| In-Class Native American Cultural Programs |
"I was so impressed and so were the students." -4th Grade Teacher
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Scroll down to view in-depth information about main outreach program, supplement programs, and pricing. Listed below are also links to the outreach program content, education kit, FAQs, prices by state (IN, KY, OH, PA, NY, NJ) and Social Studies Standards our programs meet by state (IN, KY, OH, PA, NY, NJ).
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Why Choose A Woodland Indian Outreach Program For Your Students
Can my students learn more from this live, interactive outreach program than other resources?
Unlike textbooks, films, and museum displays, the content of our programs changes as soon as new research emerges. As historical and anthropological perceptions change, especially through archeology and re-interpretation of previously misunderstood historical content, the content of our outreach programs evolve as well.
What makes Woodland Indian Educational Programs different from other Native American in-class programs?
Woodland Indian Educational Programs are focused on local and regional historic Native American cultures of the Northeastern cultural area. Unlike many mainstream Native American programs which choose to present cultural practices of more famous tribes of the Plains or Southwest, we present information relevant of the historic Native Peoples in your region. We address tribes that lived historically in your state and/or area, and learn not only about their lifeways, but the lifeways of others who lived similarly in the Northeastern woodlands.
Woodland Indian Educational Programs also utilizes anthropologically based teachings. We explore all aspects of cultures and lifeways of the Woodland Indian Peoples. Instead of learning from a presentation only about music and dancing, or bows, arrows, and flintknapping, our programs touch upon more including family life, child life, marriage, clan membership, festivals, homes and construction, village life, all food-getting strategies such as horticulture, gathering, fishing and hunting, cooking and food-preservation, tools and utensils, entertainment, games and sports, clothing and adornment, etc. And because nobody knows everything about one tribe's culture, as that information just does not exist, we purposely utilize research on many Woodland Indian tribes as cross-cultural references in order to present a realistic view of day-to-day life. Click here to view an outline of this program.
How do I know my students will enjoy this program? How engaging and effective is a Woodland Indian Outreach Program?
Our program is an interactive program - not a lecture, slide show, or hour long observation of a demonstration too far away to see in a large crowd. This program fully utilizes the power of imagination, participation, and discussion. Students are encouraged to help teach their classmates, ask questions, and have fun - the key to a successful learning experience. And unlike museum exhibits, our recreated artifacts and cultural items are made for student use during the presentation. We bring over 100 of these items to your school - from clothes to foods, tools to instruments, and more, all representational of pre-contact times.
Another key element to Woodland Indian Outreach Programs is the small audience size - no more than 100 students per presentation. We are better able to show students items up close, involve a large percentage of students in answering questions, and make eye contact with each and every student several times during the program.
How interactive is this program? What are some specific examples of student-participation my students will be a part of?
Through the duration of the of the presentation, more than 20 students will be called upon to help the presenter teach their classmates about different customs and material culture. A few examples include 4-5 students picked to wear outfits representing different Native communities, two students who are picked to represent a married couple while we discuss family life and clan membership, 2-3 students picked to act out the different steps in girdling a tree for bark, 3 students picked to represent corn, squash, and beans while we discuss horticulture, and 11-12 students picked to hold animal furs, after they correctly identify them, while everyone learns each animal's name in Miami. Participation relies on each student's desire to respond to the questions asked by the presenter, encouraging students to answer questions correctly and more importantly, thoughtfully. Click here to view the full program outline.
For more information click here on frequently asked questions.
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Program Supplements
The Trade Era: European Influences and Cultural Change
At the end of the main program, we begin to explore the changes in lifeways and material culture with the arrival of Europeans. First addressed how both Native and European societies benefited through trade. Next students and the presenter discuss the pros and cons of trade items such as iron kettles, metal axes, and muskets, and the equivalent native items they replaced. Students are asked to identify the better item, such as iron kettles vs. earthenware pottery, and may be surprised to learn their initial judgments not to be their conclusions when they discuss the subject further. Then students explore how Native American technology changed and foreign materials led to a new developed dependence on European goods, and how dependence on Euro-American societies for everyday items made many Native communities vulnerable under the newly formed United States. We cover everything from how cultural ideals and values changed to how Native reliance on trade later helped the US's quest for land. And as with our main program, this supplement program is also interactive, and we bring in an additional 20 items such as trade kettles, metal axes, wool blankets, trade shirts, glass beads, trade mirror, military coat, and much more.
Native American Games and Sports
These interactive games are offered for
students as an option to extend the main school outreach program. By
utilizing this option, educators can offer their students a full day of
learning opportunities on the subject of Woodland Indian culture. We
offer these programs not just because it is very hands-on and well
liked by students, but because the subject of Native games is anything
but child's play. In fact, the realm of games and sports is a very
important subject to focus on, as it lends itself to conveying ideas of
real Native culture and life as it was - full of good times with
family, friends, and community, and not that of the commonly thought of
"struggling to survive" aspect that at most times was not true. This
is also a great topic of commonality to modern children's lives -
relating very human needs of entertainment, competitiveness, and
pride.
Click here on Native American Games and Sports to learn more about this program supplement.
Core Curriculum Requirements
Our in-class cultural programs meet, address, or touch upon many of your Social Studies Standards, as prescribed by your state. To view Standards relevant to our program, please click on your state below:
Indiana
Ohio
Kentucky
Pennsylvania
New York
New Jersey
| Program Fees
Differentiation in program fees are based on travel and sometimes hotel fare. Please understand that if you are located at a distance of over 5 hours from my home in Southern Indiana, you may have to sign up with one or more schools for 2 or more days of consecutive programs in your area (the more consecutive days of programs, up to 5, the larger discount each school receives). Please click on your state below to view the program price assigned for your area.
Indiana
Ohio
Kentucky
Pennsylvania
New York
New Jersey
Please also note that these prices are the flat fee for one main program (2 hours) for up to 100 students, and travel. Please add on the following fees for:
-program supplement (20 - 30mins.) "The Trade Era: European Influences and Cultural Change" - $40
-program supplement (45mins. - 1 1/2 hours) "Native American Games and Sports" - $100
-second main program (2 hours) for up to 200 students - $100
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"Absolutely wonderful program! You are so knowledgeable about your subject matter and your presentation is so high spirited." -4th Grade Teacher
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