Grades: Intermediate

Before your visit:

 Brainstorm about the Native American tribes of California. Who are Native Americans? Which tribes are in California? (San Manuel, Cahuilla, Miwok, Chumash, Hupa, Mohave)  Introduce the list of books written on the Tongva/Gabrielino Native Americans

Books about the Tongva/Gabrielino Native Americans:

The Tongva of California (The Library of Native Americans) by Jack S. Williams, Gabrielino (Native Americans (Abdo)) by Barbar A. Gray-Kanatiiosh, The Gabrielino by Bruce W. Miller, Tovangar (World): A Gabrielino Word Book by Anne Galloway

Share these interesting facts about the Tongva/Gabrielino Native American tribe:

1. These tribes were located along the coast of Southern California including, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. 2. They lived on islands of Santa Catalina, San Nicolas, and San Clemente. 3. The tribal name Gabrielino comes from the Mission at San Gabriel, which was built in 1771 by the Spanish. 4. Tongva means “people of the earth” in Tongva language. 5. Villages were built near bays on the coast and near rivers in the inland areas. 6. Those living in coastal villages ate items from the sea including: fish, sea mammals, and sea birds. 7. Those living in inland villages ate acorns, pinon nuts, sage, berries, deer, cacti, birds, snakes, and small rodents. 8. The Tongva met Spanish explorer, Juan Cabrillo, near San Pedro when he explored California in 1542. 9. Several names of cities and passes originated from the Tongva language including: Rancho Cucamonga, Tujunga, Pacoima, Topanga, Azusa, and the Cahuenga Pass.

 Complete a bubble map labeling the important facts about the Tongva/Gabrielino Native American tribe

The FairKids Field Trips are a program of The Learning Centers at Fairplex, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. Grades: Intermediate

During your visit:

 Visit the Tongva/Gabrielino portion of the exhibit. Do you recognize any items that you discussed prior to your visit? Add other interesting facts that you learned from the exhibit to your bubble map.  Tour the exhibit and meet Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl, Mojave Maxine, Seymour Antelope, and the foresters and rangers who take care of our public lands.  Do you see any animals? Observe the porcupines, raccoons, owls, and deer. Which is your favorite animal?  Listen to the storytellers and decide if they are telling the truth or telling a tall tale.  Observe the wild horses or burros in the exhibit.  Were you able to make a souvenir using the crosscut saw like the loggers did in the past?  Learn about the “Leave No Trace” challenge. Are you ready for the “Leave No Trace” challenge?

After your visit:

 Make a flip chart, a diorama, or write a research report about the Tongva/Gabrielino Native American tribe  Write a compare and contrast essay comparing your life today with what it would be like to be a member of the Tongva/Gabrielino Native American tribe. Which life would you prefer and why?  Discuss how important it was that 150 years ago land was protected and the California State Parks and the National Park systems were established.  Discuss the importance of being fire safe.  Create a poster for the “Leave No Trace” challenge illustrating how important it is to be fire safe, how land and forests should be preserved, how important it is to leave forests and nature as they were, and the importance of replenishing plants and trees in our forests.  Write an opinion essay with evidence convincing people to be fire safe. Assign the appropriate number of paragraphs for your grade level.

The FairKids Field Trips are a program of The Learning Centers at Fairplex, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.