American History: Cooperation, Toleration, and Conflict in Early America 1 st Grade

Unit focus ► Native America  Culture of  Differences within ► European Exploration  Different explorers  Mapping  Conditions of travel ► European/ Native Encounters  Cooperation  Conflict  Tolerance  Change over time

Why is this important? ► Foundation of America ► Deals with reoccurring important social issues ► Issues can be related to students’ lives (getting along, cooperation)

What is currently being taught? ► Limited social studies coverage overall ► Many teachers try to stay away from controversy (i.e. Columbus) ► Some cover Native America, Columbus, Thanksgiving in a superficial manner ► Material is either outdated or stereotypical

Background info ► Hard to evaluate resources ► Many recently published, updated materials ► Shift towards acknowledging multiple perspectives ► Much of the new information is contrary to what those in our generation were taught

Unit Sketch: essential questions ► When there are two different groups, what are some conflicts that may arise? ► What are some ways to overcome these conflicts and learn to cooperate? ► When something is different, how do you learn to accept and tolerate it?

Unit Sketch: enduring understandings ► The discovery and settlement of America by Europeans caused conflict with the Native Americans already living there. ► Explorers came from many different places and there was not just one person who “discovered” America. ► Understand that there are many different people who fall under the heading of Native American and the differences between those people. ► Traveling across an ocean in the past was very different than it is today.

Unit Sketch: tuning in ► Simulation of “discovery” ► 2 groups: one playing a game, the other “invades” the game ► Discussion of how it made each group feel and invasion vs. discovery based on different perspectives. ► “Where have you seen conflict before?” Record results.

Unit Sketch: preparing to find out ► Record students’ prior knowledge of Native Americans using a web ► Introduce vocabulary and create a word wall ► Student generated questions on what they would like to find out about Native Americans

Unit Sketch: finding out ► Explore lives of Native American children  Typical day  Clothing  Music  responsibilities ► Play authentic games of Native Americans

Unit Sketch: sorting out ► Create timeline of different explorers and chart reasons for exploration  Color code by country the explorers came from  Portugal  Italy  Spain  Scandinavia

Unit Sketch: going further ► Learning about the voyages ► Length of and conditions of journey ► What would you pack back then vs. now? ► Responsibilities and duties on board ► Role of gender, age, and social class

Unit Sketch: making connections ► How were maps made of a place you had never seen or visited before? ► Make maps of the community and test them for accuracy ► Compare map making of the past and present

Unit Sketch: taking action ► Revisit conflict chart and brainstorm resolutions ► Look at inequalities present today ► Give example of a conflict relevant to their lives, and have them identify the multiple viewpoints  Role play

Assessment ► Students will keep journals throughout the unit which will be assessed on: focus, thoughtfulness, and comprehension of content ► Create multiple perspectives book ► Create and perform a play which illustrates European and Native American conflict and cooperation

Adaptations ► For students from diverse backgrounds, incorporate their experiences and have them take on a teacher role. ► For diverse needs, incorporate small group and partner work ► Keep activities short, hands on, and engaging.