Native Americans of Arizona: Songs and Dances

Teacher's Guide

Created by Mary A. Ruane mruane@amphi.com

Project Web Page Coordinator Patti Greenleaf

Introduction

This lesson plan was developed as part of the Amphitheater School District Technology Literacy Challenge Fund grant. The purpose of the program is to provide teachers with a way of learning about technology and in turn provide students with the best teaching practices and curriculum through technology. This lesson plan was developed as part of the program's TLCF Web Guides, which are a series of web-based lessons designed by teachers to provide students with on-line educational opportunities.

Disclaimer: While every precaution was taken to insure the integrity of the sites included in this lesson plan, with the dynamic nature of the World Wide Web sites can constantly change. Teachers are advised to view the sites before conducting a lesson with their students.

The Hopis, Apaches, and Navajos have a long and rich tradition of Music. Music was a major part of Native American life. Much of this music was considered sacred and very powerful, and , therefore, a lot of the music is still kept within the tribes. In these lessons, students will read about different aspects of these important Native American cultures, and experience a small sample of music within these cultures.

Lesson Objectives

Students will define Hopi vocabulary words.
Students will describe the attire of the "Katsina" dancers.
Students will create a dance in the style of the Hopi "Rain Dance".
Students will compare and contrast the Navajo past and present.
Students will organize and restate a Navajo legend in their own words.
Students will compose a legend of their own.
Students will evaluate statements about the Apache people, made by fifth grade students.
Students will describe the roles of the Apaches today.
Students will compare and contrast dancers of two different tribes.
Students will describe the roles of men and women in the Apache past.
Students will compose a melody and rhythm, as well as suggest appropriate instrumentation, for an Apache song.

Arizona State Standards

Essentials (Grades 4 - 5)
Standard 1: History
SS1E4: The legacy of various cultural groups to modern Arizona, with emphasis on
PO4: The lives and contributions of American Indians.

Materials

Computer lab.
Paper and writing utensils for students.
Access to the Internet for each machine.
Access to a printer.

Student Activity One : The Hopi Indians

Description: In this first activity, the students will visit two websites about the Hopi Indians. The first site provides a description of the Hopi culture. Students will become familiar with some Hopi concepts. The second site describes a Hopi rain dance, with some graphics. Students should become aware that water is an important resource in desert life.

HOPI INDIANS

http://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/hopi.htm
Description of Site: This site is a short presentation about the Hopi culture.

RAIN DANCE

http://www.clpgh.org/cmnh/exhibits/north-south-east-west/hopi/water.html
Description of Site: This site is a good description of what the "katsinas" might look like. There are some graphics at this site as well.

Student Activity Two: The Navajo

Description: In the second activity, students will visit two websites about the Navajo. They will read a brief account of the Navajo past and present. They will also read a Navajo song, as well as a Navajo legend.

NAVAJO

http://www.nps.gov/nava/nav.htm
Description: At this site, students will read about the Navajo past and present.

SONG OF THE HORSES

http://www.indians.org/welker/songhors.htm
Description: The legend of the sun-god is told at this site, followed by a song which might be sung by a Navajo man to ensure that he has wonderful horses.

Student Activity Three : The Apache Indians

Description: In this activity, students will visit three websites about the Apaches. Two of these sites are from an elementary school on the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation. They are done by a fifth-grade class on the reservation. The third site is actually a student report. These sites provide a short history of the Apaches, from different viewpoints, as well as an update on modern-day activities. There are some really good pictures of modern-day life on the first two sites. There is also an Apache song in the Apache language, for which students will write a melody and rhythm, and suggest appropriate instruments for performance.

CRADLEBOARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

http://www.cybertrails.com/~azboater/index.html
Description of Site: This is a site which was designed by a fifth-grade class at the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation. It gives a few statements about Apache ancestors and about modern-day Apache life. It has interesting and changing photographs, as well as an email address in case your class would like to write to Mr. Alvarez's class.

CULTURE DAY

http://www.cybertrails.com/~azboater/Cultureday/culture.html
Description of Site: This site describes an annual event on the reservation, with good photographs.

APACHE SONG.

http://www.museum.siu.edu/museum/Museum_Explorers/school_pages/Chenoa/apaches.html
Description of Site: This site is a report by a student. It includes a short history of the Apaches, a description of Apache life today, a short description of Apache dancers, and an Apache song in the Apache language with an English translation.

Performance Standards

Grading Standards will be found at each student activity.

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