Introduction to Native American Project - Making a Plan

Presented by: Janine Henry

Subject Area(s):

K-12: Language Arts
Grades K-4 History

Grade Level(s):

K-2nd Grade
3rd-4th Grade

Description:

Students in grades 2 or 3 are introduced to three Native American tribes and practice the beginning phase of the research process, task definition. By the end of the lesson, students should be able to define their task by answering the questions "What am I supposed to do?" and "What am I supposed to make?"

Goals & Objectives:

Learning Objectives:

To have students learn about the research process through hands on experience.
To gain more knowledge of Native American tribes and homes.

Instructional Goals:

Students will make observations.
Students will be introduced to the project.
Students will begin to make a plan by filling out a KWL chart.
Students will answer the questions – What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to make?

Motivational Goals:

Real life examples of Native American homes will be shown to the students providing them with motivation to want to create their own projects.
Students will generate interest in research.

Materials:

KWL Chart [included in the lesson plan in Supporting Files]

Group/Individual Worksheet [included in the lesson plan in Supporting Files]

Websites:

http://www.omaha.lib.ne.us/transmiss/congress/pueblo.html

http://www.nativeamericans.com/Sioux.htm

http://www.geocities.com/bigorrin/iroquois_kids.htm

http://www.native-languages.org/languages.htm

http://www.nativeamericans.com/

Credits: Magazine ï¿½ Library Media Connection, Mike Eisenberg and Information Power

Procedures:

Introduction – Mini-Lesson

The library media specialist sets up tables with the different tribes and the materials they used to build their houses.
- Table 1 –Iroquois tribe – longhouses and elm bark.
- Table 2 – Sioux tribe – buffalo hide and wooden poles
- Table 3 – Pueblo tribe – clay, sand, and straw
The teacher will arrange the students in groups and brings them to the library.
The teacher and the LMS have the students discuss what they could make with these materials.
Share-Out with class and then introduce students to the project.
Discuss goals for building a Native American House
- I learned about the different materials that Native Americans used to build their homes.
- I learned how the Native Americans built their houses
- I built my own model
- I wrote about my project and what I learned
Group Work/Independent – In groups students complete a KWL chart.
Planning – What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to make?
Assessment – KWL chart and answers to the questions.

Assessment:

KWL Sheet and Worksheet

Supporting Files:

Making_a_Plan_LP.doc
Complete lesson plan including worksheet and KWL chart

Standards:

Information Skills and Subskills (K-16)

Planning

Identifies potential information sources
Creates a general framework for organizing information found
Identifies potential formats for presenting results
Subject: K-12: Language Arts

National Content Standards (K-12)

Writing

Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process

Listening and Speaking

Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes