Early Childhood Education Lessons
These monthly themed lessons reflect the 12-moon traditional calendar of the Snoqualmie Tribal culture. Each month carries significance about the Snoqualmie ancestral lands and the cultural values of the Snoqualmie people and their ancestors. Some months focus on specific animals and others focus on seasonal activities. All lesson plans are helpful in recognizing the observation skills Snoqualmie people use in their traditional homelands.
Each lesson plan has supporting additional resources linked below. All months have SoundCloud playlists for Lushootseed language and Snoqualmie songs listed in the lesson plans.
January. “Good Month”— słali
The “Good Month” is a sacred time signifying the intentions for winter.
External Resources
February. “Frog”—swaq̓waq̓
The “Frog” month signifies the time that frogs begin singing, a mark of their breeding season.
Helpful External Resources
March. “Gusts of Blowing Wind”—pupuhigʷəd
The “Gusts of Blowing Wind” is a time when the windy season is notable.
Helpful External Resources
April. “Time of the Birds Whistling”— pədx̌ʷiwaac
The “Time of the Birds Whistling” is a month when bird songs are abundant.
Helpful External Resources
May. “Time of Digging”—pədč’aʔab
The “Time of Digging” marks the height of the harvesting season for prairie bulbs and roots.
Helpful External Resources
Music
Literacy
- “This is the Earth” swatxʷixʷtxʷəd ti | Puyallup Tribe txʷəlšucid (Video)
- “This is the Earth” swatxʷixʷtxʷəd ti | Puyallup Tribe txʷəlšucid (PDF)
- “It’s Earth Day!” By Mercer Mayer
- “Be Thankful for Trees” by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald
- “We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
June. “Time of salmonberries”— pədstəgʷəd
The “Time of salmonberries” is historically the time when salmonberries are plentiful.
Helpful External Resources
Music
Literacy
July. “Time of blackberries”— pədgʷədbixʷ
The “Time of blackberries” is the time when the native trailing blackberries are ready for gathering.
Helpful External Resources
Music
Literacy
August. “Time of salal berries”—pədt̓aqa
The “Time of salal berries” is the time when native salal berries are ready for gathering.
Helpful External Resources
September. “Time of silver salmon”—pədkʷəxʷic
The “Time of silver salmon” marks the beginning of the spawning season for silver (coho) salmon.
Helpful External Resources
Music
Literacy
October. “Time of elk mating call”—pədxʷič'ib
The “Time of elk mating call” is similar to the “Time of Birds Whistling” because it highlights the auditory observation of animal sounds
Helpful External Resources
Music
- “Deer and Elk Song.” Snoqualmie Tribe
- “Snoqualmie Recognition Song.” Snoqualmie Tribe
- “Harvest Time.”
Literacy
- “qaləxʷ čəɫ – We Gather For Circle.” | Puyallup Tribe txʷəlšucid (Video)
- “qaləxʷ čəɫ – We Gather For Circle.” | Puyallup Tribe txʷəlšucid (PDF)
- “Harvest Time” by Cynthis Platt
- “Sophie’s Squash” by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf
- “Snoqualmie Tribe Creation Story told by Tribal Elder Ron Enick.”
November. “Time of dog salmon/chum”—pədƛ'xʷayʔ
The “Time of dog salmon/chum” is the time when dog salmon (chum) are noticeably spawning in the Snoqualmie River.
Helpful External Resources
Music
- “Salmon Song.” Puyallup Tribe
- “Snoqualmie Recognition Song.” Snoqualmie Tribe
- “One World (We Are One).”
Literacy
- “ʔəsk’ʷədiidəxʷ čəɫ – We Are Grateful.” | Puyallup Tribe txʷəlšucid (Video)
- “ʔəsk’ʷədiidəxʷ čəɫ – We Are Grateful.” | Puyallup Tribe txʷəlšucid (PDF)
- “We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga” by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac
- “Pacific Northwest Art: Coloring Pages for Kids and Kids at Heart” by Hands-on Art History
December. “Sheath your paddles”— səxʷšic̓əlwaʔs
The “Sheath your paddles” is the month that signals the Snoqualmie cultural value to put canoe paddles away and prepare for winter.