Garden City Park School fourth-graders in John Contratti’s and Seth Miller’s classes have been researching the lifestyles, customs and history of the Iroquois and Algonquian tribes as part of their unit study on Native Americans.
The classes recently brought what they learned about the Woodland groups to life through writing acrostic poems and letters addressed to their “ancestors.” In addition, they created math equations and a variety of unique projects, including wampum belts, Native American villages, dreamcatchers, turtle rattle shells and false face masks.
“Involving our students with hands-on activities and projects not only reinforces what they have learned in class, but also allows them to connect on a more personal level, which is much more engaging,” teachers John Contratti and Seth Miller said.
Later in the month, the students will show off their work when they present their writings and projects to family members.
