Their Native Land

The first immigrants to North America probably walked across the Bering Strait and sailed across the Pacific Ocean. And many of their descendants continue to live on this continent. What are their stories and other contributions? Find out by trying these activities below.

CONNECT:

• Explore the diversity of the Native people of the Americas at the National Museum of the American Indian.
• Learn about World War II Navajo Code Talkers.
• Listen to the Pledge of Allegiance in Tewa, Navajo, Zuni, Choctaw and Blackfeet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1HmUm2AOdw
• Watch Native American dancing styles and meanings at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MONgmqIpaW8

CREATE:

• On whose land do you live? Go to the map on https://native-land.ca/ to find out the original residents.
• Make your own Native American food, from flapjacks to snow candy, by following these recipes: https://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/recipes.html
• Recreate Native American games, based on https://www.wnit.org/outdoorelements/pdf/408nativeamerican_ga.pdf
• Try your hand at making some simple Native American crafts: https://socalfieldtrips.com/13-easy-native-american-crafts-for-kids/

CARE:

• How can you help Native Americans? Here are some real, practical and meaningful ways that you can give support to indigenous people in your community and around the country: https://www.powwows.com/can-help-native-americans/
• Several Native American organizations welcome your help; explore them at https://www.diversitybestpractices.com/news-articles/top-native-american-organizations-to-know
• The National Tribal Preservation Program helps Indian tribes protect resources and traditions important to them.
• Help preserve Native American words by learning some of them: http://www.native-languages.org/vocabulary.htm.  You probably already new some of those words, such as skunk, squash and hickory; see a short list of them and their history at https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/native-american-words/bayou

CAREERS:

Native American will face job discrimination, as this radio program relates: https://www.npr.org/series/559149737/you-me-and-them-experiencing-discrimination-in-america

You can help Native Americans and have a fruitful career, as these websites show:

https://cla.umn.edu/wcidwami/american-indian-studies

https://www.bia.gov/jobs

https://www.ihs.gov/careeropps/

Father's Day Every Day

Fathers come in all sizes and shapes, and serve in different roles: from founders of our country to spiritual advisors. It’s not just biology that makes a father; it’s how one acts and how others perceive a father. Discover the variety – and the universality -- of fathers in these activities.

CONNECT:

• Read the stories of America’s Founding Fathers: http://colonialhall.com/
• Did you know that Father’s Day started in Spokane in 1910? Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to honor her father, who was a civil war veteran who singlehanded raised his six children. (Trivia fact: Ms. Dodd was this blogger’s Sunday School teacher.) It took 62 years for Father’s Day to become a national holiday. Get the details from the History Channel: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/fathers-day
• What’s the word for “father” in different languages? Pick out some name at http://www.loveyoufather.com/father-in-different-languages.html, and use them with a father you know.
• See the animal kingdom’s top ten dads at http://www.animalplanet.com/wild-animals/10-animal-dads/

CREATE:

• Learn how to write a poem from Father Goose (aka Charles Ghigna): an American children’s poet: http://www.charlesghigna.com/poemhowto.html
• Try these activities and resources for the celebration of Father's Day, including games, clip art, stories, and  crafts: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/dad/
• Make some fun father’s day food: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/53963/fun-fathers-day-food
• Here’s Father’s Day by the numbers; try creating a game from them: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2016/cb16-ff11.html

CARE:

• Here are 29 Father’s Day gifts that kids can make for someone’s dad: https://www.care.com/a/29-fathers-day-gifts-kids-can-make-1305280622
• Father Flanagan founded Boys Town, a place for at-risk children. Find out about this caring person and service at http://www.boystown.org.
• “Father” is a name often given to Catholic priests. Find out  how they became fathers: http://bustedhalo.com/questionbox/when-did-the-use-of-father-become-a-practice-in-the-catholic-church-for-ordained-priests
• This national initiative helps men be better fathers: http://www.fatherhood.org/

CAREERS:

Being a father is a career in itself. This article points how how fathers can affect one’s career: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2013/12/23/7-ways-your-father-affected-your-career/#6efc08cb7537