Page 5 - magazine the rock fall 2016

Friends oF red rock canyon 5

Sharon’s Slant By Sharon Schaaf

“Keepers of the Earth: Native American tivities is on the importance of water and its
Stories and Environmental Activities for distribution. Children learn about drought,
Children” is water rights, polluted water, the water cycle
co-written by and how it affects them.
author, story-
teller, ecolo- Tips and techniques to enhance the les-
gist, educator sons, a glossary and pronunciation key for
and musician the Native American words and names, and
Michael a subject index are included. It is one of
J. Caduto several books in the Keepers of the Earth
and scholar Series.
of Native
American “Desert Baths”
culture, is a children’s
author, poet picture book
and story- beautifully done
teller Joseph by writing teach-
Bruchac. er Darcy Pattison
The book and delightfully
features tales illustrated by art
from twenty teacher Kathleen
different Native American tribes. After each Rietz. Since our
story there are discussion questions and desert doesn’t
hands-on activities that adults can use with provide enough
elementary school-age children in a school, water for animals to take a proper bath, Ms.
camp, library or home setting. Eight top- Pattison shows how wildlife such as the
ics are covered ranging from animals to desert tortoises, coyotes, roadrunners, rattle-
weather. snakes and quails have found ways to keep
clean. Free online support and resources, as
There are twenty-one lessons in all, each well as teaching activities covering language
designed to teach children how important arts, math, science and social studies are
it is to respect and care for our earth and available on the book publisher’s website.
all living things in it. Of special interest to
children in Southern Nevada is “The Hero Both books are available in the Elements
Twins and the Swallower of Clouds,” a tale Gift and Book Shop in the Red Rock Can-
from the Zuni tribe in the Southwest. The yon Visitor Center.
focus of the story and its accompanying ac-

Fall 2016