Native Americans for 4 th Grade ED By: Lisa Cox Erika Ely Stephanie Portwood

Rationale It is important for students to understand the heritage of this country as well as many Americans. Students should learn about the stereotypes that most people believe and why they are wrong. They also need to learn about the lifestyles, traditions, beliefs, and values that Native Americans have had for so many years. All of these ideas are important for students to learn because it is part of their heritage and they need to understand the real truth about Native Americans.

American Heritage Web Pages history/tales/tales.html

American Heritage Activities Students will make Native American Fried Bread and learn about other Native American foods. Students will sand paint, a Navajo art. Students will create clay animals, an Inuit sculpture art. Students will make dreamcatchers and learn about the legend that follows them. Students will create lid carvings/paintings using yogurt lids.

People in Societies Web Pages

People in Societies Activities Study the art of Norval Morriseau, who was raised with Ojibwe Indian customs, traditions, values, and beliefs and create a painting in a way he might have done so. Write a Native Americans and the First Thanksgiving report about how and in what ways the Native Americans were helpful to the Pilgrims. Students, in groups, will research and study Native American groups, and analyze a story, poem, or legend from that Nation. Students will play the Native American Rain game and contrast it with modern children’s games. Students will create a Native American community for a specific part of the U.S.

World Interactions Web Pages

World Interactions Activities Research and report about different battles that involved Native Americans and explain how it impacted their lives. Choose a Pioneer/Native American conflict or contact and act it out. Prepare a map depicting Native American tribal areas before pioneers and after. Make an object using Native American technology and describe what it is used for. Research object (#4) made and find out if Pioneers influenced it or if it influenced the Pioneers.

Decision Making & Resources Web Pages html x.html bq47shercind.htm

Decision Making & Resources Activities Students will act out a powwow after doing research on it. Make a rattle for the powwow by using juice cans, popcorn kernels, popsicle sticks, construction paper, and markers. Students will pick a Nation and introduce the Nation at the powwow sharing what makes your tribes special. Crossword puzzle matching decision making process to Nation. Students will research, describe, and outline life in the village of a Nation or band of your choice. Include decision making process of food preparation, housing, marriage, spiritual, storytelling, hunting, and war.

Democratic Processes Web Pages

Democratic Processes Activities Search the resource books in the school library for different tribes and what their different democratic processes were and are. In groups, the students will have different Nations and make up their own laws. Students will watch an educational video on a specific tribe and how they do things then discuss whether or not the children agree or disagree with their ways of life. In groups, the students will make up and perform a skit about laws in their particular tribe. In groups, the students will make a book of drawings and illustrations about the laws and punishments in their Nation.

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities Web Pages htm

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities Activities In groups, students will role play how a Native American family would behave. Show the responsibilities of each member of the family. In groups, students will design a tribal seal for their tribe. Write a story about a day in the life of a woman or man in their Nation. Students will read about the traditional Cherokee wedding ceremony and each student draw a picture of what a Cherokee wedding vase looks like. Create a display in the hallway about each Nation being studied in the classroom. The students will put up interesting facts, pictures, and other information emphasizing rights and responsibilities of each Nation.