Native American Cultures Across the U.S.
Students will be able to, compare and contrast how American Indians are represented in today's society with their actual customs, traditions, and way of life, understand that Native Americans are made up of diverse peoples and cultures, describe the historical and present-day locations, houses, clothing, food, and cultural traditions of specific tribes, and learn the geographic regions of the United States that correspond to Native American cultural bands.

Not "Indians," Many Tribes: Native American Diversity
Students will 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, and gather data about a Native group using the Internet, if available.

Native Americans
Students select a Native American nation and research its culture. Students then complete a variety of on-line and off-line activities using the results of their research. All required links are provided for students, and there is a wealth of guidance and resources provided for teacher use.

Native American Acrostic Poems  Students will synthesize the knowledge they have acquired about early Native American tribes by creating and presenting an acrostic poem that incorporates pictures symbolizing important characteristics of the tribes.  In creating the acrostic poems students will utilize a variety of technology including digital cameras, scanners, image editing software and word processing software.  The lesson will culminate in an oral presentation of the poems.

Native American Cultures  The focus for students in this age group is on the values, lifestyles, and cultures of varied Native American groups. Students will practice their reading comprehension, note taking, and writing skills.
 

The Mississippian and Late Prehistoric Period:  A history of the Mississipian culture.

Native Americans: The First Peoples:  Examine the life-styles of Native Americans who lived in the Eastern Woodlands, the Great Plains, the Southwest Desert, the Pacific Northwest, and the Arctic. Witness what happened when the white man arrived with his different cultural beliefs.  United Streaming.

Native America: Culture Issues:  When Europeans arrived in North America, they met thousands of Native American cultures with different ways of looking at the work...  United Streaming.

Pow Wow: A Native American Gathering:  This program provides a look at the world from a Native American perspective. It celebrates diverse cultures and heritages, inviting viewers to a ceremony rich in symbolism and tradition -- the inter-tribal Pow-Wow.  United Streaming.

Native American Folktales:  This intriguing video lesson, replete with music and colorful animation, presents four tales from four different Native-American groups...  United Streaming.

Elementary Video Series: Native Americans:  When European settlers came to North America, it was inhabited by tribes of people with strong cultural traditions and ties to the land. What happened to those people and their customs? Explore the history and cultures of the Cherokees, Venetie, and Nez Perce.  United Streaming.

North America: The People:  The heritage and customs of Native American tribes are explored, along with the immigration history of such groups as Asians, Africans, and people of Hispanic and European ancestry.  United Streaming.

Suggestions for English Language Learners: 
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding)

(E/B, D, E) Students research a Native American tribe in a cooperative group and present the information they learned in a web (filling in information about the tribe's geographic region, natural resources, government, economy, and religion).
(E/B, D, E) Students work in a group or with a partner and compare two Native American tribes (using a Venn diagram) comparing geographic region, natural resources, government, economy, and religion. Give students a word box of content vocabulary to use in their webs (i.e. coast, woodlands, plains).
(E/B, D, E) Students create a diorama of a Native American tribe that reflects the geographic region and natural resources used.

 

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