America has always been a land of diversity...even before it was "America." Third grade students have been learning all about the unique cultures of some of the Native American tribes who lived throughout this country long before any European settlers arrived.

Each student researched a tribe from a different geographical region of the country to learn about their way of life. The students took notes about various aspects of their tribes' cultures, such as food, shelter, clothing, the arts, and spiritual beliefs.  Then students used their notes to create beautiful posters featuring the culture of each tribe. Students then met with a partner to compare and contrast the cultures of the tribes they researched.

The students discovered that each tribe had to learn how to survive using the natural resources they had available in their region. Jonathan learned that the Cheyenne, living on the plains, used buffalo skins to create their teepees, while Rory learned that the Navajo of the southwest built their hogans out of packed earth. Jojo discovered that the Shawnee, who had lots of wood available to them, were able to build longhouses in villages that held many people, and Jane learned that the Choctaw of the low-lying areas in the southeast used palmetto thatches and long grasses to cover the walls and roofs of their circular lodges.

• "You Can Dance" A thought-provoking and humorous animated video on gratitude by Hanan Harchol.
• A NEW Shalom Sesame video, with a "Shehecheyanu" prayer song featuring Grover!
• This week's parashah focuses on the blessings that Jacob and Esau seek from their father and the very different blessings each receive.  What blessings do family members give to one another every day?  Over a lifetime?  What happens when we hope to receive a blessing from a loved one and they can't fulfill our needs?