Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will learn about California Native Americans and their connection to dance.

Materials and Prep

Materials needed: music player, space to move around

No prior knowledge required, just bring your enthusiasm for learning!

Activities

1. Dance like the California Native Americans: Listen to traditional Native American music and try to imitate their dance moves.

2. Create your own dance: Use your creativity to come up with a dance that represents something important to you.

3. Draw a picture: Draw a picture of a California Native American tribe dancing and explain what you find interesting about it.

Talking Points

• California Native Americans were the first people to live in California. They had different tribes, each with its own customs and traditions.

"California Native Americans were the original people who lived in California. They had special groups called tribes, like different teams in sports."

• Dance was an important part of California Native American culture. They used dance to tell stories, celebrate, and communicate with the spirits.

"Dance was like telling a story without using words for California Native Americans. It was a way to talk to the spirits and have fun."

• California Native American dances often included movements that imitated animals, nature, and important events in their history.

"When they danced, California Native Americans sometimes moved like animals or showed things that happened long ago. It was like watching a special movie made by dancing."

• Today, many California Native American tribes continue to preserve their traditional dances as a way to honor their ancestors and keep their culture alive.

"Even now, some tribes in California still dance like their ancestors did. They do this to remember the past and show respect for their families who came before them."