Indian Shoes: Comprehension/Quiz Questions

Knowledge

1. Locate the passages that make it clear that Grampa Halfmoon is homesick. Have you ever been homesick? If so, what place and/or people were you missing?

2. List at least three ways that Grampa and Ray show they care about each other.

Comprehension

1. Describe in your own words what happened at the wedding.

Continue Reading Indian Shoes: Comprehension/Quiz Questions »

Indian Shoes Readers Theater: “Don’t Forget The Pants!”

“Don’t Forget The Pants!”

Developed by Sylvia M. Vardell and Cynthia Leitich Smith from INDIAN SHOES by Cynthia Leitich Smith (HarperCollins, 2002)(Heartdrum, 2021).

CAST:

Ray
Grampa Halfmoon
Jonah
Best Man
Narrator

Narrator: As Ray and Grampa Halfmoon climbed a flight of stairs to the front terrace of the rented mansion,

Continue Reading Indian Shoes Readers Theater: “Don’t Forget The Pants!” »

Indian Shoes: Readers Guide

What do Indian Shoes look like, anyway? Like beautiful beaded moccasins—or hightops with bright orange shoelaces?

Introduction

Ray Halfmoon prefers hightops, but he gladly trades them for a nice pair of moccasins for his Grampa.

Continue Reading Indian Shoes: Readers Guide »

Rain is Not My Indian Name: Bloom’s Multiple Intelligence Projects

Verbal/Linguistic

Throughout the story, Cassidy Rain keeps a journal. Keep a journal for at least ten days. The pages can remain private. If you’re in a classroom, just fold them lengthwise, so that a teacher can see they have been written on.

In the story, Mrs. Della Owen writes a letter to the editor. Choose a local issue that you are concerned about and write a letter to your local editor.

Continue Reading Rain is Not My Indian Name: Bloom’s Multiple Intelligence Projects »

Rain Is Not My Indian Name: Readers Guide

Introduction

Cassidy Rain Berghoff didn’t know that the very night she decided to get a life would be the night her best friend would lose his.

It’s been six months since Galen died, and up until now, Rain has succeeded in shutting herself off from the world. But when controversy arises around her aunt Georgia’s Indian Camp in their mostly white Kansas community,

Continue Reading Rain Is Not My Indian Name: Readers Guide »

Jingle Dancer: Pre-Reading Guide

Pre-reading

What do the title and cover art tell you about the story?
Who do you think this story is about?
Why do you think so?
Have you ever attended a powwow?
If so, what was it like?
If not, what do you think it would be like?

Predictions

Why do you suppose Jenna waits until last to ask her grandma for jingles?

Continue Reading Jingle Dancer: Pre-Reading Guide »

Jingle Dancer: Bloom’s Multiple Intelligence Projects

Verbal/Linguistic

Great-aunt Sis tells Jenna the Story of Bat. Is there a story you love to hear told? What is it? If it’s a story that’s culturally permissible to share, retell the story to one of your classmates.
“Personification” putting human qualities onto something that is not human. In the story, the author uses personification to describe the times of day.

Continue Reading Jingle Dancer: Bloom’s Multiple Intelligence Projects »

Jingle Dancer: Educator Guide

questions

What is a powwow?
What is a tradition? Do you have traditions in your families? What are they? (NonNative educators: you may not always know if a Native child is in your discussion group. Be sensitive to their perspective. If you do know of one, please don’t put them on the spot as a “cultural expert.”

Continue Reading Jingle Dancer: Educator Guide »