One of my pet peeves about the way we teach the history of America is the obvious absence of attention to pre-colonial America. Here are some fun ways to explore the history of Native American Indians. Here is a good resource for books and music.
First, you must get these two books: American Indian and First People. I also recommend this series on PBS:We Shall Remain. Lesson plans to follow this summer.
Here are some fun experiential things to do:
bake, cook, eat
build and play games -- check out this site that explains the Native Alaskan Games
make instruments like drums, flutes, rain sticks and dulcimers and play music
write a native american song/chant in the Native American musical style, using a pentatonic scale, percussion and Orff Instruments
build native american dwellings such as long house, pueblo dwellings, teepee, cliff dwelling, wikiup, etc.
spend the night outside
build your own canoe out of cardboard
create your own native american art; here's a semi-good list of options but be creative and create your own
use paper mache on top of a cardboard shipping tube to make your own totem pole
carve soap to replica an Inuit sculpture
make a bow
for the final "experience", create your own living history museum
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