Native Americans and Their Homes: Forests, Deserts, Plans and Woodlands Teacher's Page

Summary: Students will complete a webquest, The First Americans, in which they will work in teams to complete specific tasks while researching the geographical locations and adaptations of assigned Native American tribes.  This project will culminate in group presentations that utilize verbal, written, and musical and/or artistic talents. Topics:  United States History and Geography: Making a New Nation Print Materials Needed: A History of Us: The First Americans, Prehistory - 1600, Book 1, by Joy Hakim. America Will Be, Houghton Mifflin Social Studies textbook. Standards Addressed Title: United States History and Geography: Making a New Nation 5.1 Students describe the major pre-Columbian settlements, including the cliff dwellers and pueblo people of the desert Southwest, the American Indians of the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi River.                 1. Describe how geography and climate influenced the way various                 nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment, including                 locations of villages, the distinct structures that they built, and how they                 obtained food, clothing, toools, and utensils.                 2. Describe their varied customs and folklore traditions.                 3. Explain their varied economies and systems of government. Title: Information Literacy Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively. Standard 3: The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively. Standard 6: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and strives for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation. Standard 8: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology. Standard 9: The student who contributes positively to the learningcommunity and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information. Understandings:                1. Students will understand that the geography, resources and climate of                a region affect the culture, economy, lifestyle, customs and folklore of                its inhabitants.                2. Pre-Columbian America was settled by native peoples who had                developed increasingly sophisticated, unique civilizations.                3. Students will understand that there was great diversity among                American Indian groups.                4. Students will understand that Native American cultures (i.e., customs,                beliefs, arts) reflected their spiritual relationships with Earth and nature. Essential Questions:                1. How do we know the truth about things that happened long ago?                2. How did geography, climate and natural resources affect the way                American Indian groups met their basic needs and influence their                cultures (i.e., customs, beliefs, arts)?                3. How did Native Americans' relationship with Earth and nature differ                from the Europeans' relationship with Earth and nature?   Knowledge and Skills:                Students will be able to describe the adaptations of the Anasazi, Kwakiutl, Pueblo, Cherokee,                                  and Iroquois tribes in terms of:                1. geography and climate                2. location of villages                3. tools and utensils                4. structure of homes                5. clothing                6. food                7. customs and folklore traditions                8. economy                9. systems of government Acceptable Evidence Performance Task:   WebQuest--The First Americans              During the course of this webquest, students will work in 5 teams (5 students each)                  representing Native Americans of the:             1) Ancient Civilizations--Cliff Dwellers (Anasazi) and Mound Builders,              2) Pacific Northwest (Kwakiutl),                3) Southwest (Pueblo),              4) Great Plains (Cherokee) and                5) Northeast Woodlands (Iroquois).                Students from each team will assume certain roles and complete assigned research topics:              1) anthropologist--research food, clothing, and artwork                2) geographer--location of villages, geography, resources and climate              3) historian--customs, folklore, and spiritual relationships with Earth and nature              4) archaeologist--tools, utensils, weapons, and structure of homes             5) political scientist--economy and systems of government              Each team will share their research with the class in the form of:              1) oral reports              2) diorama              3) artwork              4) music                5) charts              6) maps Rubric Product Check:    Flipbooks--Geography & Lifestyle               Each student will create a flipbook that lists the four regions studied and                 describes the adaptations of the Native Americans living there:                 1. geography and climate                 2. location of villages                 3. tools and utensils                 4. structure of homes                 5. clothing                 6. food                 7. customs and folklore traditions                 8. economy                 9. systems of government Rubric Overall Effectiveness of this Unit                    The overall project will be successful if:                    1. All students are engaged in planning, creating and completing their projects.                    2. Final student products reflect the objectives                    3. Students can articulate what they have learned to others.