Exploring Native American Stories with Alo

Aylo, a ten-year-old Hopi boy, introduces his village and the significance of the Bean Dance Ceremony. He explains the role of cocinos, or spirits, in Hopi culture, emphasizing their importance in nature and as ancestors. Aylo prepares for the ceremony, offering prayers and gifts to the spirits. He will become the Bear Cocino to heal his ill father, highlighting the cultural and spiritual significance of the event.

What did Alo hope to see when he woke up?

• A village covered in snow

• A field ready for planting

• A desert without any life

• A group of Cocinos spirits

What happens if someone calls out Alo's spirit name?

• It will make the ceremony more powerful

• It will bring good luck

• Nothing special will happen

• It will bring bad luck

What is the Bean Dance ceremony for?

• To prepare the earth for planting

• To welcome visitors to the village

• To celebrate the longest day of the year

• To mark the end of winter

What do the villagers ask the spirits for during the Bean Dance ceremony?

• For health and prosperity

• For the gift of rain

• For a good harvest

• For protection from enemies

Who are the Cocinos?

• The ancestors of the village

• Spirits that govern natural elements

• Animals in the surrounding desert

• Visitors from another village

What does the word 'Cocinos' mean?

• Spirit of the desert

• Father of life

• Guardian of the mountains

• Bringer of rain

What does Alo offer to the spirits in preparation for the ceremony?

• Dolls and toys

• Songs and dances

• Water and stones

• Prayer feathers and corn seed

What do the special clothing and masks represent?

• The mountains surrounding the village

• The spirits the villagers become

• The crops grown by the villagers

• The animals of the desert

Who can wear the special Cocino clothing and face masks?

• Only boys and men

• Everyone in the village

• Only the elders

• Only the women and girls

Why is Alo participating in the ceremony?

• To ask for rain

• To play with his siblings

• To become the bear Cocino and heal his father

• To make the Cocino dolls