Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 31, 2007 16:05:40 GMT -5
Piketon students learn about Native Americans
Brian Perkins
PIKETON - The high school students at Piketon worked on a special hands-on project to teach them about Native American culture last week. Three teachers combined their efforts across the curriculum to bring the message home.
"We're very rich in Indian culture and we want to make sure our students appreciate it and are aware of it," said Iris Wheeler, who teaches English at the high school.
Mathew Minter (science) and Janet Martin (art) joined Wheeler in the project.
The students erected an 18-foot Lakota teepee and a sweat lodge, which was used by Native Americans to purify themselves for spiritual rituals. Martin, who is steeped in Native American legends and rituals, lectured the 70 students with the rites of many of the tribes, and leads sweat lodge rituals herself in her personal time also. Minter provided the teepee and materials for the lessons and was also involved in the art of story telling ("tall tales"). This is the sixth year for the teachers to coordinate their efforts around the Native American chapter, but is the first time being able to borrow the teepee. As part of Wheeler's class, students read novels, studied the culture and completed the theme by writing a term paper for the English class.
For more of this story, click on the link to read the News Watchman online or pick up a copy of Wednesday's print edition.
Brian Perkins
PIKETON - The high school students at Piketon worked on a special hands-on project to teach them about Native American culture last week. Three teachers combined their efforts across the curriculum to bring the message home.
"We're very rich in Indian culture and we want to make sure our students appreciate it and are aware of it," said Iris Wheeler, who teaches English at the high school.
Mathew Minter (science) and Janet Martin (art) joined Wheeler in the project.
The students erected an 18-foot Lakota teepee and a sweat lodge, which was used by Native Americans to purify themselves for spiritual rituals. Martin, who is steeped in Native American legends and rituals, lectured the 70 students with the rites of many of the tribes, and leads sweat lodge rituals herself in her personal time also. Minter provided the teepee and materials for the lessons and was also involved in the art of story telling ("tall tales"). This is the sixth year for the teachers to coordinate their efforts around the Native American chapter, but is the first time being able to borrow the teepee. As part of Wheeler's class, students read novels, studied the culture and completed the theme by writing a term paper for the English class.
For more of this story, click on the link to read the News Watchman online or pick up a copy of Wednesday's print edition.