Main Street School fourth graders who have been studying the culture, beliefs and historical significance of the Lenape people of the Northeast recently created artwork to demonstrate their understanding.
Throughout their studies, the students explored the use of imagery and mood created through the poem “Woodland Indians” by Elaine H. Cleary and developed a written response to the poem. Then, they chose their own creative approach to how to use sensory details to bring the nature scene they are visualizing to life. They also chose from a variety of artistic mediums to depict an image they visualized from the poem.
One of the central themes of “Woodland Indians” is the Native peoples’ connection, mutual respect and synchronicity with the land and living things around them. This theme connected to the fourth graders’ field trip to Ward Pound Ridge this fall, where students learned how the Lenape people interacted with their environment and used their natural resources for survival. By reflecting and applying this knowledge when developing their responses, the students highlighted their understanding.
