We all use and are affected by scientific principles regardless of our ethnic backgrounds. Similarly, the principles of friction are presented in a straightforward way. But we illustrate friction at work through a cultural perspective. Students learn about Snow Snake, a traditional winter game of speed and accuracy in which a carefully constructed lance is hurled down an icy track over a mile long. A Mohawk elder discusses techniques of smoothing, which reduces friction, and the lesson is reinforced with an interactive, animated game of virtual Snow Snake in which players compare their speed scores.
Answers appear only to the teacher, and student scores are automatically tracked and graded.
Almost everyone who uses the material is surprised by the remarkable accomplishments of Native American people in the sciences, especially those associated with space exploration, medical research, and data-logging for Formula One racing. For most Americans, ignorance about Native American culture is the same at age 50 as it was in grade 5. Native people have always had a hard time finding good educational materials from which to learn about themselves and other indigenous people. It's like looking in a mirror and seeing everybody reflected but yourself. Educators in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, and Canada are looking to Cradleboard as a model for improving race relations in their own countries through education.