June Nelson/Cynthia Robbins co-teaching lesson plan
         
Introduction:
Rationale Statement:
The North Star plays an important role in various cultures, including the Navajo culture. One of the most noted uses of the North Star is its place in the galaxy, serving as a navigational tool on land and sea. The North Star can be used to find directions. In the Navajo culture, the North Star and other celestial phenomena, were deliberately placed in the heavens after careful planning by the Holy People. However, this was a time consuming process that Coyote, a well-know character in Navajo mythology, had no patience for, and so he tossed all the remaining stars into the sky in no discernable pattern. This and other related cultural stories teach morals, lessons, and character development. (Note: Coyote stories and making string figures are traditional wintertime activities among the Navajo people. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to present this material to Navajo students at the "wrong" time of the year.)