Native American Teepee Activities for Kids

March 23, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing kids printables on Native American Tepee Activities for kids.  So, there are over 5.6 million Native Americans in the United States with 574 tribes.  Alaska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota and Montana have the largest number of Native Americans.  The Navaho is the largest tribe in the United States.

Some of the most popular Native American housing included wigwams, adobes, long houses, grass houses and the teepee.  Today, we’re going to look at Native American teepees.  The teepee was used by the Native American Indians of the Great Plains. The tribes included Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Arapaho, Comanche, Osage, and Shawnee.  

 

 

teepee activities for kids

 

 

Teepee Activities for Kids: 

 

  • First, each Native American tribes selected the type of housing that was suitable for their lifestyle.  
  • The teepee was the most suitable housing for Native Americans of the Great Plains because of its mobility.  
  • The Great Plains Native American tribes followed and hunted buffalo. 
  • When it was time to move on to the next herd of buffalo, tribes dismantled the teepees. Tribes could dismantle a teepee in 1 hour.  
  • Furthermore, the Lakota (Sioux) invented the teepee. 
  • Teepees were made of buffalo hides and long poles.

 

 

teepee activities for kids

 

 

  • Next, women from each family built the teepees.  
  • Teepees were shaped like cones because it made it difficult for the teepees to blow over. 
  • The men of the tribe provided the buffalo hides to the women and the poles used to hold it together.  
  • Additionally, grass helped keep teepees warm in the winter.
  • Furthermore, fires heated teepees. 
  • A hole at the top of the teepee was used to let out smoke. 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Tribes used buffalo hides as blankets too. 
  • Additionally, thick buffalo hides insulated teepees.    
  • Tribes closed teepees at the top when it rained.   
  • Each teepee had an entrance for entering and to help with airflow.    
  • Also, tribes built tepees in circles to represent the circle of life. 
  • If the flap of the tepee is open it is an invitation to enter.  Otherwise, the person must make an announcement and wait for an invitation.  
  • Tribes decorated their teepees with tribal symbols, animals, and Gods. Symbols included the sun, moon, deer, antelope, buffalo, lightning and more. 
  • Finally, men painted the symbols on the teepees to showcase their accomplishments. 

 

 

 

Native American Teepees

 

 

 

 

Teepee Craft Ideas for Kids: 

Also, check out I Heart Crafty Things Faux Teepee Craft .  

Fantastic Fun and Learning Teepee Crafts.  

Make and Takes Paper Teepee Decorations

 

 

 

teepee activities for kids

 

 

Finally, I hoped you enjoyed these teepee activities for kids. This unit includes a teepee crafts, teepee word search, coloring pages, and a fill in the blank work sheet. Use them as a part of your homeschool unit on Native Americans or extra homework activities.  You can download the printables here:  

 

 

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Duke Ellington Black History

February 25, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing kids educational resources on Duke Ellington Black History.  Ellington was born, Edward Kennedy Ellington.  Duke Ellington became known as one of the greatest jazz pianist, composers, and bandleaders of all times.  I’ve put together a fact sheet, multiply choice worksheet, matching worksheet, word search puzzle, and coloring sheet for a Black History unit.  

 

So, Duke Ellington was born in Washington, DC on April 29, 1899.  Both his mother and father, James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington, were pianists.  Furthermore, they stayed with his material grandparents at 2129 Ida Place. Duke’s father, James Edward Ellington created blue prints for the United States Navy.  He also worked as a butler, driver, caretaker and handyman for a prominent Washington, D.C. doctor.  He worked as a part time butler during the Warren G. Harding era.

Elegant, well-mannered and a dapper dresser earned Ellington the nick name “Duke” by a childhood friend. The nickname stuck for the remainder of his life.  

