Skip to main content

NC Lumbee Tribe Homecoming: A Comparison of Celebrations and Culture

 

By

Curriculum Level: K-5

By Jennifer Joy, Clyde Erwin Elementary School, Onslow County Schools, North Carolina

OVERVIEW OF LESSON:
Through discussion, students will see that celebrations are a way for communities to share their culture with not only the next generation but with others not of their culture. Students will begin by explaining their personal Fourth of July celebrations and the reasons or purpose behind celebrating this day. Students will then learn about another celebration, Lumbee Homecoming, and compare and contrast it with the Fourth of July celebration. This lesson examines the Indigenous Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s Homecoming to share a different culture.

SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL: Kindergarten

SUBJECTS: Social Studies, English Language Arts

CORRESPONDING NATIONAL AND/OR STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA STANDARDS:

Social Studies:

K.B.1.1 Identify cultural practices in local communities and around the world

K.B.1.2 Compare cultural practices of people in local communities and around the world

ELA:

RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

RL.K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

  • How and why does a community share its culture?
  • What makes a celebration? What is the purpose of a celebration?

LESSON OBJECTIVES:

The student will be able to:

  • express what they do for the July 4th celebration with their family. (clothing worn, food eaten, activities participating in)
  • express what a Lumbee Indian student, of about the same age, (Indigenous tribe of NC) does for the Lumbee Homecoming celebration. (clothing worn, food eaten, activities participated in)
  • compare their 4th of July celebration with Lumbee Homecoming by pointing out similarities and differences between the celebrations.
  • express that celebrations are a way for communities to connect and share their culture.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE EDUCATOR or RESOURCES TO EXPLORE FURTHER:

Thinking Maps for teachers 
A website that explains Thinking Maps and has online editable maps for teachers to use for free.

Red, White, and Boom! by Lee Wardlaw
In the 4th of July themed children’s book, Red, White, and Boom!, the reader will get to see the sights, sounds, and foods that make up a traditional 4th of July celebration. These include a parade, a beach visit, picnics, and fireworks.

4th of July Celebration at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune video showcasing events of 2023 Marines and their families attend the Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune Independence Day celebration on MCB Camp Lejeune. The video includes a fan meet-and-greet with Lauren Alaina and the Plain White T’s, a live concert, two flyovers, and fireworks.

Not Enough Nelsons 
This video follows a family celebrating the 4th of July including breakfast with neighbors, swimming, and a concert.

It’s Lumbee Homecoming y’all! Nakoma’s Favorite Tradition By Leslie Locklear and Christina Pacheco
Join Dr. Leslie Locklear, one of the co-authors, as she shares Nakoma’s story. Nakoma explains Lumbee Homecoming to his friend Spencer, including its sights, food, and activities.

2023 Lumbee Homecoming from the official Lumbee Tribe channel
The celebration shares an exciting parade, powwow, some great food, and the swearing-in of Senior Ms. Lumbee Edith Jones. The festivities continue with the Lumbee Film Festival and fireworks.

SPECIFIC STUDENT STRATEGIES & ACTIVITIES:

Day 1: Building Background and connections to expand on, July 4th

  1. Create a graphic organizer like a circle map to record student words/ideas for 4th of July celebration.
  2. Teacher will use questions before, during, and after reading to elicit student engagement and gauge understanding. (see below)
  3. Read or watch the video Red, White, and Boom! By Lee Wardlaw
  4. Revisit the graphic organizer and see if there are any words/ideas that need to be added to the chart.
  5. Talk about the purpose of the July 4th Chart and an agreed-upon class answer to the purpose of the July 4th celebration.
  6. *Prep sentence starters for tomorrow’s writing. (if completing the writing extension)

Before reading: 

  1. What do you notice on the cover of the book?
  2. What do you notice about these children?
  3. What does celebration mean?

During reading:

  1. What do you notice about the characters and setting in the story?
  2. Point to a picture. Say what you see. What do you think while looking at this picture? Why?
  3. Why does the setting keep changing?

After reading:

  1. What connections can you make from the story?
  2. What is the purpose of July 4th celebrations?
  3. Describe how July 4th celebrations make the community strong.

Sentence Starter Ideas for Writing:

  1. People celebrate the 4th of July by …
  2. My family celebrates the 4th of July by…
  3. I like to _____ on the 4th of July.
  4. The 4th of July is _____ holiday.

Day 1 Extension of Activities: Writing, July 4th

  1. Review chart about the purpose of July 4th
  2. Review words on graphic organizer echo style: teacher points to a word and says the word, students echo the word while the teacher continues to point to the word.
  3. Share sentence starter with students. Demonstrate how to use the sentence starter and graphic organizer to complete sentences about July 4th
  4. Hand out writing paper to students. Have students complete sentence/s before illustrating their writing.

