1. A Third Grade Multicultural Curriculum
Native Americans
A Third Grade Multicultural Curriculum
Ali Gutermann and Dana Shaker
May 2010

2. Context Grade: 3 Location: Hartford, Connecticut
School: M.D. Fox Elementary School
Race/Ethnicity
Number
Percent
American Indian 2
0.2
Asian American 7
0.8
Black
122
14.8
Hispanic
648
78.6
White 45
5.5
Total Minority
779
94.5
Time Frame: 5 consecutive days, 45 minutes a day (except field trip day), preferably in the fall, around Thanksgiving

3. Justification Bloom’s Taxonomy Connecticut Framework (1.1, 1.13, 2.2)
suggests 4th grade
should be sooner
3rd grade

4. Objectives Students will...
recall their previous knowledge of Native American History through an opening classroom exercise.
gain a basic understanding of Native American History through a series of art and music projects.
relate their own cultural identities to those of Native Americans through comparing and contrasting their cultures and backgrounds to those of the Native Americans as they are represented in the media.
research and collect information through first hand artifacts by visiting the local Pequot Museum in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
learn to value and assess the different Native American tribes by having students research and present information on specified tribes through reading comprehension and book work.

5. Weekly Plan Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5: -Monday- -Tuesday-
Who are the Native Americans?
Day 2:
-Tuesday-
Native Americans Through Sight and Sound
Day 3:
-Wednesday-
Native Americans and the Media and Basic Geography
Day 4:
-Thursday-
Trip to the Museum
Day 5:
-Friday-
Student Research and Assessment
Classroom introduction and discussion
Popcorn reading exercise with book: Indians: The First Americans By Kathryn Ernst
Discuss student’s questions from homework assignment
Create totem poles
Construct tribal drums and listen to Native American Tribal Meeting Music and Tribal Peace Dance
Classroom performance of song and dance using student’s handmade drums
Geography activity: mapping out tribes across the United States
Classroom discussion regarding Native American lifestyles
View short clip from Disney’s Pocahontas
Prepare student’s for trip to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum
Complete worksheet while walking around the museum
Specified activities such as workshops, movies and special exhibits conducted by museum staff
Group project regarding individual Native American tribes
Short quiz
Final remarks
Homework: “Who are We?” worksheet
Homework: “Your Culture vs. Native American Cultures” worksheet
Homework: “Adding and Subtracting with the Native Americans” worksheet
Homework: None assigned

6. Day 1: Who are the Native Americans? -Monday-
Ask students basic questions regarding their previous knowledge of Native Americans
example: Who are Native Americans?
Popcorn Reading exercise using the book Indians: The First Americans By Kathryn Ernst
Homework: “Who are We?” worksheet

7. Day 2: Native Americans Through Sight and Sound -Tuesday-
Review and Discuss Questions from Day 1 Homework Assignment
Create totem pole and tribal drum craft activities
Introduce students to a collection of
Native American tribal songs
Homework: “Your Culture vs. Native
American Cultures” worksheet

8. Day 5: Student Research and Assessment -Friday-
Students will be separated into groups of four
Each group is assigned a short reading assignment (approximately pages) about different Native American tribes.
Every student in the group is assigned to specific aspect of the tribe’s culture and as a group prepare a 5 minute presentation for the rest of the class.
Short Quiz
Concluding discussion: Is Pocahontas an accurate representation of the Native Americans?

9. Evaluation Cultural Worksheet Mathematics Worksheet
Mashantucket Pequot Museum Worksheet
Tribal Presentations
Short quiz given on last day
Classroom participation

10. Resources
Strategic School Profile for M.D. Fox Elementary School
The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
The Connecticut Social Studies Curriculum Framework Grades PreK-12
09.pdf
Indians: The First Americans By Kathryn Ernst
Disney’s Pocahontas Movie
Native American Tribal Meeting Music
Artist: American Indian Music
Album: Native American Drums
Tribal Peace Dance
Artist: The Native Tribes United
Album: American Indian Chant