Lesson 7#
Building A Tipi
SUBJECT: Physical Education and Arts Education
TOPIC: Building a Tipi
TIME FRAME: A full day
COMMON ESSENTIAL LEARNING'S:
Critical and Creative Thinking - Students' will be able to explore the
implications or consequences of actions when building their own Tipi.
Communication - Students' should discuss the task of putting the tipi up in
order to complete the exercise.
MATERIALS: Area-either indoors or outdoors, tipi poles, buffalo hide or
canvas to cover the tipi.
1. OBJECTIVES:
Saskatchewan
Physical Education Objectives
Saskatchewan
Arts Education Objectives
Physical: Students will...
- participate in assembling the tipi.
Cognitive: Students will...
- demonstrate how each of the tipi poles have to be assembled in order for the
tipi to erected correctly.
Spiritual: Students will...
- be proud that they accomplish the activity of erecting the tipi together.
Affective: Students will...
- feel a sense of pride for First Nation peoples and their culture after the tipi
is assembled.
2. RESOURCES:
http://www.ccps.k12.fl.us/schools/ainger/art/Tipi.htm
This website contains a detailed description of how to build a Tipi.
http://www.wyoming.com/~westerncanvas
This website contains a description of a Tipi.
3. PURPOSE/TEACHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The purpose of this lesson is to build and construct a tipi under the
guidance of an Elder which allows the students' to experience first hand the trials and
tribulations of setting a Tipi up. It also allows the students' to understand
the concept putting up a tipi and the time it would take to complete the task. The
Plains Indians used the Tipi because it did not take much time to set up and break down
when they had to move. The Plains Indians developed the Tipi as there was a lack of
wood so they would find big enough trees to make the poles. The Buffalo skin was used over
the poles to provide shelter.
4. ACTIVITIES/IDEAS:
Building a Tipi - Invite an Elder to come and give their
guidance to building a tipi. The Elder will pray to the Creator for guidance. The Elder will help guide you through the steps of putting up a tipi. They will also tell you of the different beliefs that different cultural groups hold regarding the tipi. For example; who owns the tipi?, who puts up the tipi?
Fun Day - You can involve the whole school. After the tipi is up
ask the Elder if they would like to tell a legend that can be told in the summer to various different classes.
Talking Circle - Have a talking circle to wrap up the whole
unit. Ask the students' to talk about their experience putting up the tipi. How did they feel?
5. EVALUATION:
