More Drums

Our last blog post was about some extra homework that a student completed! Now we have three more students who made or found their own drums! 

See below: 

Thank you for your extra work! Great job!

Extra Homework - Make a Drum

As you know, the Kinders do a monthly homework calendar. To view the homework calendar for this month, click here. 

The extra homework for this past weekend was to try to make your own First Nations drum! I had one student bring their drum to school to show the rest of the class. 

Take a look:

Doesn't it look amazing? 

Metis Vests

Last week the students made Metis Vests. We started by reading the book: "The Flower Beadwork People." We talked about how colours and beadwork were a very important part of the Metis culture.

The Kinders coloured their vests and then decorated them with sequins and gems. 

In a Dark, Dark, Wood

Elder Dixon told us the story of: "In a Dark, Dark Wood."

She had the Kinders listening so well, she was able to startle some at the end of the story! Take a look:

Elder Dixon

Today we had an amazing lady join our Kindergarten classroom:

Elder Dixon

Elder Dixon is a First Nations Elder and she came to our classroom today to share stories with us, teach us, and make a craft with us! She is so kind towards the children and a phenomenal storyteller! We are so blessed that we were able to spend the morning with Elder Dixon. 

Right off the hop, we learnt a few Cree words:

Tansi - (pronounced: ton - see) means "hi"

Kookum - (pronounced: co - come) means "grandma"

Mushom - (pronounced: moo - shum) means "grandpa"

Look how focused the Kinders are! 

Look how focused the Kinders are! 

Look how focused the Kinders are! Elder Dixon is telling us the story of the Baby in a Moss Bag. 

This is a sample of what a baby in a moss bag would look like. 

This is a sample of what a baby in a moss bag would look like. 

This is a sample of what a baby in a moss bag would look like. This student was able to try on the moss bag to see how it would feel to carry a baby in it. 

This is a sample of what a baby in a moss bag would look like. This student was able to try on the moss bag to see how it would feel to carry a baby in it. 

This is a sample of what a baby in a moss bag would look like. This student was able to try on the moss bag to see how it would feel to carry a baby in it. The student said, "It feels heavy!"

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

The students made their own Baby in a Moss Bag!

Look how the Moss Bag craft turned out:
Can you guess which one is your child's? 

Elder Dixon read us a book called: "Grandmother, What is Smudging?" We learned all about smudging. Smudging is used to clean one's mind before starting the day. Any of the four medicines are used to smudge: tobacco, sweetgrass, cedar or sage. Any jewellery is removed before smudging. Smudge is carried in a natural container, such as a shell. When the smudge is lit, an eagle feather is used to fan the smoke. 

Eyes are smudged to remember to "see good things." Ears are smudged to remember to "hear good things." Mouths are smudged to "say good things." Heads are smudged to "think good things" and bodies are smudged to "feel good things."

Then, Elder Dixon told us the story of: "The Mitten." The kids were laughing at the funny voices that Elder Dixon used when telling the story.

Next, Elder Dixon read us a story called, "The Little Green Turtle." This story is about being unique and teaches us that we all have a special talent in life, even if we don't know it yet!'

 And of course we had to take a photo with Elder Dixon to remember this special day!

And we gave her a goodbye Kindergarten hug!

And another goodbye Kindergarten hug!

We really enjoyed Elder Dixon in our classroom today. We would like to thank her for spending her morning with us. She is welcome back any time!