From Iroquois to Inuit: A Native American Journey

Unit Overview

 In this unit, the Internet and Microsoft Word are used to integrate language arts, fine arts and social studies. Fifth grade students typically study the history of the United States including the major pre-Columbian settlements of Native Americans. They also develop Internet research skills and write research papers. In this unit, students select one of the five major Native American groups. They work in pairs and use the Internet to research the tribes of that group and their way of life. The participants produce a picture book project using Microsoft Word to present the information they obtained. The first lesson has the students visiting some of the Native American sites and taking notes. Next the students interview each other for the authors' page of the book. In the third lesson the participants research Petroglyphs using the Internet and create their own Petroglyphs. Students write and assemble their books and read them to their kindergarten buddies in the fourth lesson. Worksheets and how-to handouts are included in the unit.

Assessment: 

Students are evaluated on their participation in classroom discussions, their completed worksheets, and their completed books. A rubric for the books is included.

Standards:

United States History and Geography:

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.

Establish a topic, important ideas, or events in sequences or chronological order

Create simple documents using electronic media and employing organizational features (e.g., passwords, entry and pull-down menus, word searches, the thesaurus, spell checks).

3.0 Historical and Cultural Context
3.2 Identify and describe various fine, traditional, and folk arts from historical periods worldwide.

What You Need: 

Internet access, application software and various art materials

Estimated number of class periods for students to complete this project: 11

Software or Materials Used: 

Computers for every pair of students with access to the Internet and ability to print are required. Microsoft Word or another word processing program is needed to create the books. If the team members work at separate computers or some work is done at home, disks will be needed to save documents. The art supplies for the Petroglyphs are readily available (bleach, cotton swabs and construction paper).

Keywords: American History, Native Americans, Petroglyphs

The Students

The students in my class are fifth graders and more than half are English language learners. We have a computer lab at school of 34 laptops (ibooks). Most of the students had limited experience on the Internet and very little practice using a word processing program.

Overall Value

One of this unit's best features is that it combines required curriculum (social studies, language arts, fine arts and technology) into one project. Students learn about Native Americans, how to do research on the Internet and how to create word processing projects. My class particularly enjoyed making their own Petroglyphs. Knowing that they were creating a book for their little buddies kept the students motivated.

Details

Subject Area: Social Studies

Second Area: Language Arts

Starting Grade Level: Third

Ending Grade Level: Sixth

Tips for the Teacher

The Internet research is the most difficult for the students, especially for English language learners. Be sure to model how to navigate the sites and discuss what information is relevant. I found that it is easier to have both students work on one computer together while researching so they can help each other. My students also had problems summarizing the information they gathered into their own words. You may need to help the teams divide the tasks when they are designing and writing their books.

 mmcintyre@cusd.net

Martha McIntyre is a teacher at Aliso Elementary School in Carpinteria, California. She is currently teaching all subjects to 32 fifth graders. Martha has taught in the Carpinteria Unified School District for twenty-six years, eleven as a special education teacher. She has previously been a Santa Barbara County CTAP Technology Mentor and teaches technology through the local adult education program.