Native Americans Unit Study Submitted by JoAnn S.
GradeRange: 3rd - 9th
Library List:
Read aloud:
Book of Indians by Holling C. Holling (specific events)
Blackfeet Indian Stories by George Bird Grinnell (literature)
The Buffalo and the Indians: a Shared Destiny by Dorothy Hinshaw (culture)
Sitting Bull by Connie Roop (biography)
Wigwam and the Longhouse by David Yue (culture)
Geronimo by Joseph Bruchac
3rd -6th grade:
If You Lived With the Hopi by Anne Kamma (culture)
The Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz (biography)
Om-Kas-toe of the Blackfeet by Kenneth Thomasma (historical fiction)
Native Americans Village Life, Daily Activities, Arts & Crafts (culture)
Hidden Roots by Joseph Bruchac
7th-9th grade:
Squanto by Feenie Ziner (biography)
Indians by Edwin Tunis (culture)
Crazy Horse by Judith St. George (biography)
Indian Captive by Lois Lenski (historical fiction)
Mean Spirit by Linda HoganMovies:
(I recommend viewing yourself before letting your child watch to make sure the movies meet your standards; some are rated R for violence.)In Search of History - Navajo Code Talkers - The History Channel(1998)
Geronimo: An American Legend
The Last of the Mohicans
Windtalkers
Dances with Wolves
This lesson on Native Americans is just a general beginning to the
history and lives of the Native Americans. I made this lesson to give
my boys a general understanding of the Native American's way of life
and the things they have endured. It is by no means a complete study.
As we study more of American history the boys will learn about other
events that involved the Native Americans but for now I wanted them
to have a lesson that concentrated solely on these great people and
their heritage.
Vocabulary: treaty, natives, wigwam, moccasins, papoose, buffalo,
Hogan, teepee, compromise, wampum, ceremony, clan, tribe, prairie, myth,
legend, surrender, reservation, warrior, squaw, guide, interpreter,
symbol, confinement, uprising,
People:
1. Osceola
2. Tecumseh
3. American Horse
4. Crazy Horse
5. Red Jacket
6. Pontiac
7. Hiawatha
8. Washakie
9. The Bat
10. Red Cloud
11. Red Eagle
12. Cochise
13. Powhatan
14. Major Ridge
15. John Ross
Record what tribe they were from, death and birth if you can find it.
Their role in history and any interesting facts you find about them.
Biographies:
1. Sequoyah
2. Sacagawea
3. Geronimo
4. Chief Joseph
5. Pocahontas
6. Squanto
7. Sitting Bull
Fill in the biography paper for each person. Make sure to record any
thoughts or impressions you have about their role in history or their
character. What can we learn from them? How
to write a biography *grammar/writing
Events:
1. Treaty of Hopewell
2. The Revolt of the Young Chiefs
3. Creek War
4. Indian Removal Act of 1830
5. Wounded Knee Massacre
6. Red River War
7. Ute Wars
8. The Rogue River Treaty
9. Old Northwest Warfare
10. Starved Rock
11. The Great Giveaway of 1889
Record the date, location, outcome of these events. Also note the causes
of these events. There are a lot more events in Native American History,
see how many more you can find out about. Make sure to record your thoughts
about these events. (History is not worth studying if we don't learn
lessons from it)
Here is a list of other links that may be useful in filling out your
notebook.
Native American vocabulary
Vocabulary
quiz
Brief
history of the Indian nations
American
Indian history
Native
American languages
Native
American lore
Navajo
code talkers
Learn
about Sequoyah
Major
Ridge
Indian
Wars timetable
Treaties
by tribe name
Several
links to use about Native American History
Clickable
map of Native American tribes
Ongoing activities: timeline, notebook pages, and vocabulary
Here is some writing
paper that I thought would be good for the notebooks.
More
writing paper
Week 1:
Read aloud: Book of Indians
Kids read: Indians, Native Americans
Movie: The Last of the Mohicans
Activities:
Make a map of the Native American Tribes. *geography
Pick a Native American tribe and find out the type of home they had.
Make a model of the home. Be creative with your choice of materials.
Also keep it small because we will use it in a diorama in a later activity.
*art
Word
search * critical thinking
Comparing
tribes Venn diagram
Week 2:
Read aloud: Sitting Bull
Kids read: Om-Kas-toe of the Blackfeet, Indian Captive
Movie: Dances with Wolves
Activities:
Make
a cornhusk doll
Native Americans use plants for many things among these are medicine.
Your task is to find samples of as many of these plants as you can during
a nature walk. You will then put the samples in your plant journal and
record information about each plant in your journal. Make sure to record
its scientific name, common name, location it was found, a description
of the plant, and the use of the plant. You may not be able to locate
many plants in your area so an alternative would be to locate photos
of these plants and record where it grows. *science connection (this
project should be done over the span of the study)
For this project you will need to make a plant journal, a list of plants
used by Native Americans for healing, plastic bags, glue, pens
On this site you can find a list
of plants they used and for what illness.
Week 3:
Read aloud: Blackfeet Indian Stories
Boys read: Double Life of Pocahontas, Squanto
Movie: Geronimo: An American Legend
Activities:
Ball
and triangle game I found on a website that I thought would be a
simple craft to imitate.
Or you could try one of these games
Word
search *critical thinking
Find the census
record for Native Americans in 1980 and 1990. What tribe has the
largest population? Which has the least? What is the difference between
these 2 populations? Look at the top 10 populations. Was there an increase
or decrease in population in the 10 years? *math
Week 4:
Read Aloud: The Buffalo and the Indians: a Shared Destiny
Kids read: If You Lived With the Hopi, Crazy Horse
Movie: The History Channel Navajo Code Talkers
Activities:
Use the links below to come up with a secret message to give a friend.
Make sure to give your friend the secret code so they can read the message.
Then have your friend write you back using the code.
Navajo
code talkers' fact sheet
Code
Talkers
Native Americans use to tell stories by painting pictures on buffalo
hides. Use the link below to find out about buffalo hide paintings.
Then make one of your own. You could use a brown paper bag for the buffalo
hide. Crumple it up and flatten it several times to give it more of
a leather look. *art
What story does it tell? A
buffalo hide painting
Week 5 & 6: Finishing up
Read aloud: Wigwam and the Longhouse
Kids read: Mean spirit, Hidden Roots
Movie: Windtalkers
Activities:
Words
in English with Native American roots
Can you think of other ways the Native American culture has influenced
our culture? List them in your notebook.
Make a dream
catcher
I bought a weaving loom set so they could practice some weaving.
Use self hardening clay to make some arrow heads.
Make a diorama of the way an Indian village would have looked. Use the
Indian home you made earlier to use in it.
To finish up this unit make some Indian recipes to serve to your family
and give a presentation of what you have learn.
Native
American recipes
More
Native American recipes
Native
American recipes