Class today, 9/21

Greetings,

Yesterday students shared web-style notes using the Smartboard -- new tech. that allowed them to write on a super-sized computer desktop using an electronic pen. We are all getting used to the ins-and-out of this new tool that our class was blessed to get. (Not all classes got one). We then worked on our regional tribal maps in groups and finished with a small clip on Chief Joseph's famous flight with 700 Nez Perce.

HW for today was to read on California Indians and try elimination style notes as well as use the similarity and difference organizer provided.

Today in class, we will be looking at some current events related to Native America. The articles were taken from our local daily in the past weeks. We will finish reading a California Tribe's creation myth and attempting to use a drawing technique explained to us by the artist in residence, DG House (Cherokee)on the Colter Bay field trip.

Student Council elections are today in Home Bases.

No HW for the weekend. Enjoy!

Mr. Wells

Field Trip a Success 9/19

All 8th grade students attended a field trip today to Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum. In groupings of 2 home-bases, students rotated through 3 stations: An artist-in-residence, Deej House, who spoke of symbolism in contemporary and traditional Indian Art. She has also worked as a photographer for National Geographic in the park and was able to provide a unique prospective. Another rotation was a tour of the artifacts in the museum's exhibit. We identified the practical and spiritual in the daily artifacts of the Plains Indians. Finally, we looked at the construction of a tepee and the History of the Teton Region with a park ranger-historian.

Please ask your kids what they learned and saw at Colter Bay.

HW due tomorrow -- Web style notes from the Great Basin reading in the packet.

Adios!

Mr. Wells

Updates, HW assignments and field trip!! Sept 17, 18, 19

Yesterday, 9/17 our classes began to identify N. American Indian Tribes and Nations and place them in geographic regions. Quizzes from Friday will be passed out to classes today. Last night students were to read "Big Game Hunters of the Great Plains" and take bullet-style notes in their 3-ring binders.

Today 9/18, we will watch a short video segment (5 minutes) on the introduction of horses to the Plains Indians and their effect on Bison Hunting. We will read a myth of the Teton Tribe (not local) on the origin of Bison and then begin to create large maps of N. America labeling geographic regions and tribes.

A new note-taking style will be modeled and for HW, students will read "Life was Difficult on the Great Plains" and use the web-style of notes.

Wed. September 19th is our field trip to Colter Bay Indian Museum. Please bring a lunch and warm clothes!