 

Duke Ellington Black History
Duke Ellington Black History:  
  • Duke began playing the piano at age 7. Ragtime, church and classical music were influencers in Duke’s love of music. 
  • Also, he also loved baseball and sold peanuts at the Washington Senators baseball games.
  • In 1914, Ellington worked as a soda jerk at the Poodle Dog Cafe.  During that time, he wrote a composition called Soda Fountain Rag.  Soda Fountain Rag is also known as the Poodle Dog Rag.  
  • Also, being a musician was a great way to get dates.  So, Duke started listening and imitating ragtime pianists.  A music teacher from Dunbar High School gave Ellington private harmony lessons. Additionally, he learned to read music and worked to improve his technique.
  • Duke formed the group, The Duke Serenaders.  He earned 75 cents from his first performance.  The band thrived, and as a result he performed throughout Washington, DC and Virginia.  He preferred playing for embassy and private parties.  
  • At age 19, Duke married his high school sweetheart Edna Thompson.  They had a son named Mercer Kennedy Ellington. 
  • Ellington moved to New York in 1923.  In 1924, he became the leader of his big band and began recording. 

 

 

Duke Ellington Black History

 

 

 

  • Duke Ellington played regularly at the Cotton Club in Harlem, NY in 1927.  He performed there for 5 years.  All Cotton Club performances were broadcast almost nightly.  By 1930, Duke Ellington and his band were famous. 
  • President Richard Nixon invited Duke Ellington to the White House for his 70th birthday.  He was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • One of Duke Ellington’s favorite places to eat was Ben’s Chili Bowl when he was in the Washington, DC area. 
  • Duke Ellington was a genius of instrument combinations.  His music made him stand out among other composers of his time.  Ellington ranked with composers such as a George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin. 
  • The piano was Duke’s favorite instrument. 
  • Duke wrote more than one thousand compositions.  His work became a standard in jazz music.
  • Duke Ellington won 12 Grammy Awards.  Additionally, he received the Life Time Achievement Award in 1966.
  • Additionally, Duke Ellington was a Freemason.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. 
  • In 1976, Stevie Wonder wrote the song “Sir Duke” as a tribute to Duke Ellington. 
  • Duke Ellington led his band from 1923 – 1974, 50 years. The Duke Ellington Orchestra is still in existence today.
  • The Duke Ellington School of the Arts was established in Washington, DC in 1974. 
  • In 1986, a Commemorative stamp was issued with Duke Ellington’s image. 
  • Duke Ellington’s son, Mercer Kennedy Ellington, managed the Duke Ellington Orchestra after his dad’s death.  
  • New York City May, Michael Bloomberg, declared April 29, 2009 Duke Ellington Day. 
  • Finally, Duke Ellington’s granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington, is carrying on his name.  

 

 

 

Duke Ellington Black History

Sadly, Duke Ellington died on May 24, 1974 as a result of pneumonia and lung cancer.  He is entombed in the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY.  Ellington’s last words were, “Music is how I live, why I live and how I will be remembered.”  More than 12,000 people attended his memorial service.  I hope you enjoyed my Duke Ellington Black History.  You can download the worksheets here. 

Check out Duke Ellington’s song It Don’t Mean a Thing, one of greatest hits.  

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Unique Bald Eagle Facts for Kids

February 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing educational resources on bald eagles facts for kids.  The Bald Eagle is the national bird and symbol for the United States.  It represents freedom. 

So, Bald Eagles are not really bald.  The name “balde,” means white not without hair.  If you liked those facts, check out my list of other Unique Bald Eagle Facts for Kids below.  Use them as a part of a science unit or interesting birding facts for kids.  

 

 

bald eagle facts for kids

 

Bald Eagle Facts for Kids:

Bald Eagles are large; they have a wing span of 5 – 8 feet.  The female is noticeably larger than the male, and weighs in around 13 pounds.  The male weighs around 9 pounds.  However, Alaska has the biggest eagles. These majestic birds prefer to live around large bodies of water like rivers and oceans.  The Bald Eagle likes to dive for fish, but they are known to take fish from other birds.  As a result,  Benjamin Franklin did not want the Bald Eagle as the United States symbol.  He believed the species was a thieve, and didn’t earn his keep honestly. Fortunately, the Bald Eagle would remain the iconic symbol of freedom.  

Native Americans have revered the Bald Eagle long before it became a symbol for the United States.  Native Americans believe eagles have magical powers. Many tribes use them in religious ceremonies and consider them medicinal. 

