Students walked through a day in the life of a Chumash child and brave.
First, they learned about acorns. Acorns were one of the main food sources for the Chumash. After acorns were picked, then they were mashed with a pestle and mortar into flower. Then the flower was leached to remove toxins and the bitter flavor. Next, the acorn meal would be placed on hot stones to make acorn cakes or cooked into a porridge.
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| Photos by Ms. Tulbure |
Students also learned about hunting and the many uses for the animals the Chumash hunted, including making blankets and mats from their fur, and using them for camouflage during a hunt.
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| Deer hide |
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| Rabbit Fur |
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| Photo by Mrs. Credle |
Next, students listened to Chumash legends. As the Chumash did not have a written language, their stories were passed through generations by word of mouth. The storytelling was experienced in an ap, the Chumash home. Students looked closely at the materials that the ap was constructed from, including alfalfa, tule, and poles for the framework.
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| Ap |
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| Smokehole |
Afterward, students make shell jewelry. Typically, the jewelry would be made from abalone shell. or various other shells, and rope made from the yucca plant.
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| Abalone |
Lastly, the students leaned about various Chumash games. Games included games of luck (such as dice games) and games of skill. Students practiced playing a hoop and spear game to prepare them for hunting.
What was your favorite part about the field trip?
What did you learn that you didn't know about before?
Give step by step directions on how to make the acorn meal or how to build an ap.