Day 2: Reading comparison, Lumbee Homecoming

  1. Teacher will introduce the Lumbee Tribe. The Lumbee Tribe is a state-recognized Indian tribe found in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland, and Scotland Counties of NC. The Lumbee Tribe is also the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River.  The Tribe takes its name from the Lumber River in Robeson County where the Tribe settled in NC.
  2. Teacher will tell students that they are going to read about a celebration called Lumbee Homecoming that the Lumbee Tribe celebrates in July.
  3. Teacher will use questions before, during, and after reading to elicit student engagement and gage understanding.
  4. Read or watch the video about Lumbee Homecoming It’s Lumbee Homecoming Y’all! Nakoma’s Favorite Tradition By Leslie Locklear and Christina Pacheco
  5. Create a graphic organizer like a circle map to record student words/ideas for Lumbee Homecoming
  6. Talk about the purpose of Lumbee Homecoming. Chart an agreed-upon class answer to the purpose of Lumbee Homecoming.
  7. *Prep sentence starters for tomorrow’s writing. (if completing the writing extension)

Before reading:

  1. What do you notice on the cover of the book?
  2. What do you notice about these children?
  3. What does homecoming mean?

During reading:

  1. What do you notice about the characters and setting in the story?
  2. Point to a picture. Say what you see. Why do you think?
  3. Why are the___?
  4. What does it mean when the author says,___?
  5. How does the author make it clear that the character is excited about the Lumbee Homecoming in the story?
  6. What is happening at the end of the story? Why is this important? Would you like to go to the Lumbee Homecoming?

After reading:

  1. How is Lumbee Homecoming similar to the 4th of July celebration we charted?
  2. What connections can you make from the story?
  3. What is the purpose of the Lumbee Homecoming?
  4. Describe how the Lumbee Homecoming celebration makes its community strong.

Sentence Starter Ideas for Writing:

  1. Lumbee Indians celebrate the Lumbee Homecoming by ____.
  2. My favorite part of Lumbee Homecoming was _____.
  3. I would like to _____ the Lumbee Homecoming.
  4. The Lumbee Homecoming is _____ holiday.

Day 2 Extension of activity: Writing, Lumbee Homecoming

  1. Optional: Watch the video about Lumbee Homecoming to review the celebration.
  2. Review the chart about the purpose of the Lumbee Homecoming celebration.
  3. Review words on graphic organizer echo style: teacher points to a word and says the word, students echo the word while the teacher continues to point to the word.
  4. Share sentence starters with students. Demonstrate how to use the sentence starters and graphic organizer to complete sentences about the Lumbee Homecoming celebration.
  5. Hand out writing paper to students. Have students complete sentence/s before illustrating their writing.

Day 3 Extension of Activity: Share writing

  1. Teacher models sharing writing with the class using sentences from modeled writing.
  2. Allow students to choose which writing piece/or share both pieces by having the student read their writing aloud to the class and show their illustrations.

ASSESSMENTS:

Have students complete a Venn diagram or double bubble map that compares the two celebrations.

Given the following words: watermelon, grape ice cream, parade, fireworks, Independence, powwow, students will write them into the correct area of a Venn diagram.

Variation on Assessment: Use two large hula hoops to create a Venn diagram. Take words from the circle maps created together and write on index cards (one word per card)* or use words from the above written assessment. Then hand out words to students to place on the ‘Venn diagram’.  This can be done together as a class to reinforce what has been learned and to foster a learning community.

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

Have students write about the traditions and culture after discussing the celebration.

Have students create a writing piece that directly compares the two celebrations.

MATERIALS:

  • Chart paper
  • Chart markers
  • Student paper and pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils for illustrating
  • Graphic organizers (Circle Map, Venn Diagram, Double Bubble Map)
  • Sentence starters paper
  • Tangible assessment: 2 hula hoops, index cards

REFERENCES:

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service & Johnson, Z., Cpl. (2023, July 4). 2023 Camp Lejeune Fourth of July Celebration [Video]. https://www.dvidshub.net/. https://www.dvidshub.net/video/889854/b-roll-2023-camp-lejeune-fourth-july-celebration

Locklear, L., Dr. (2021, November 15). “It’s Lumbee homecoming y’all: Nakoma’s greatest tradition” [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/RTbdh5CdUGs?playlist=RTbdh5CdUGs&autoplay=1&iv_load_policy=3&loop=1&start=

Locklear, L., & Pacheco, C. (2020). It’s Lumbee homecoming y’all Nakoma’s Greatest Tradition (R. Dial-Stanley & E. Richardson, Ills.).

Lumbee Tribe. (2023, July 8). Lumbee homecoming 2023 continues with a day full of activities [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl3l9dejWFg

Not Enough Nelsons. (2022, July 7). 4th of July routine! all day party w/ 10 kids!! [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFeYPxiY1lQ

Opinaldo, N. (n.d.). 8 types of thinking maps and free editable templates. Gitmind. Retrieved February 24, 2024, from https://gitmind.com/thinking-maps.html

Red white and boom Independence Day book [Video]. (2018, July 3). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzMp4wjAqTo

World View, a public service program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, equips K-12 and community college educators with global knowledge, best practices and resources to prepare students to engage in our interconnected and diverse world.

Join Our Listserv