Over the next few days, we will be learning about different groups of Native Americans in our country's history so that you can answer the question . . .
How did the environment affect the way different Native Americans lived?
After we do our learning and exploring together, you will be doing some writing and designing a map to answer that question. In your answer, you will . . .
- Describe how the environment affected the way two different Native American groups lived.
- Give at least two examples for each Native American group.
- Design a map that shows how the environment affected their lifestyle.
- Tell what resources you used.
First
We will learn about the different Native American groups together by looking at some maps and thinking about the natural environment where these groups lived.
We will research our first Native American group all together, and I will show you how we will be taking notes using a graphic organizer.
You will get your graphic organizers ready to take more notes.
Second
You will gather information about two Native American groups using your graphic organizers. You will have the chance to join a study group, or you can gather information on your own.
We will share what we have learned with each other, and you can add ideas to your graphic organizers.
Some resources...
- The First Americans, by Wanda Hann (for an overview)
- We The People - Social Studies books (in study groups)
- Learn About Native Americans
- Native American Chart of Living Conditions
Third
We will look very carefully at our notes, and mark them to show how the environment affected the Native Americans' lifestyles.
Fourth
We will get ready to answer the big question! You will highlight the most important information in your notes, and then use it to make a plan for your writing. You will also start designing a map that shares the important information.
Fifth
Time to work on your own . . . writing and map-making. Remember, in your writing and your map you will need to...
- Describe how the environment affected the way two different Native American groups lived.
- Give at least two examples for each Native American group.
- Design a map that shows how the environment affected their lifestyle.
- Tell what resources you used.
Last
You will share what you have written with each other.
For Teachers
Rubric for 3rd Grade Native American Cultures CBA
Relevant Social Studies GLE's
- 3.1 Geography - Understands the physical characteristics, cultural characteristics, and location of places, regions and spatial patterns on the Earth's surface
- Understands the physical, political, and cultural characteristics of places, regions, and people in North America, including the location of the fifty states within the regions of the U.S.
- 3.2.1 Geography - Understands human interaction with the environment
- Understands how the environment affects cultural groups and how cultural groups affect the environment.
- 3.2.2 Geography - Understands the cultural universals of place, time, family life, economics, communication, arts, recreation, food, clothing, shelter, transportation, government, and education.
- 5.2.2 Social Studies Skills - Uses inquiry-based research
- Uses a graphic organizer to organize main ideas and supporting details from visuals and literary, narrative, informational and expository texts.
- 5.3.1 Social Studies Skills - Deliberates a public issue
- Engages in discussions that attempt to answer questions about cultural similarities and differences
- 5.4.1 Social Studies Skills - Creates a product that uses social studies content to support a thesis and presents the product in an appropriate manner to a meaningful audience
- Draws conclusions using at least two clear, specific, and accurate examples in a paper or presentation.
- 5.4.2 Social Studies Skills - Creates a product that uses social studies content to support a thesis and presents the product in an appropriate manner to a meaningful audience
- Prepares a list of resources including the title and author for each source.
Note to Teachers:
- We The People is the Social Studies text book for 5th graders in the Bellingham Schools. While the reading level is challenging, the information it contains regarding the relationship between environment and culture is strong. At Larrabee, we will be doing this portion of the research in study groups, with a teacher supporting a group of students as they read and gather information.
- When "marking notes" to show the relationship between environment and lifestyle, students will be circling notes and drawing lines to connect notes that demonstrate examples of environment affecting lifestyle. For example, a note about large buffalo herds under environment would link to clothing and homes made from buffalo skin under lifestyle.
- When printing the map , click on USA Outline and 1x1 in order to print a blank outline map of the continental US that students can write and draw on to show what they've learned about different cultural groups. The map on A12 in We the People may help students create their maps, but they will also need to create symbols
- This CBA is loosely based on the BSD Online Investigation Where Will You Live?
- For questions or comments, please contact Analisa Ficklin, LMS, Larrabee Elementary.
