Get ready for a real adventure. You are going to be Native America living years ago in Western America. You are entering a pre-historic time so long ago you will be living before your mountain tribe even had horses. (The Europeans have not yet brought them to America!)

14 DAY STRAY

Your tribe has an interesting custom. Youth such as you must go on a one-moon Stray at the time you are leaving childhood. You will want to prove that you are worthy to be an adult in your tribe. To do so, you must act honorable while traveling alone during your fourteen days in the wildness.

TRIBAL LEGENDS

You teacher will be you Village Chief and will present several of your tribe's legends. These stories tell of young men and women who were heroic. They lived lives of honor while they were on their Strays.

MAI ACUMWAA LAND

While on your Strays, you will cross Mai Acumwaa Land, climbing hills and mountains, looking for adventure, and hunting for game. You may choose whether or not to visit neighboring tribes. Fate Cards will also give you other challenges. (In the middle of this Student Guide you can find the Map of MAI ACUMWAA LAND, where your Stray will take place.)

BECOMING AN ADULT

When you finally return to your village, you will use your Daily Log to share what happened to yo on your Stray. The village Chief and the Elders will listen to your story. If you have lived with honor, you will become a tribal adult.

Dear Parents,

In your hand is the Student Guide to HONOR, a historical simulation we are using in your son or daughter's class. We are going to honor the Native American who lived here centuries ago -- even before European brought horse to America. Everyone in class, including me, will become a member of the Mai Acumwaa, an imaginary tribe living in the high desert of the Western Unite States.

For six weeks you child and all other students in the class will have a unique experience. They all will go on a Stray, which is a time alone in the wilderness. There they will attempt to live honorably as they face several challenges. They will struggle to prove to their tribe that they are worthy of being considered adults. Because of the simulation's various options, your students' experience will differ from other students' experiences. How well each student succeed depends upon both work and luck.

I am writing this letter so that you will be ready to help your son or daughter whenever you are asked. The first way you can help is with the Naming Story assignment on the next page. Also look at the map of Mai Acumwaa Land in this Student Guide. You could talk with your student about where he or she might go and what will possible be experienced in these interesting locations, Finally, ask to have the tribe's Three Legends told to you so that you can understand what the Mai Acumwaa believe.

As the teacher of HONOR, I am looking forward to the next days. I believe you will enjoy watching the involvement and the learning this simulation generates.

Sincerely,

The Village Chief