| Hands-On Activities for U.S. History Part 1 Most of these activities came from another homeschooling mom (Holly in Maine). I just added some additional activites that I found in various sources. Also, Bluestocking Press has some great historical games and crafts that fit well with U.S. History studies. |
| WEEK 1 HOPI MASK The Hopi believed in magical beings they called kachinas - powerful spirits that helped and protected humans. There were a great many kachinas, each having a different face. At times, the Hopi dressed up as these spirits. When a man put on a mask, he felt that he actually took on the power of that kachina. Use a large paper bag. Cut a short "V" (upside down) on the sides to the paper bag will sit on your child's shoulders when worn. With crayons, markers, etc, draw on eyes, maybe with circles around them for effect. Cut eye holes for child to see out of. Use a lunchbag stuffed with newspaper and make an alligator-like mouth taped to and sticking out of the big bag. The drawing I have shows jagged teeth like a jack-o-lantern on all three sides of the lunchbag. Cut two horn shapes our of thin cardboard. Decorate and glue, tape or staple to the top sides of the mask. Feathers (paper 'feathers'?) on the top and a curled paper ruffle on the neckline can complete your mask. Of course, they were all different, so anything goes. Kids will enjoy the process then walking around the house scaring everyone. OKRA CORN AND TOMATO STEW 1 can whole corn 1 large fresh tomato (or 12 oz. canned stewed) 1 Cup cooked okra or 1 box frozen okra 3 Tablespoons bacon drippings or oil 2 T. flour (natives probably used corn flour) 4-5 cooked bacon strips 3 Cups water Mix all and cook till okra is tender, adding water as needed. Stew should be the thickness of a loose pudding. PEMMICAN BALLS As made by some native families on the East Coast today! 1 sm. box dry mincemeat 1/4 cup raw suet 1-2 tsp. melted fat or oil 1/2 Cup jerkey, pounded into powder or pieces Fry duet till brown. Put mincemeat into a bowl. Use a blender if you have one, to chop the jerkey finely (or cut up small with scissors). Add fried suet and jerkey to mincemeat. Squeeze into balls the size of golfballs. Let the balls dry before eating. |
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WEEK 2 TWO-PIECE, SOFT-SOLED WOODLAND MOCCASIN Use either thin leather (or felt or leftover fabric) Trace child's foot onto leather. Mark an arch extending about 2" beyond the toe area. At the widest part of the arch, extend the lines straight back to 1" past the heel mark. The heel area then has a horizontal line drawn to connect the two side lines. Cut a piece like this for each foot. Then cut two ovals of leather the width of the child's foot and long enough to cover from the toe to the instep. (This is the piece that will be lying on top of the foot (the 'tongue' of the shoe). Begin sewing at the mid-toe with a running stitch. There will be a pucker along the toe area. Keep stitches small and close together. The sides of the back piece will be folded down at the ankle to hide the fact that you will have stitched in very loosely a lace around the entire ankle area to tie the shoe in the foot. ( Picture how kids' winter boots have a gathering string at the top...) JOHNNYCAKES 1 Cup Stoneground white cornmeal (any cornmeal will work) 2 Cups boiling water 2 Tbs. maple syrup (pancake syrup in a pinch) 3/4 Cup light or medium cream 1/4 Cup corn (or other) oil for frying Mix all except cream and beat to get smooth consistency. Cool a little then add enough cream to make medium thick batter. Firm batter created thicker Johnnycakes. Drop by heaping tablespoonful onto med-hot griddle. Flip after 5-6 min. then top pancakes with butter and maple syrup. Makes about a dozen. BOILED BEANS 2 Cups dried beans (from your 3-sister's garden?) Cold water Cover beans with the water and soak overnight. In the morning, when beans have absorbed most of the water, add more water to cover and boil till tender. Add water so beans are always covered. GAME: THE DISH The Mohawk and other Iroquois enjoyed this game. It was originally played with six wild plum seeds ground smooth and flat on one side. One side was painted black and the other, white. (You may use buttons, checker pieces,,,) To play, 3-4 people make a "pot" of one hundred dried beans. Painted seeds were set in a bowl. Players took turns tossing the seeds into the air. If they landed with mixed colors, the turn was passed. Winner was the player who had all 6 seeds land with the same color up. At this point, the winner took two beans from the pot as a 'prize'. He also took another turn. Goal: player with the most beans from the pot when the pot was empty was the winner. |
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