The preface provides insight into how some traditional Native American cultures perceive and relate to the world of night. In chapters two to six, stories are used as introductions to 28 hands-on activities. In some cases the activities follow directly from the stories, while in others stories are stepping stones that lead into the activities in more general ways. Each story is followed by a section that summarizes the story and a discussion section that provides background information on the topics it introduces. Discussion questions bridge the stories and activities.
Chapters end with suggestions for extending the experience.
Activities focus on one or more of the following four areas sensory awareness of Earth, understanding the Earth, caring for Earth, and caring for people. Each activity begins with a title and a brief description of what the children will do during the activity. Broad educational goals are also included. Many activities can be adapted for use with children ages thirteen to fifteen. Detailed procedures and a list of materials are provided for each activity.