Description

Who were the first Americans? This integrated unit on Native Americans encourages students to read informational texts to become experts on Native American culture groups from different regions and times. The unit utilizes small group work and activity centers to promote understanding of the artwork of various Native American culture groups and how the climate, location, and physical surroundings of culture group regions affected each group’s way of life. Students will learn good speaking skills to help them speak to inform and express ideas about Native Americans.

Duration

The planned duration of this activity is 14 days.

Lesson Plans

Who Were the First Americans?
This lesson is the beginning lesson of the unit Native Americans. Students will view an introductory PowerPoint presentation about Native Americans. They will then discuss the physical surroundings and climate of the region they live in.

Express Yourself
This language arts lesson is for Days 9-10 of the unit Native Americans. Students will practice speaking to a small group about their favorite part of a Native American tale. Peer partners will assess each other’s performances.

Different Tribes, Different Times
This lesson plan is for Day 10 of the unit Native Americans. Students will be actively involved in center activities utilizing informational texts to focus more in depth on Native American culture groups from different regions and times.

Indians of the Plains
This lesson is for Day 11 of the unit Native Americans. The students will learn about the physical surroundings and climate of the Plains region and how they affected the lives of the Plains Indians. Students work in centers to create related projects.

The Seminoles
This lesson is for Day 12 of the unit Native Americans. The students will work in centers to learn about the physical surroundings and climate of the Southeast Woodlands region and how they affected the lives of the Seminoles.

Artfully Speaking
This language arts lesson is for Day 12 of the unit Native Americans. It is to be done after The Seminoles lesson plan on the same day. Students will complete a My Favorite Artwork form and use it to practice speaking to small groups.

Expert Review
This lesson is for Day 13 of the unit Native Americans. Students will review both social studies and language arts unit concepts.

Speak Up
This language arts lesson is for Day 2 of the unit Native Americans. Students will watch two fifth grade students role-playing an effective and an ineffective speaker. They will then brainstorm and discuss qualities of an effective speaker.

Where, Oh Where
This lesson is for Day 3 of the unit Native Americans. It focuses on using informational texts to locate different Native American culture group regions.

Direct Express
This language arts lesson is for Day 3 of the unit Native Americans. Students will explore speaking for different purposes (i.e., to inform, to express ideas, and to entertain).

A-maizing Facts
This lesson is for Day 4 of the unit Native Americans. It focuses on using informational text to locate the Northeast Woodlands region and understanding how the climate, location, and physical surroundings of the region affected the way of life.

Simply Speaking
This language arts lesson is for Day 4 of the unit Native Americans. Students will review criteria of effective speaking and practice using speaking skills in center activities.

Be An Expert
This lesson is for Days 5-7 of the unit Native Americans. Students will read informational texts to become “experts” on a Native American culture group. They will record notes and make a project to inform the class about their culture group.

Practice Makes Perfect
This language arts lesson is for Days 6-7 of the unit Native Americans. Students will practice speaking for large group settings.

The Matrix
This lesson is for Day 8 of the unit Native Americans. Students will read the class matrix and review by making comparisons of Native American culture groups from different regions and times to determine ways they were alike and different.