After children are taught about how the Native Americans lived and what their own town might have looked like when the Native Americans were there, they can express and share what they've learned by drawing a Native American village or building a model or diorama of one. Some things to include are the long houses the tribes lived in, the corn they planted, and the canoes they used to travel along the rivers.
Worry dolls were used by some Native American tribes to keep away bad dreams and ensure peaceful sleep. They would tell their worries to the tiny dolls at night before placing them under their pillow where they would protect the owner from worrying. Making this craft will not only teach children about a belief of the tribe, but also allow them to participate in the tradition when they take the worry doll home. The dolls can be constructed from stationary clothespins, using the round knob on top as the head and the prongs as the legs. Children can then use materials such as felt, string and markers to dress their doll.
Sand paintings can teach children about the religion and ceremonies of the Navajo tribes as they were considered a religious art and used in medicinal ceremonies. For this craft you can purchase colored sand or dye white sand by mixing it with water and food coloring and setting it in baking sheets to dry. Each child will need a large piece of thick paper, which they will cover with glue using a paint brush. Then they can sprinkle the sand on the paper to create pictures and designs. These paintings should be left to dry overnight before they can be taken home.
Talking sticks were used in Native American sacred council ceremonies. Since only the person holding the talking stick was allowed to speak, it helped the tribe members to listen to each other and take turns. These sticks can be decorated by wrapping them with colorful string and using beads and feathers as well. The talking stick can then be used as a device in the classroom and at home to help children listen to each other and show them what a Native American council meeting was like.