California State Assembly Bill AB 1953 provides

California State Assembly Bill AB 1953 provides "that the 4th Friday in September shall be a holiday in this state to be referred to as "Native American Day." The bill would authorize public school and community college governing boards pursuant to memoranda of understanding to provide that the 4th Friday in September shall be a holiday known as "Native American Day," and would authorize exercises, funded through existing resources, to be conducted in all schools respecting that day. This bill would authorize the State Board of Education to adopt a model curriculum guide related to "Native American Day."

FOUR DIRECTIONS INSTITUTE has developed a course for 3rd and 4th grade teachers pursuant to the goals of AB 1953. Student (teachers) successfully completing this combined on-line course and in-person seminar will have a knowledge of California Indian history, geography, cultures, and literatures and access to resources adequate to teach third and fourth grade students. This course will satisfy the prescribed parameters of the State of California utilizing seminar resources and kits provided by the seminar along with the pedagogical tools of foundation, conception, immersion, and invention.

On-line course begins as early as: September 1, 2000. Register on-line, by mail, or at any of the seminars.

Seminar 1	December 9	Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga
Seminar 2	January 27	Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga
Seminar 3	February 24	San Francisco State University, San Francisco

2 units (quarter basis) available through UC Riverside, Extension (Note: Students may participate in the seminar for a certificate of completion but no college credit).

For further information, e-mail classes@fourdir.com

The tribes of California west of the Sierra and Mojave Desert were distinctly Californian. Their primary food source was acorns. They used clapper sticks for music. They had property lines and were peaceful hunter/gatherers. These elements distinguished these residents of the California Pacific slope from nearly all other Native American cultures in North America.

Within the California Indian cultures themselves were traits that distinguished them from each other. Three such zones, or macro-cultures, existed on the Pacific slope, and two others, not distinctly Californian, existed to the east.

Distinguishing factors among the Californian tribes included the stories, marriage practices, houses, ceremonies, rites of passage, shamanistic practices, and taboos.

Stories:

Make the stories come alive for students with pictures to color and Island of the Blue Dolphins presented in storytelling form as a play that students can act out. Students will learn about Native American oral and written literatures.

Geography:

Teach California Indian geography with maps that students can color, maps like the one above, maps of language boundaries, and maps that will help students find where they live and the tribe that originally inhabited that same location.

History:

Teach the whole picture of California Indian history and/or history of the specific tribes selected in a form that students can understand. Have on-line access to any data that you may require.

Culture:

Stereotyping:	Help students to learn the differences between the Indians of California and the other Indians of North America.
Music:	Show students how to make clapper sticks and teach them California Indian songs.
Games:	Teach students the games that were favorites of the California Indian children.
Foods:	Introduce students to the foods of California Indians.
Dress:	Make the clothes of the California Indians with construction paper.

California Indian History and Cultures: An On-Line and In-Class Adventure requires approximately 20 hours to complete (4 hours reading, 8 hours on-line, and 8 hours in a fun and rewarding one day seminar). Instructors will receive a student workbook, which includes a test bank, and pictures and maps for students to color. This will be a hands-on learning experience.