton, Georgia

1200 Marietta Hwy  ~  Canton, GA  30114

Saturday 11am – 7pm

Sunday    11am – 6pm

25^th Reunion with Old Timers and Newcomers!

 The powwow and festival will feature:

-Native American dance exhibitions with competition dance-offs for cash & prizes.

-Grand Entry will be at 1:00 pm Saturday and Sunday.

-Host Drum: TBA

-Guest Drum: RedBoys

-Emcee: Cleto Montelongo – Cherokee, NC

-Emcee: Woody Richards - Pine Ridge, SD

-Daily feast for singers, dancers and performers

-Warriors on horseback with a special new warrior debut

-Native film stars

-Live American bison

-Cherokee Rose & Silena

-Native American cuisine such as buffalo, roasted corn, Pima wraps, Indian frybread and more

-Native arts and crafts

-Hoop dancers and Aztec dancers

-Tipis, wigwam and living Indian village and displays

-Northern Plains encampment and a Muscogee Creek settlement

-Primitive skills: flint knapping, fire by friction, hide tanning, and archery

-Environmental and wildlife displays

-Birds of Prey show

-Our friends from Save the Horses rescue group

-Native flute, Yaqui Deer Dance, Train Rides from Wayne’s Train

-Kids activities and much more

-Mother’s Day Honor Dance both days

Tickets on sale at the gate:

-Adults (13 years and up):   $15

-Children (6-12 years old):  $5

-5 years and under: FREE

Visit the website for further details.