The Birchbark House, by Louise Erdrich, describes a year in the life of Omakayas, a Ojibwa girl living on Moningwanaykaning, an island in Lake Superior. Engage students with premade activities and lesson plan ideas with Storyboard That!
"It was difficult for Omakayas to understand all that had happened. Why Neewo was gone, though at night she imagined that she heard his cries."
"What other story do you know about me?"
Family and tradition are important.
What lessons about life did Omakayas learn?
Laughter and happiness helps cure sadness and loss.
"Although the family did not return with as much rice as they needed, Omakayas and Two Strike Girl became such good friends that, ever after, they called each other sister."
"Ever after that terrible winter, as though he understood from then on how important it was to be funny, Pinch gave laughter to them all."