Paper Powhatan Pop-Up Village

Are you as excited as I am about how many p-words I managed to fit into that title???? I figured since it has been so long since I've posted anything that actually has anything to do with school people are probably beginning to think I am an impostor, and that I should share some evidence of where I go for 9-12 hours at a time Monday through Friday.....

We are currently studying three Native American tribes: the Lakota, Powhatan, and Pueblo to be exact. Last week the students created pop-up Powhatan villages to represent the various land features and cultural facts they need to know. Nothing special, but always a crowd pleaser!

 This is my example (the kids' projects were much better but they took them home before I could remember to take a picture). I also had the kids label everything in the project (James River, Eastern Woodlands on the tree, Appalachian Mountains on the mountains, canoe, and longhouse). Many kids used their construction paper scraps to put deer in the forest and fish in the river, among other interesting details. I even had a student who drew things on the inside of his longhouse before gluing it in place.

Again, it's nothing special but the kids really enjoy the project and they always have good conversations as they explain their projects to passing adults in the hall and while waiting for late buses (the latter of which I may have to indulge in a rant real soon).

On a side note, if you are a teacher in Virginia (or if you teach any of these three tribes) I have put my blood, sweat and tears into making Promethean flipcharts for each tribe. If you have Promethean software and would like any/all of these flipcharts leave a comment below with your email address and I would be happy to send them to you :)