Get to Know the Real Native Americans

This is a four part lesson that will teach students about Native Americans. Students will research various Native American tribes. Students will discover each tribes habitat, homes, dress, food, customs, tools and art. Students will recreate one or more items used by the studied tribe. Students will plan and take part in a presentation teaching the class about their selected tribe. Students will infer how we now use items or customs that originated from Native Americans.

Preparation

Teacher should display books, photos, any artifact replicas or any other relevant items related to Native Americans.

Teacher compiles a list of websites on Native Americans, names of various tribes and resource materials for projects (art supplies, tool supplies such as stones, string, sticks).

Timeline

This lesson will take 4 – 50 minute class periods.

Procedure

• Begin the lesson with an open discussion of Native Americans. Discuss what tribes students have heard of and what they know about each tribe.

• Discuss common myths about Native Americans and what is fact.

• Create a list of tribes on a chart.

• Divide class into groups.

• Ask each group to either select books in class or briefly research 2 or 3 tribes they find interesting.

• Groups should then select one tribe to research further.

• Display a chart with the following list:

Habitat, Homes, Dress, Food, Customs, Tools, Art

• Tell the groups that they will discover details about their selected tribe for each subject listed.

• Have the students assign each member in the group a subject to research.

• Groups will create a written plan of their research methods and assigned items.

Conclusion

Finish the lesson by reviewing what the overall plan is, answering questions and reading a book about a Native American tribe, and sharing results from the research with one another.

Suggested Stories:

Clever Coyote (Comanche Buffalo Myth)

Wise Owl (Iroquois Creation Myth)

The Invisible Warrior (Woodland Cinderella)

Child of Water and Little Blue Rock (Apache Myth)

How Raven Stole Crow's Potlatch (Northwest Coastal Pacific Indians)

Cherokee Origin Story - Ye ho waah (story)

The Hero Twins (Maya)

The Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus (Aztec)

Journey of a Princess (Aztec)