Movement in circles - Have students make shapes using their bodies.Students sit in a circle and compare what it is like to talk and relate while in a circle rather than in rows or a square or u-shape.Ask students to draw circles and compare them to other shapes.What does this tell us about the interconnectedness between animals and people?.Therefore it was incumbent on us to respect every other form of life, to learn from them as best we could the proper behavior in this world and the specific technical skills necessary to survive and prosper." Human beings had a little bit of knowledge and some basic skills, but we could not compare with any other animals as far as speed, strength, cunning and intelligence. It was said that each species had a particular knowledge of the universe and specific skills for living in it. "Native Americans saw themselves as participants in a great natural order of life, related in some fundamental manner to every other living species.
from the Foreword Keepers of the Animals.
This connection makes humans responsible to the earth and all of its creations." (p.218, History of Utah's American Indians) Cliford Duncan states "Traditionally, the Utes believe that each person is connected to the spirit of all living things.
What do these stories tell us about the cycle of life and death? Read The Sacred Tree and Seasons of the Circle.Students would then be asked to describe which of the ceremonies are done at only one time during the year and which are done throughout the seasons.Students would need to do some research in order to get this information.Ask students to think about various Native American Indian ceremonies and place them in the quadrant where they think they would go.For example in which quadrant would crop harvesting go? Students will be asked to draw or write which holidays and activities/ceremonies would be in the appropriate quadrant. On the outside of each quadrant will have a season. Students will be given a circle which is divided into four quadrants.Ask the students to look at the images on the buffalo hide and describe the stories the images are telling. What do the stories tell us about the seasons in relation to the various ceremonies? Read Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back and Seasons of the Circle.What circle images do you see? What do they represent? Examine the rock art images from Sacred Images on pages 74-75 and page 95.These stone circles are individual ritual sites and are still considered sacred today." (p.218 History of Utah's American Indians).Ask the students why they think the stones were laid in a circle Past ritual sites with stone circles can be found throughout original Ute homelands. "One common ingredient in many ceremonies was stones laid upon the ground in a circle. What does the poem say about the circle of life? Read the poem by Hank LaRose, Bear Boy called, The Rock and the Eagle Speaks.These include: the drum, hogan, kiva, teepee, dream catcher, medicine wheel, and sweat lodge. Ask the students to describe the various Native American symbols that are circular.These examples can include the seasons, life cycle and growth.
Encourage students to think of things other than objects such as the moon, sun, etc.Ask them what shape it is? Ask students to name anything else that is a circle? Write them on the board. Show the students a picture of the earth.