Not "Indians," Many Tribes: Native American Diversity
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=324
A lesson plan for Grade 3 and 5 English Language Arts and Social Studies
In this unit from the National Endowment for the Humanities and EdSitement, students will heighten their awareness of Native American diversity as they learn about three vastly different Native groups in a game-like activity using archival documents such as vintage photographs, traditional stories, photos of artifacts, and recipes. One factor influencing Native American diversity is environment. This lesson helps students study the interaction between environment and culture.
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
- discuss ways a particular archival document reflects the culture and environment of a Native American group
- list at least three differences among the Native American groups studied that relate to environment
- gather data about a Native group using the Internet, if available
While studying the Abenaki, Hopi, and Kwakiutl, students will use the following questions to guide their inquiry:
- How did geographic location, climate and natural resources influence the diversity of Native American tribes and nations?
- What can we learn about a Native group from archival documents?
- What, if any, generalizations are reasonable to make about Native Americans throughout America?
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 3
- Goal 2: The learner will analyze the multiple roles that individuals perform in families, workplaces, and communities.
- Objective 2.03: Describe similarities and differences among communities in different times and in different places.
- Goal 3: The learner will examine how individuals can initiate change in families, neighborhoods, and communities.
- Objective 3.01: Analyze changes, which have occurred in communities past and present.
- Goal 4: The learner will explain geographic concepts and the relationship between people and geography in real life situations.
- Objective 4.04: Compare how people in different communities adapt to or modify the physical environment to meet their needs.
Grade 5
- Goal 1: The learner will apply key geographic concepts to the United States and other countries of North America.
- Objective 1.02: Analyze how absolute and relative location influence ways of living in the United States and other countries of North America.
- Objective 1.03: Compare and contrast the physical and cultural characteristics of regions within the United States, and other countries of North America.
- Objective 1.05: Explain how and why population distribution differs within and between countries of North America.
- Objective 1.06: Explain how people of the United States and other countries of North America adapt to, modify, and use their physical environment.
- Goal 3: The learner will examine the roles various ethnic groups have played in the development of the United States and its neighboring countries.
- Objective 3.01: Locate and describe people of diverse ethnic and religious cultures, past and present, in the United States.
- Goal 4: The learner will trace key developments in United States history and describe their impact on the land and people of the nation and its neighboring countries.
- Objective 4.02: Explain when, where, why, and how groups of people settled in different regions of the United States.
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 3
- Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
- Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, or viewing by:
- setting a purpose.
- previewing the text.
- making predictions.
- asking questions.
- locating information for specific purposes.
- making connections.
- using story structure and text organization to comprehend.
- Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
- fiction (short stories, novels, fantasies, fairy tales, fables).
- nonfiction (biographies, letters, articles, procedures and instructions, charts, maps).
- poetry (proverbs, riddles, limericks, simple poems).
- drama (skits, plays).
- Objective 2.05: Draw conclusions, make generalizations, and gather support by referencing the text.
- Objective 2.06: Summarize main idea(s) from written or spoken texts using succinct language.
- Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, or viewing by:
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
- present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
- discuss.
- sustain conversation on a topic.
- share information and ideas.
- recount or narrate.
- answer open-ended questions.
- report information on a topic.
- explain own learning.
- Objective 4.04: Use planning strategies (with assistance) to generate topics and to organize ideas (e.g., drawing, mapping, discussing, listing).
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
Grade 5
- Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
- Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, and viewing by:
- making predictions.
- formulating questions.
- supporting answers from textual information, previous experience, and/or other sources.
- drawing on personal, literary, and cultural understandings.
- seeking additional information.
- making connections with previous experiences, information, and ideas.
- Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, such as:
- fiction (tall tales, myths).
- nonfiction (books of true experience, newspaper and magazine articles, schedules).
- poetry (narrative, lyric, and cinquains).
- drama (plays and skits).
- Objective 2.07: Evaluate the usefulness and quality of information and ideas based on purpose, experiences, text(s), and graphics.
- Objective 2.09: Listen actively and critically by:
- asking questions.
- delving deeper into the topic.
- elaborating on the information and ideas presented.
- evaluating information and ideas.
- making inferences and drawing conclusions.
- making judgments.
- Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, and viewing by:
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.05: Integrate main idea and supporting details from multiple sources to expand understanding of texts.
- Objective 3.06: Conduct research (with assistance) from a variety of sources for assigned or self-selected projects (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
- formulate hypotheses.
- evaluate information and ideas.
- present and support arguments.
- influence the thinking of others.
- Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations to inform or persuade selecting vocabulary for impact.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:



