Focusing Questions

  • In the Abenaki world view, what is the relationship of people to the land?

Topical Understandings

  • People live in relationship with the land and all beings.
  • Abenaki culture and lifeways are embedded in seasonal cycles and deep understanding of their environment.
  • We all live in relationship with these seasonal cycles.

Historical Thinking Skills: Chronological Thinking 

  • Compare alternative models for periodization by identifying the organizing principles on which each is based.

INSTRUCTIONS

Materials:

Poster—The Abenaki Year [designed by Fred Wiseman]

Picture Book—13 Moons on Turtle’s Back

Blank seasonal calendar

Create a list of seasonal activities students engage in today.

Read 13 Moons on Turtle’s Back. Have students fill in seasonal activities AND the name of the culture on the blank chart. 

Compare the Abenaki seasonal activities with those of other native cultures. What might be some reasons for similarities or differences?

Read the Abenaki Maple Sugaring Story or

                     Dual Language PictuGluskabe Changes Maplere book

and then explore sugaring outside!

Create a Venn diagram comparing seasonal activities between students’ lives today and traditional Abenaki culture