4 Seasons of Laguna Pueblo: WINTER-STORYTELLING

Based on the book ARROW TO THE SUN: A Pueblo Indian tale adapted and illustrated

By Gerald McDermott, 1974, Viking Press: New York

DESCRIPTORS

Curriculum Areas: Language and Literacy, Art

Recommended Levels: Kindergarten

Time Frame: 30 minutes a day for 5 days

Tribal Affiliation: Laguna Pueblo

Geographic Location: Southwest New Mexico (Laguna Pueblo)

Developed by: Claudia Douma

Email addresses of developers: cdouma_2000@yahoo.com

Date lesson was developed: July 26, 2001

American Indian Standards:

Language and Literacy

Standard 6: Use a variety of strategies to gain meaning from text.

Standard 7: Analyze and interpret information from stories or other text.

Standard 9: Be familiar with children’s literature with Indian themes, especially those that pertaining to the student’s tribe, and literature written by Indian authors.

Art

Standard 7: Making connections between American Indian dance and mathematics, science, art, social studies, and language arts.

INSTRUCTION

Goal: The students will learn to appreciate books and the tales they tell.

The students will learn to accept others for who they are.

Behavioral Objectives: The student will

• Evaluate illustrations in a book
• Identify a story or book as distinctly Native American
• Draw original illustrations for a story
• Create a flipbook
• Listen attentively to stories from a known storyteller
• Act out a story
• Work productively in cooperative groups
• Create murals
• Sequence events

Prior Knowledge Needed:

• The students will be able to listen to a story for 15 minutes.
• The students will know what an author and illustrators’ job is.
• The students will know how to sequence
• The students will know how to work in cooperative groups.
• The students will use basic skills to complete assignments.

Materials and Resources Needed:

• Native American Story books
• Books by Native American authors
• Storyteller
• Butcher paper, markers, scissors, tape, glue, stapler
• Variety of brightly colored construction paper.
• Laguna artist
• Paint

Culture Content and Strategies:

• Storytelling from a Native American perspective.
• Artist with a Native American perspective.
• Native American stories
• Native American authors

Having students appreciate Native American books and authors is very important because it helps the students develop pride in who they are. The Laguna people have a few authors and storytellers that of which we are very proud.

Lesson Summary and Performance Tasks:

The teacher will gather Native American books and books by Native American authors. She will decorate a table in the classroom with cultural items (drum, rattle, sash belt, moccasins and a nice table cloth with a Native American design). The books will be on this table for daily viewing by the students. The main focus for this lesson is “Arrow to the Sun” by Gerald McDermott.

1. The students will listen to the story for introduction and pleasure.

2. The students will listen to the story again and sequence the events verbally.

3. The teacher will list the events on chart paper and post them on the bulletin board for future use.

4. The students will look at the illustrations discuss how they contribute to the story. The teacher will ask individual students to pick out a picture and describe what it illustrates and tell what he/she likes or does not like about the picture.

5. The students will discuss the meaning in the story. They will realize that his friends for the mere fact that he did not have a father did not accept the boy. Accepting others for who they are will be emphasized. The students will share related personal experiences (Optional).

6. The students will work in two cooperative groups to dramatize the story:

· The students will decide who will play the characters: young maiden, mom, son, corn planter, pot maker, arrow maker, father

· They will organize and practice their parts during free choice.

· Each group will present to the class.

7. The Laguna artist will give examples of ways the children can make their costumes and props for the play. She will be available to assist them on a daily basis up to the day of the play. This is important for the students to have the artist accessible in order for them to feel confident about creating their costumes and props. Among the props for the play will be a student-created mural for the backdrop.

8. When the project is completed the students will have the opportunity to listen to a Laguna storyteller tell stories.

Assessment:

• The students will retell the story orally to the teacher (assessed by checklist).
• The students will illustrate their favorite part of the story and write about it on the lines provided. Illustrations will be assessed for understanding (rubric or checklist).
• The teacher will check the “flip book” for correct sequencing.
• Participation in cooperative groups will be assessed by a standard Group Work Rubric.
• Appreciation of Native American books will be expressed verbally (observational assessment during the project by teacher, recorded on checklist).

EXTENSION

Technology Integration:

Technology integration is optional for this lesson.

• Video camera may be used to record visiting storytellers and/or the students’ performance.

• Digital photos may be taken of the storyteller, the students during the storyteller, or during the performance.
• Teacher/student PowerPointÔ may be created from digital pictures or from scanned images of the book. The PowerPointÔ slides in the “outline” view of the program may be used for sequencing by students.
• The students can show the presentation or other technology-based products to the parents during Parent Night in our classroom.

Enrichment/Remediation:

• The students will present the play to 3 other Kindergarten classrooms.
• The students will choose a Native American book to take home and share with their family. They will convey the pride of being Native American and also the appreciation of books to gain information and knowledge.

Teacher Reflections:

The teacher will observe the students throughout the project and will know if the intended goal was accomplished.

The artist will share with the teacher the participation of the students in the preparation of the costumes and props.

At this age it is very important to show the students how to do specific things such as drawing, cutting out a pattern, gluing or stapling, etc.