St. Michaels 1: Blue Group

So I've officially been an assistant educator for one complete group as of today (well the kids technically leave tomorrow morning). Two groups arrived on Sunday night at the same time as me: a group of 22 sixth graders from Isleta Pueblo outside of Albuquerie, NM and 39 sixth graders from Tusan, AZ. The group from Tusan was so big that they split it. Shaine Gans (who I thought was a man until I arrived here cause in all my communications with her I always wrote "Mr. Gans" and she never once corrected me) and myself were the leaders of one half of the St. Michaels group: the Blue Group.

Each day consisted of two different modules, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. On Monday morning we did a module called "Windows into the past." For this there are a bunch of tables set up and on each of them are artifacts from a different time period in Puebloan and Anasazi culture (the Archaic, the Basketmaker (I and II), the Pueblo (I, II, and III), and the Modern). The kids get to look at the different items and decide what they think that they are and how they might have been used. This activity kinda sets the foundation so that the kids get an idea of what the different time periods were and the types of shelter, food, weapons, clothing, etc. that were used during each.

On Monday afternoon we did a simulated excavation (this was my favorite module). In one of the classroom there are three simulated sites created. Each one has eight units and is filled in with sand to cover what's there. Each kid gets a unit and has to excavate it to discover what's in it and what the overall group site is. It was fun and a lot of the kids enjoyed it (although I would never let some of them near a real site cause they don't understand the concept of being gentle with artifacts and having patience - I guess archaeology is not for everyone).

Tuesday morning brought with it "Pueblo Farmer Lifestyles." This module covers the Pueblo II and III cultures (roughly 600AD - 1300 AD). There's a replica Pueblo with a roomblock (series of rooms) and tower (the kiva is not there due to religious objections from local tribes) and the kids get to climb through it and look at different artifacts and lessons that have been set up inside.

In the afternoon we did "Early Farmer (Basketmaker) Lifestyles" This modules covers the Basketmaker I and II and Pueblo I periods (roughly 600BC - 600AD). The replicated pithouse was being renovated so we didn't get to go in there, but we got to do a bunch of different activities from that time period. The kids got to make cordage (rope) from yucca leaves (it was really raffia, but we pretended it was yucca which is what the Native Americans had), they got to make fire with spindle sticks (well, seeing as it was snowing and pretty humid, they all attempted, but didn't really succeed), and they got to pretend that they were prehistoric hunters and throw spears with atlatls (kinda like a prehistoric sling shot...helps the spear go further, straighter and have more force), and throwing sticks (like boomarangs).

Tuesday night there was a special evening program where David Nighteagle came and played for us his wooden flutes (he makes them all himself). The music was really beautiful.

That brings us to today...the best day by far cause we got to go to Mesa Verde!!! I finally got to see some of the sites that I spent 4 years in college learning about (I need to go to Chaco Canyon to see the other half that I studied in college). We started off by going on the driving tour along the Mesa Top Loop and getting off at different noted sites:




The first stop that we made was at a pithouse that was from the Basketmaker time period.





The next stop that we made was Navajo Canyon View. This was a fantastic view that looked out over the canyon and allowed you to see five different cliff dwellings (homes that had been built into the cliff face). The most well know of these is Cliff Palace.





The last stop that we made on the loop was to a Pueblo village (circa 900AD) that had been built upon the ruins of a pithouse (circa 700AD). This emphasized how groups in later time periods came and rebuilt homes upon the ruins of their ancestors.






After lunch the kids toured the museum and then the best part of the day: We got to walk down and explore an actual cliff dwelling. This dwelling was called Spruce Tree House and was estimated to have housed 60-80 individuals during it's heyday. The site is from the Pueblo III time period (roughly 900AD - 1300AD).





We were even lucky enough to get a behind the scenes look at some of the roomblocks further into the rock face because Shaine knew the park ranger that was on duty. We got to see one of the original roofs/floors (it hasn't been renovated or reinforced by the park service at all and is in the same condition as when it was discovered in the late 1800s).

So that was the beginning of my week. Pretty exciting. I think that I could probably teach some of the modules (definitely the simulated site one) by the next group or the one after that. I meet tomorrow with Becky, my mentor, and I'll discuss a timeline and such then.

On a sad note, I got rejected for the summer field position here. Two of the people from the department told me personally. They said that I was a strong candidate (one of the top 10), but just not good enough (my words) and that I should apply again next year. So it looks as if my tenure here is just the 2 and a half months. :~(

Alright, I think that this entry is long enough that half of you have stopped reading before you even got to this point. Sorry for the lecture mode above, but I am an educator after all. I hope all is well with everyone else out in the real world. Till next post. Oh, yeah drop me a line or send some post so I know that people are reading this and that they haven't forgotten about me quite yet ;~)