The oldest Bald Eagle was 38 years old.  Unfortunately, a car killed it in 2015. St. Petersburg, FL holds the record on the largest eagle’s nest.  However, a nest was found in Vermilion, OH.  It was  shaped like a wine glass, and weighed 2 tons. The tree holding the nest was blown over, sadly. 

So, here are a few other interesting Bald Eagle facts for kids.  Print a copy and discuss them with your student/children.   

 

bald eagle facts for kids

 


Also, take some time to view the Bald Eagles on the live EagleCam sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV.  The nest is located about 75 miles from Washington, DC along the Potomac River.

Furthermore, it’s a great way for students/kids to learn about these beautiful birds from the comfort of home. They can can watch the female eagle, Bella, incubate her clutch around mid-February.  Hopefully, at the end of March or early April there will be babies.  Her mate is Smitty.  They work together to build the nest and keep the eggs warm.  The camera is on the nest 24/7, so you can schedule time regularly to observe their behavior and happenings.

Eagle’s eggs must be kept warm at all times. So, they are only off the eggs for short periods of time.  The baby eaglets will be ready to fledge, leave the nest, in 10 – 12 weeks.  So, the Eagle Cam will give the students an opportunity to watch the Bald Eagles parent their babies. Have your student write an essay on their observations of the Bald Eagles. Another day have them write an essay on what they learned from the Bald Eagle fact sheet.  

 

Bald Eagle Activities for Kids:  

 

 

bald eagle facts

 

 

Next, give them a challenge with my math activity.  The activity includes a combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division for older students. There is an addition sheet for younger students as well.

 

 

bald eagle facts

 

 

Last, have a little fun with my Bald Eagle Coloring pages.  They can watch the cam and than color the pictures.  For additional fun, make these Bald Eagle Treats:  

Patriotic Regal Eagle Cookies

Patriotic Edible Eagles

 

Finally, you can download the Bald Eagle activities here.  

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Preschool Educational Activity Color Matching

November 30, 2020 by 2 Comments

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on preschool educational activity. My grandchildren loved playing this game.  So, I thought I would share it with you.  Its a great way to teach children their colors as well as match items.  Preparing preschoolers for kindergarten is essential.  So is preparing kindergarten for first grade.  The earlier we start teaching our children the more advanced they become in their education.

Furthermore, parents must stop waiting for schools to completely educate our children.  Giving them extra assignments and spending time teaching them is a great bonding experience.  Just as important, you as the parent can assess your child’s skills rather than waiting for a progress report.  Trust me, their teachers will appreciate your efforts.  It also gives you some insight when you have a parent teacher conference.  You’re actually speaking from a first hand perspective.

 

 

preschool educational activity

 

 

Benefits of Preschool Educational Activities:

  • Develops fine motor skills
  • Improves memory
  • Improves the ability to distinguish similarities and differences
  • Visual memory
  • Improves attention to detail
  • Great for cognitive development

 

My granddaughter is adamant that playing matching games helps improve memory.  She is quite astute when she is playing games that require memory skills. My preschool educational activity will help to enhance your child’s ability to recognize colors.  Simply match the scarf and hat with the same color dots on the snow man.  They can also enhance their vocabulary by learning how to pronounce the colors and learning how to spell each color.

Kindergarten Match Game

 

 

 

First, you will need the following items to make these adorable snowmen:

  • white construction paper or cardstock for the body of the snowman
  • color construction paper or cardstock for the hat and scarf
  • colored pens or crayons to match the hat and scarf
  • scissors
  • pencil for tracing

Note:  I used copier paper for the snowman and construction paper to make the hat and scarves.

 

Step 1 –  I found it easier to make a sample snowman. Next, I folded a sheet of construction paper in half and than folded it again. I placed the sample snowman on top of the folded sheet and cut around it.  I was able to create 4 snowmen at once using this method. This step really cuts down on time.

Step 2 – Select various colors of construction or cardstock for the hat and scarfs.  I cut these out free hand.  As you can see from the picture, they are not uniform.  The goal is have a variety of colors for the match.

Step 3 – Make faces for the snowmen as shown with a black crayon or pen.  Or,  get creative and come up with your own style.

