American Girl Class

Wendy was in Liberty Girls this Fall and really enjoyed it.  Around Christmas, the leader announced that she wouldn’t be doing it anymore.  I considered taking over but was also in the middle of tweaking our schedule and had begun to feel like our afternoons were getting too booked.  So I decided to teach a similar class–basically just using the idea of a book club based on the American Girl books– at our Friday Fun co-op classes…which we’d be going to anyway.  There—keep the same activities but condensed to only one day instead of two.  Great! 

It’s been going really well.  I think the girls are having fun and I know that I am!  We’re focusing on Kaya for this 6-week session and hopefully will continue when sessions start up again in the Fall, working our way through each character/historical period. 

Here’s a shot of our travois-making activity:

My loose plan for the six weeks:

We start each class (one hour) by letting the girls take turns telling their favorite part of the books—a la Charlotte Mason narration.  Then we talk a bit about that days theme and look at some resources.  Kaya’s World has been a huge help!  Then we’re off on the activity/craft.

week 1:  Introduction (Meet Kaya)

• Look at Kaya doll and traditional dress
• Kaya’s World p. 2-5
• Look at map
• Coyote Legend
• Make a Parfleche
• Make Abalone Hair Pieces (using cardboard and metallic paints)

week 2:  Words and Work (Kaya’s Escape)

• Kaya’s World
• Learn Nimipuu words
• Bead Bracelets

week 3:  A Nomadic People (Kaya’s Hero)

• Kaya’s World p. 8-9
• Make a mini model teepee

week 4:  Horse Culture (Kaya and Lone Dog)

• Kaya’s World p. 6-7
• Bring Steps High
• Learn parts of a horse
• Make a model travois for plastic horses/stuffed animals

week 5:  Games and Toys (Kaya Shows the Way)

• Kaya’s World
• Make Corn Husk Dolls
• Play a game (stick game or shinny)

week 6:  Food (Changes for Kaya)

• Bring a grinding stone and grain/beans–hard work!
• Sample traditional foods:  salmon, pemmican, fruit leather, fry bread
• Wrap up

Lots of information here.  This would make a fun home study, too!