November is designated as National Native American Heritage Month. This observance commemorates the history, heritage, and culture of Native Americans. It is during this month we acknowledge the vast achievements of America’s original indigenous people and provide a platform for Native people in the United States of America to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways of life.
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2023-2024 Artifacts
Iselin Middle School's Plan for Native American Heritage Month
Iselin Middle School's Plan for Native American Heritage Month
Teachers will create and facilitate classroom lessons for the month of November that focus on Native American Heritage Month
The School Counseling/Guidance department will create and display a Native American Heritage Month bulletin board that highlights prominent Native American figures.
The DEI Club and Ms. Leone's art classes will work together to facilitate a Native American art showcase/gallery walk after-school to highlight and increase appreciation for traditional Native American art.
DEI Native American Art Gallery Walk
DEI Native American Art Gallery Walk
To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, the IMS DEI club held a gallery walk that displayed artwork created by our art students. The gallery walk featured artworks such as dream catchers, totem poles, and tissue paper bowls. Each project reflected the unique artistic traditions, symbolism, and craftsmanship associated with Native American heritage.
Latin/Hispanic Scientist Project
Latin/Hispanic Scientist Project
Students did a research project on a scientist of Hispanic or Latino heritage. This allowed them to learn about some of the important contributions made by their chosen scientist. overall this was a successful assignment and I looked forward to seeing their results.
Remember by Joy Harjo
Remember by Joy Harjo
Students read and evaluated the poem “Remember” written by Joy Harjo, who was the first Native American to be named as Poet Laureate in the United States (2019-2022). She is a member of Oklahoma’s Muscogee Creek Nation. Students watched a PBS Kids Poetry Read Along video featuring Joy Harjo.
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky - Reading and Activity
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky - Reading and Activity
"Brother Eagle, Sister Sky" a message from Chief Seattle - Poem read to students in class and the following activity was done.
Students had to stand in a circle and were given a ball of yarn. The first student wrapped string around their finger and rolled it to someone across the circle from them. Students continued this until everyone in the circle was holding part of the yarn and a large web was created. Teacher tugged and lifted the web created and asked students to observe what happened when one person moved their own finger. Students observed that when any student made any motion, the entire web moved. Teacher asked students, "how is this like the way we are connected to the environment around us?" A conversation ensued.
Students had to respond to the following Exit question in their Reader's Response Journal:
- How might we live differently if we see all the parts of the environment around us as our relatives?
Student Written Responses
Native American Dream Catchers
Native American Dream Catchers
Students created Dream/Name Catchers after reading about the Choctaw Tribe. Students also watched a video documenting the history and meaning behind dream catchers.
Resources
National Museum of the American Indian
Facts
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