We are currently studying the history of the Native Americans, and I enjoy finding art and/or hands-on history projects to go along with what we are studying. We made carrying pouches first. Whenever we make something, I like to use them. We took these on a nature walk and picked up a few things to put inside them, and when the students returned the next day, they found a few extra surprises I had tucked into the pouches the night before. I tried to choose items that the natives either would have collected, used, or gotten from trading with the English.
Contents: sheep's wool, shells, buttons, coins, bells, shiny rocks, bean and corn seeds, pottery, feathers
This is another Native American craft that is very easy to make. First we found several straight sticks. Next we cut lengths of yarn to wrap in a diamond pattern around the sticks. These are called Ojos de Dios, or God's Eyes.
