Polk Street School fourth graders concluded their history unit on local Native Americans by hosting the annual Native American Village event on Nov. 15. The students’ families, as well as their peers in third grade, were invited to immerse themselves in Native American culture by exploring the village set-up.

Spread across the school’s Outdoor Learning Center, the Native American Village featured the students’ projects from throughout the unit, such as dreamcatchers, longhouse displays, false face and rim-dweller masks, and cornhusk dolls. Students shared Native stories in the longhouse, which was built by Principal Gilbert Torossian.

Animal skins, fur clothing and bones – which were donated by the PTA – were on display for visitors to explore. Students and their families were also able to play popular Native games, like corn tosses and the bean game.

As this was a cross-curricular initiative, the students created coil pots during their art classes and learned “Hey Ya Na,” an Apache hand game song, during their music lessons. Earlier in the month, the fourth graders took a field trip to Garvies Point Museum and Preserve in Glen Cove, as well, to learn more about Long Island’s Native American tribes.

This annual initiative is an engaging and fun way for Polk Street’s fourth graders to learn about local Native Americans and share their knowledge with their peers and families.

Click here to view the Annual Native American Village at PSS slideshow.

Date Added: 11/19/2024