Thematic Ideas
Common themes in literature about the Navajo culture include
- Living in harmony with both the spiritual and physical universes
- Having a deep reverence for the land
- Directions (north, east, south, west) and the idea of circularity
- Sense of community and family (not necessarily blood relatives)
- Embracing one's history and culture
- Living in conjunction with traditional world (traditional Navajo beliefs) and modern world (2015)
Sample Activities
One of the thematic ideas across more recent Navajo literature is the idea of finding a union between societies- that of the traditional Navajo way, and today’s modern times. Students will read literature that addresses this theme and create a Venn diagram comparing the traditional Navajo world (dress, customs, religion, language, etc.) to the world of 2015. They will create an interactive Venn diagram using LucidChart (https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/examples/venn_diagram_maker) and present their findings in front of the class. Are there overlaps between the two worlds? Can the characters in the books live in the “in between?” Students will analyze these questions as they create their works.
- CCSS ELA RL.4.6 Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
- CCSS ELA RL.4.7 Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or oral presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific descriptions and directions in the text.
- CCSS ELA RI.5.3 Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
- CCSS ELA RI.5.6 Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.
One of the beliefs of Navajo culture that is evident in Navajo literature is the idea of living in harmony with the spiritual and physical universes. Create a multimedia presentation (PowerPoint, Prezi, video, etc.) that displays images of the natural world that will be displayed as you share a book with the class. The images you choose to serve as your backdrop should be representative of the time/place/culture your story takes place in and will help your classmates imagine they are part of the book.
- CCSS ELA RL.5.7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute
to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia
presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
Many Navajo books show a deep reverence for the land because the land is personified in their culture. Using the books as a guide, create and illustrate your own story about the land. How does the author personify nature and the land in the story? Think of the techniques used to describe the land and create similar descriptions in your own book using Story Jumper (https://www.storyjumper.com).
- CCSS ELA RL.5.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
- CCSS ELA RL.5.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.