Spring 2026 Literacy On Demand: Bud Finds Her Gift

Bud Finds Her Gift

By Robin Wall Zimmer, Illustrated by Naoko Stoop
NEP Spring 2026 Literacy On-Demand
For PreK–5th Grade Students
March 20, 2026
Featured Book: Bud Finds Her Gift by Robin Wall Zimmer, illustrated by Naoko Stoop

Dear Families,
We invite you to enjoy the book Bud Finds Her Gift and complete one or more family activities connected to its themes. Each student should have received a literacy packet from the Native Education Program, including the book.

If you did not receive a packet, please contact Tara Thorsgard by email at thorsgard_tara@salemkeizer.k12.or.us to sign up.

1. Story Reflection and Discussion

What to do:

• Read or watch Bud Finds Her Gift together.
• Discuss:
  • Bud notices that all the people in her life have important things to do. What are the important things that you notice the people in your life doing/
  • Nokomis invites Bud to do something important early one morning. Why does Nokomis think saying thank-you for the gifts of the Earth is important?
  • How do you show your thanks, your gratitude, for the gifts of the Earth?
  • Bud notices how everything needs everything else to live. What connections does she notice? What connections do you notice in your schoolyard, backyard, and community?
  • What advice does Nokomis offer Bud to help her find her gift?

2. Nature Map

What to do:

• Use the Nature Map activity sheet to notice what is happening around you. What are the gifts from Nature that you find?

3. Use the Seven Teachings form included in your packet

What to do:

• Each family member chooses 1–2 of the Seven Grandfather Teachers that guide people to live a good life.
  • Think about the teaching that you have and write examples from the story in each box.

4. Plant Journal

• As a family plant the seeds included in the book kit.
• Keep a plant journal documenting your plant's growth. Use the plant journal packet included in your kit.

5. Create a Poem

In the story, all the gift-givers recite a poem to share what they have to offer. The first two lines are the same, “Everyone, from the day of their birth, was given a gift to share with the Earth.”

What to do:

• Each family member uses the first two lines of poetry that was used in the feature book and completes the poem by adding the final 2-lines to the poem with the gift(s) that you bring.
• Share your family poems with Shelby Maerz from the Native Education Program. Email to maerz_shelby@salkeiz.k12.or.us
• By sharing your poem, you are giving Salem-Keizer Public Schools permission to use your student’s first name and grade on social media, websites, etc. with the poem to promote the Native Education Program and or more literacy-on-demand events.

Please Take Our Survey

Thank you for participating and sharing your winter experiences with us! Literacy on Demand activities are grant funded. To help us continue receiving this funding, please answer the questions in the survey as evidence that your family received the materials.

Take Our Survey on Google Docs