Bighorn Bulletin

Seventh Graders Bring Native American Cultures to Life Through Dioramas

Seventh-grade students recently brought history to life through a creative hands-on project exploring the diverse cultures and traditions of Native American tribes from across the United States.

As part of their studies, students selected a Native American tribe to research and then created detailed dioramas representing what life was like for that particular group. Each project provided a glimpse into the environment where the tribe lived and the ways its people adapted to and interacted with their surroundings.

Students included important details and created representations of things such as the types of shelters their chosen tribes built, how they hunted and gathered or otherwise obtained food, and the methods of transportation they used. Dioramas also featured unique cultural traditions, objects, and other interesting facts that helped tell the story of each tribe.

The projects demonstrated the diversity of Native American cultures. From the landscapes they called home to the resources they relied on and the traditions they developed, each tribe had its own distinct way of life.

Through research and by creating their projects, seventh graders were able to look beyond the pages of a textbook and develop a deeper understanding of the many Native American communities that have shaped the history and culture of the United States.

Senior Spotlight: Danielle Fenton

Danielle Fenton started her time at Oasis Academy in eighth grade. Over the years, she has grown as a student, athlete, FFA member, and friend while making memories and building relationships that she will carry with her long after graduation. 

“I started at Oasis when I was in 8th grade, so I have spent a lot of important years here,” she said. “My time at Oasis has been great, and I am grateful for all the memories, experiences, and people who have been part of it.”

During her time at Oasis, she has been involved in a variety of activities. She has played volleyball since her freshman year, competing on JV her freshman and sophomore years before moving to varsity in her junior and senior years. She earned her varsity letter last year.

She has also been an active member of FFA since her freshman year, competing at the state convention in Floriculture during both her sophomore and junior years. She participated in Student Council as a freshman.

Fenton has also excelled academically, being named to the Western Nevada College dean’s list in both fall 2025 and spring 2026.

One of her favorite Oasis memories came from supporting her classmates at school sporting events. 

“One of my favorite memories would be cheering in the student section at Pack the Stands basketball games,” she said.

Academically, math stood out as her favorite subject. 

“My favorite class was math because it just came easy for me, and I just enjoyed math,” she said.

She credits counselor Andy Lenon as an important mentor during her time at Oasis. 

“I would like to thank Mr. Lenon for always being supportive and encouraging throughout my time at Oasis,” she said. “He has helped me grow as a student and has always been someone I am comfortable going to when I need help.”

As she looks toward the next chapter, she encourages younger students to make the most of their time at Oasis. 

“Enjoy your time at Oasis and take advantage of the opportunities you are given,” she advised. “Don’t be afraid to try new things, get involved, and ask for help when you need it. Most importantly, don’t stress too much about the future because everything will work out.”

Following high school graduation, she plans to remain at Western Nevada College to complete her Associate of Science degree before potentially transferring to another college for nursing school. 

Fourth Graders Bring Their Writing to Life 

Fourth-grade students at Oasis Academy are strengthening their writing skills by learning how to take an ordinary event and turn it into a vivid story their readers can picture.

As part of their writing practice, students were challenged to include more than just the facts. Their prompt encouraged them to describe their feelings and thoughts about meeting someone for the first time. They needed to include details that would help their audience imagine exactly what happened.

Students practiced using descriptive details to make their writing more engaging and meaningful. Rather than simply telling readers what happened, they worked on showing what the experience looked, felt, and sounded like from their perspective.

This activity gave students an opportunity to think like authors, considering what details would help their readers feel as though they were right there experiencing the event with them. By combining personal thoughts and feelings with strong descriptive details, fourth graders are learning how thoughtful writing can bring a story to life.

Photo below:   Fourth grader Chasey Doud read aloud during a classroom writing exercise.