Students studying Native American lifestyles in early America and Native American myths and legends will write a legend that reflects a Native American culture. They will then create a “skin” and write the story on the “skin” using pictographs.

Assessment Social Studies –did the student’s original legend show an understanding of traditional Native American lifestyles and storytelling?:

1. Have students read a variety of Native American myths and legends. Discuss how people in different regions used elements of the environment in the stories. 2. Teacher read-aloud: Gift of the Sacred Dog by Paul Goble. 3. Have students create a short story (5-7 sentences) modeled on Native American myths and legends. 4. Introduce the idea of picture writing and pictographs. Look at a Native American picture dictionary. Have students “transcribe” their stories into pictographs.

Students will create a “skin” on which to write their pictograph stories, by crumpling brown craft paper until it is soft and crinkled, and then sponging on a thin brown wash to accentuate the wrinkles. These will need to dry overnight.

Students will now tear the paper to resemble tanned animal skins and painting the outer edge with rust brown paint. Pictograph versions of the stories are then written on the “skins.” Stories should first be copied in pencil with attention paid to spacing the pictographs. Black crayons, markers, or black tempera paint and brushes can be used to copy the story.

Students can share their stories with others classes. A Big Book could be made with the skin stories mounted on large sheets of paper. The story and the English translation can be given at the bottom of each page, along with the author/illustrator’s name. Add a cover and table of contents.