The False Face Society was an Iroquois healing group. They had an important job, to get rid of bad spirits.  They used masks, rattles and dance to scare away the evil spirits.

When making a mask, the Iroquois walked through the woods until they found a tree whose spirit spoke to they.  Some would carve their mask directly on the tree and only remove it when completed, while others would carve an outline of the face, cut out that section of the tree, and carve their mask in secluded shelter until it is complete.  The mask was polished then decorated with hair, feathers, and other adornments.

The 4/5 students created their own unique False Face Society masks, inspired by the Iroquois.

 

 

 

 

The Iroquois Indians played the Sacred Bowl Game during the last day of the "Ceremonial of Midwinter" which marked the end of the year. The wooden bowl was decorated with clan symbols.  To play the game a player placed six nuts, which were colored on one side, inside the bowl and hit the bowl against the ground. If five of the six nuts turned up the same color, the player scored one point and took another turn. The first player to reach 10 points won the game.

Partners worked together to create their own Iroquois Bowl Games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Language Arts Time

 Students practicing short story creative writing inspired by pictures.

Students studied a picture and let a story unfold.  This gives students experience painting a picture with words.  They wrote some very imaginative pieces!

 

 

 

 

 

Having fun hiking with our buddies on Robert C. Parker Day!