I am Sacagawea~ REVIEW

We were super excited to receive one of the Newest books from the I am a Traveler Series from Penguin Young Readers. This whole Series is absolutely amazing and takes a very different approach to sharing the Biographies of people who have forever shaped and changed our world.  Kaden and I both thought that the graphics and slight comic book feel was very engaging.  I of course thought the extras like real photographs and timeline were handy since we used it in our homeschool.  I hope to eventually have the whole series for our homeschool library.  After reading and doing a few extra activities, we made a traditional fry bread for lunch and crafted an old Native American game that many tribes played together.  I have the instructions at the bottom if you would like to make a set of  this game on your own.

BOOK DESCRIPTIONS 

I am Sacagawea

Sacagawea, the only Native American included in Lewis and Clark's historic expedition, joins the inspiring list of heroes whose stories are told in this New York Times Bestselling biography series.

Sacagawea was the only girl, and the only Native American, to join Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery, which explored the United States from the Mississippi River all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the early 1800s. As a translator, she helped the team communicate with members of the Shoshone tribe across the continent, carrying her child on her back the whole way. By the time the expedition arrived at the west coast, Sacagawea had proved that she truly was a trailblazer.
 

This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great--the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos.

AUTHOR BIO: 

Brad Meltzer is the New York Times bestselling author of Heroes for My Son, Heroes for My Daughter, and a number of suspense novels like The Escape Artist. He is also the host of the History Channel television shows Brad Meltzer's Decoded and Brad Meltzer's Lost History (in which he helped find the missing 9/11 flag). He lives in Florida with his wife and their three children.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO

Christopher Eliopoulos began his illustration career at Marvel Comics, and has worked on thousands of comics, including Cosmic Commandos, Monster Mayhem (Fall 2018), Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, Pet Avengers, and Cow Boy, all of which he wrote and illustrated. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and their identical twin sons (when the boys are home from college).

There are many ways to play this game...here is only one of them.  I have heard it called the game of sticks, sticks and stones and the stick game.

To play, you will need six sticks and 10 of something to use as counters.  We used Popsicle sticks and pinto beans.  You can use rocks, coins, cotton balls, whatever you have around.  Decorate one side of each stick, leaving the other side blank.  We picked fall colors and made a bunch of patterns.

 

OK, the game is very simple.  The game is best with only 2 players, but it could be more.  The 1st player picks up all the sticks and holds them vertically in one hand, about 3-4 inches above the ground, then drops them.  If all 6 sticks land with the design-side showing, 1st player takes 3 beans.  If all 6 sticks land with their plain side showing then the player takes only 2 beans.  If  there are 3 sticks with the decorated side showing and 3 with the plain side showing, take 1 bean.  All other combination result in the player earning no beans.  Then you precede with the next player's turn.  He drops the sticks and takes either 3, 2, 1 or 0 beans.  Continue going back and forth and eventually, the common pot of 10 beans will be gone.  When that happens the player who earns beans takes them from the opponent.  The winner is the person who eventually has all 10 beans.  I hope you have as much fun playing this game as we have. 

SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE: I am Jane Goodall

August 27 – Gravity Bread – Review

August 28 – InRandom – Fun Facts about Jane

August 29 – Storymamas – Review

August 30 – Mundie Moms – Fun Facts about Jane

WEEK TWO: I am Sacagawea

September 3 – Four Violet Reviews – Creative Learning Activity

September 4 – Pirates and Pixie Dust – Creative Instagram Picture

September 5 – Mommas Bacon – Fun Facts about Sacagawea

WEEK THREE: I am Neil Armstrong

September 10 – Crafty Moms Share – Fun Facts about Neil Armstrong

September 11 – Books and Giggles – Learning Activity

September 12 – How Useful It Is – Review + Creative Instagram Picture

September 13 – Coquette Maman – Fun Facts about Neil and Space