Step 3 – Make the buttons on the snowman the same color as the top hat and scarf.  You can use crayons or pens for this step.  ( I found the pens to be easier to use). Once the buttons are made, print the color the button, top hat and scarf on the bottom of the snowman as shown.

 

Last, I hope you enjoyed my preschool educational activity.  You may also like:  Snowman Preschool Math Game – Mother 2 Mother Blog

 

 

 

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Facts for Kids

October 12, 2020 by 2 Comments

Today, I’m sharing educational tips on Ruth Bader Ginsburg facts for kids.  Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed to the United States Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton 1993.  She was the second  woman to be appointed to the high court.  You may ask what is the United States Supreme Court?

 

Supreme Court Facts for Kids:

  • The Supreme Court settles arguments in America.
  • It is the top court in the United States Government.
  • It currently has 9 judges.
  • The top judge is the Chief Justice.
  • Supreme Court Judges are judges for life.
  • In 1981, President Ronald Reagan picked the first woman Supreme Court judge, Sandra Day O’Conner.
  • The Judiciary Act of 1869 decided the number of judges to sit on the Supreme Court would be 9.
  • The Supreme Court Judges must use previous judgements throughout history and current laws to decide cases for America.

 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg facts

 

First, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a petite woman.  She was 5′ 1 inches tall and weighed 110 pounds.  She reminded me of my grandmother who was also petite.  Although petite, she carried a lot of weight in the judicial field.  She fought for equality, and became one of the most admired and revered Supreme Court Justices in American history.

Justice Ginsburg’s mother called her by her middle name, Ruth, to avoid confusion with other classmates named Joan.  Here are a few other facts on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Facts for Kids:

  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg given name was Joan Ruth Bader.
  • She was born on March 15, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York.
  • Justice Ginsburg was of Jewish descent.
  • Ruth had 1 sibling, an older sister named Marilyn, who passed away when she was a baby.
  • Her mother passed away before her high school graduation.
  • Ruth graduated Valedictorian from James Madison High School.
  • She attended Cornell University and later attended Harvard University Law School.
  • Ruth transferred to Columbia University and graduated with a law degree.  She tied with another student for graduating first in her class.
  • She later taught at Columbia University.
  • Ruth married Martin Ginsburg in 1954.
  • She was the mother of a daughter named Jane and a son named James.
  • Ruth had difficulty finding a job because she was female after graduating law school.
  • Her nickname was the “The Notorious R.B.G.” a moniker of  The Notorious B.I.G.
  • Her favorite music was classical.

 

More Ruth Bader Ginsburg Facts for Kids:

 

  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg won five cases involving women’s rights.
  • Ginsburg wrote the ruling that required the Virginia Military Institute to admit women or lose its state funding.
  • She loved the Opera.
  • Another Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia, was her good friend.
  • Ginsburg had 4 grandchildren.
  • In addition to attending the Opera, she loved movies, golfing, water skiing, horseback riding and reading mystery books.
  • She loved the composers Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini.
  • Fishnet gloves and unique collars were a part of Justice Ginsburg’s fashion statements.
  • Times Magazine named Justice Ginsburg one of the “100 Most Influential People” in 2015.

 

 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Facts

 

 

Justice Ginsburg had difficult finding a job in the 1960’s because she was a woman.  Even though she held  degrees from Ivy League schools, her gender held her back.  The fact that she was pregnant was used against her also.  When her employer found out she was pregnant; she was demoted. Throughout the years she fought for equality, and won 5 cases for women’s rights.

Justice Ginsburg was also notorious for the collars that she wore on the bench or to State Addresses and Inaugurations.  She told Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, “You know, the standard robe is made for a man because it has a place for the shirt to show, and the tie,” she said.  “So Sandra Day O’Connor and I thought it would be appropriate if we included as part of our robe something typical of a woman. So I have many, many collars.”  Her favorite was a lace collar from South Africa.  Justice O’Connor was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court.

 

 

Finally, I hope that you have learned a few things from our Ruth Bader Ginsburg facts  We also have a word search puzzle, coloring pages and Supreme Court Fact Sheet.  So, there’s something for everyone.  You can download the activities here.

 

 

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