Students will have a greater appreciation for a species that is sometimes overlooked and taken for granted. They will learn different meanings and interpretations of bird symbols used by prehistoric Indians, and modern American Indians and Anglo artists.

Grade: 4-6
Group Size: 25-30
Duration: 1-2 hours

Drawing paper, pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, field guides of birds, pictures, photographs or drawings of various symbols.

To the pueblo Indians, birds have special meanings. Birds are messengers to the Sky People. If we were to try and classify them according to Hamilton A. Tyler, we would group birds and place them under two co-existing themes: nature or culture. The themes for nature would be: Sun, Sky, Earth, Rain, Water, Day, Night and the Seasons. The cultural themes would consist of Speech, Hunting, War, Agriculture, Domestic Arts, Puberty, Death, Curing and Purification. The themes overlap with the meaning of the bird and there is never a strict separation of them.

1. Begin this activity with a discussion about communication. How do we as humans communicate? Is there more than one way to communicate a message to someone? Have the students list the different ways of communication they use. Which method do they use most often when communicating?

2. On a piece of paper draw a picture of a bird and hold it up to the students. Ask them what it is. Naturally, if it’s not too cryptic they will respond by saying it is a bird. Ask them how they know that. Do all birds look like the one in your drawings? Discuss the fact that each culture develops symbols that represent different objects. Can they think of any international symbols that would be understood throughout the world? One example might be the no symbol .

3. After showing examples of some petroglyphs and pictures of different symbols that represent birds, distribute the Pueblo bird handout and discuss the different meanings of birds. Are there some birds that the students can think of, not listed on the sheet, that have special meaning?

4. If possible, take the students on a walk outside through a wooded area or somewhere there might be birds. It would be best to do this activity as early in the day as possible. Have the students carry paper and pencils and have them record their observations.

5. Once back from the walk have the students draw pictures of the birds they saw. Discuss the drawings. Discuss why prehistoric Indians drew petroglyphs of birds and what their meaning might be.