The T hunderbird

Objective: Students will listen to a Native American fable and will construct a Thunderbird
image shield. The class will learn what causes thunder and lightning and will be able to
identify the difference between the myths

Materials: The "Origin of the Thunderbird" story, shield pattern, shield drawing, 1 piece of
heavy cardboard -12" square, tape, pencils, glue, scissors, paper mache, paints, 1" pieces of
elastic, cut into 6" strips (2 strips for each shield), 1 piece of poster board - 18" round, string or
yarn, feathers and beads (optional)

Background: The Thunderbird myth is perhaps one of the most widespread among the Naive
American culture. Thunderbird myth/lore can be categorized into two types: as a benevolent (or
sometimes malicious) nature deity, or a type on which the bird is not spiritual but corporeal
and co-extant with the aboriginal inhabitants of pre-colonial North American (this latter type,
might be the source for legends of giant birds reported in more recent times).

The Thunderbird, in the vast majority of Native American myths, is benevolent toward humans.
The Chippewa has a supreme bird, "The bird's eyes were on fire, his glance was lightning, and
the motions of his wings filled the air with thunder". The Mandan supposed that the
thunderbird broke through clouds to cause thunderstorms. The Comanche story explains, "a
hunter once shot a large bird...it was so large he was afraid to go near it alone. The hunter
believed he had shot a Thunderbird. When he returned with the Medicine Man and others from
the village, the bird was gone, and the hunter was struck by lightning during the resulting
storm".

Procedure:
Read "The Origin of the Thunderbird" story to class. Explain that this story is one of many in the
Native American culture that explains how the Thunderbird appeared to different tribes. Many
groups also used the Thunderbird image to explain weather phenomenon.

Copy the Thunderbird shield picture and distribute to class. Tell students that they are going
to create their own shield with the Thunderbird image on the front. Explain that shields, in the
past, were used for protection against the enemy and the elements and have them imagine how
powerful their shield might have been with the formidable Thunderbird image gracing the front
of it.

To make paper mache mix, use 1.5 cups of wallpaper paste mixed with 2 cups of water or boil
1 cup of white flour with 2 cups of water.

Pass out materials to make their shield.

Enlarge Thunderbird drawing to fit onto the 12" square cardboard. Photocopy one per student.
Have students cut out the Thunderbird outline. Students then should draw the Thunderbird
outline on the cardboard. Fill the outline with the wet paper mache mix. Let it dry and then
paint it. Encourage students to make their Thunderbirds bright and colorful. Remove it from the
cardboard.

While Thunderbird is drying, have students decorate their shield with feathers, beads, or other
decorative materials. Give each student 2 pieces of elastic and have him/her staple it to the
back of their shield (on opposite sides of the back) stapling the end of each piece to the
shield to form a "c"-shaped handle that he/she can pass his/her arm through.

Gently turn the Thunderbird onto its front and carefully glue the shield onto the image. Let it
dry thoroughly before picking it up.

Extensions:
Invite a local Native American friend to visit your class and discuss totem poles and their
importance in the history of his/her tribe.

Visit the National Weather Service web site (www.nws.noaa.gov) and have students check out
the latest radar image or the Internet weather source section of the site to find out what the
weather is doing (real time) in their areas.

Do a weather unit based on Ranger Rick's Nature Scope "Wild About Weather" curriculum.