Big Idea:

Key Understandings:

During this period of time, these people had no grocery stores, shopping malls, and did little or no trading amongst tribes.

Anything they needed for survival had to come from nature. They had to take the natural resource and make it useful.

The geography and climate where they lived determined the plants & animals available to them. It also determined what they needed to survive. Different geographic regions had different survival needs.

As you explore this WebQuest, you will learn about the native peoples of this continent, how they lived in harmony with their environment and how their environment provided for them.

Task

You and your team members are a working for the Loma Prieta Natural History Museum. As part of its research department, you will need to design and build an exibit to teach others of the lives of the people of the region to which you have been assigned. Your exibit needs to show the native peoples in their environment and show how they used the elements from the environment in their daily lives. You will need to show how they used the technology of the times: tools, transportation, weapons, and how they derived the natural resource from which they created them, be it plant or animal. Include the roles of the people. As a team, you will need to divide up the jobs. Your team consists of an architechure specialist, a foods specialist, a clothing specialist and a specialist in their customs and beliefs.

You will also be required to write a six paragraph research report on how the people of your region used the natural resources of their environment in their daily lives.

Job Descriptions:

· Architecture: Research Recording Sheet

Group: You are also the job coordinator. You will need to assist your team on the exibit’s construction, as well as make sure all members are participating and have what they need to complete their other part of the job.

Individual: Your research needs to include: family dwelings, communal buildings, religious or ceremonial buildings, food prep and storage, and any other important structures. If they used boats, you will need to include that in your research.

· Clothing: Research Recording Sheet

Group: You will be responsible for checking all the labeling on your group's displays; spelling, grammar and attractiveness.

Individual: You also need to research and prepare the parts of your group's exiblit on the clothing worn by men, women, children, seasonal differences, ceremonial, leaders', body adornments and jewlery. How were the pieces made, and what were they made of? What tools were used, how did they make them, and from what natural resource?

· Food: Research Recording Sheet

Group: You will design the arrangement of your exibit, where each "artifact" will be placed.

Individual: You will research how they obtained the food: hunting, fishing, gathering, farming. Include the sources plant and animal. What were the methods used to prepare the food? Which roles were performed by men and which by the women? What role did children play? What were the tools they used, and how did they make the tools?

· Customs & Beliefs Specialist: Research Recording Sheet

Group: You will create a PowerPoint presentation to run along side the museum display. It can be to highlight music from your region, storytelling, and visuals.

Individual: Your research should include: music, dance, religion, mythology, and possibly games.

Everyone is required to be a part of the brainstorming system and contribute ideas to each part of the entire project effort. You are specifically responsible for researching the topic you will choose.

Task Analysis:
1. Research your topic within your region.

2. Brainstorm the components of the museum display.

3. Sketch ideas for your part of the display.

4. Decide what you will display and whether it will be 2D or 3D.

5.Prepare the exibit and the label to desribe what it is, how it was created, what it is made from, and what it is used for.

6. Prepare a PowerPoint presentation for the exibit.

7.Build the exibit.

8. Prepare your presentation of the exibit.

9. Write your research report.

10. Fill out the self & group evaluation forms.

Your social studies book is loaded with appropriate information- START THERE!

We have a wealth of grade-level appropriate books in the classroom.

Websites:

Native American Facts for Kids

Chart about NA Facts

Free PowerPoint Presentations with information about the regions

This site is very comprehensive and appropriate for your grade level.

Citing WWW Resources

Process

Evaluation