Feb 7th, Feb 8th, Feb 11, Feb 12, AND FEB 13TH!!

Hi Cate,

Things have been crazy around here since last Wednesday's snow day. Here is a brief summary of what we did in class the last four days:

Thursday, Feb. 7 - In the computer lab, I introduced the students to the Native American Story Book project. We looked at the guidelines, examples, and they chose stories to read.

Friday, Feb. 8 - In the lab working on the stories. I will talk to Jemi about the Story Book Project.

Monday, Feb 11th - Mr. Paul Salerno came to our room to present his stories about working on the Sioux (Lakota) indian reservation in South Dakota. He brought props and told his stories.

Tuesday, Feb. 12th - (I was home sick with a little girl). Students went to the lab and worked on the stories.

Wednesday, Feb. 13 - We spent today discussing the two civilizations that we are examining that existed before the United States came into existence. We reviewed the Anasazi virtual tour and made sure everyone had the right information. Then we learned about the moundbuilding culture that once existed primarily EAST of the Mississippi river. We discussed the story Journey to Cahokia. They took a Journey to Cahokia reading quiz. We looked at examples of mounds on a power point. Add this information to the back side of your Anasazi notes/tour: The Mound Builders! Location: Primarily EAST of the Mississippi River. 1000's and 1000's of mounds built for reasons that are now lost. 3 types of Mounds are found - 1. Effigy mounds - made to be in the shape or "likeness" of something i.e. birds, animals, people, 2. Burial mounds (self-explanatory), and 3. Mounds constructed for religious purposes. Largest mound pyramid in the world is at Cahokia, Illinois. Cahokia was a great mound city which had influence all over the region. Wisconsin is the state that contains the most mounds that remain today - over 4,000. They are all over the place.

Check out the video on Cahokia below - it will help you understand it better.