Cherokee Project

Bryson has been learning about the Creek and Cherokee Indians at school over the past few weeks and the time has come to take what he has learned and create a project.  Bryson chose to create a Cherokee winter home and to talk about the difference between their winter home and summer home as well as why they needed both.

To start things off, we wrapped some string around a balloon and then Bryson plastered it with glue. After a couple of days of drying it was really to be cut in half.

 The winter homes they built were shaped like a beehive or up-side-down basket. So this idea was perfect for the design Bryson needed.  Their homes were rather small, and made of sticks and mud.  Bryson went out to gather some sticks to create a stronger support.  He stuck a straw through the top center so that the smoke from the fire, in the center of the home, is able to escape.  And then cut out his door.

 Now for the messy part of the project!  It was already raining out so it wasn't too difficult for Bryson to locate some mud. 

 But just to be sure it would stick easily to the home, Bryson stirred in some more water.

 McKenna was eager to help Bryson with this part! They both spent a few minutes coating Bryson's home with the mud plaster.

 And now to let it dry.

 Bryson had this great idea to put is winter home inside of a shoe box lid, to keep it more secure and less messy when taking it to school.  He also went outside and collected some pine needles to glue to the lid to make it look, "more realistic". He then cut the straw and put everything in it's place.  You should have seen his excitement when it all came together at the end. He is very pleased with his work, and why shouldn't he be!