Exploring Native Americans

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Designed by

Joanne Ouellette and Amy Bisson

Introduction     Task    Resources     Process    Advice     Conclusion    Evaluation

Introduction

Your friends have joined you for a walk along the Nashua River (or Nashaway) in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.  As you walk by the clear, flowing stream, a huge bald eagle lands in a towering tree nearby.

"Look around, boys and girls," announces the Eagle.  "The River, known as the River With the Pebbled Bottom, has changed over the past 600 years.  Can you imagine what this land was like back then?"

"Wow," your excited friends respond.  "Could you bring us back to that time so that we can see what it was like for our Native Americans?"

"Hop onto my back," invites the Eagle, "and hold on tightly.   We will travel around the United States, and I will help you learn about some of the Native Americans who lived in our country.  You will learn the ways of the First People."

The Task

Your team of second graders have been selected to become the "Eagle Eye" news team from Station WCOC-TV. Your team's job will be to interview a tribe of Native Americans for our program, "Dateline: COC".  People on your interview team include the following:

• The Producer:  This member is responsible for seeing that everyone on the team has a job and that everyone completes their work on time.

• The Associate Producer:  This member of the time is responsible for seeing that all the materials needed (books, pencils, paper, folders, etc.) are in place.

• The On-Air Talent:  This team member is responsible for speaking for the group when the group's interview is presented.

• The Writer:  This person is responsible for recording all the group's findings on the data sheets.

The Station Manager (your classroom teacher) has selected your team's interview assignment.   Has the Associate Producer has received the sealed envelope with your team's assignment?   Do you know which of your classmates are on your team?  Has everyone been assigned a job? The color code will tell you which Native American tribe to focus on.  

After your group has gathered information using both the Internet resources and print resources within the classroom or from the Library, you will need to complete an Research Guide for your findings. 

By completing your Research Guide, you will record how Native Americans in each of the five areas adapted to their surroundings and you will know much about the customs of a particular tribe. You will be sharing your findings with the rest of the class through your Eagle Eye Team report (which we will videotape).  Here's how to go about it:

1. Complete the Research Guide for your Team's Tribe.

2. Include information about:

   1. Shelters

   2. How the tribe used the resources around them to survive (what did they use, why did they use it).

   3. Customs and culture that are interesting to know about.

   The report can take the form of a question and answer interview if you wish.

3. This report will be used as a script when we videotape the final Eagle Eye Team Report so it must be written. While only the On Air Talent person will actually SAY the words, everyone needs to know them.  You never know when someone may be absent on taping day and THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

4. The Team will tape a 3 to 5 minute TV segment. You need to let your teachers know when your entire team feels ready for this last step.  For the taping, if you or your team mates have pictures or interesting graphics, books, recordings, etc. to share, be sure to bring them in!

Resources

Web-related resources:

Print resources:

• The Very First Americans by Cara Ashrose.

• The Hopi by Ann Heinrichs Tomchek.

• The Abenaki by Elaine Landau.

• A True Book: The Wampanoags by Alice K. Flanagan.

• The Wampanoags by Katherine M. & Craig A. Doherty.

• The Algonquians by Patricia Ryon Quiri.

• American Indian Foods by Jay Miller.

Process

1.    Use the table of resources for your research.   For example, if you are researching Northeast or Woodlands Native Americans, you should stick with Column 2 only.  Anyone might find interesting information in Column 1. 

2.    Use the table of Native American Resources to select Internet information about your assigned tribe.  Complete the Research Guide Sheet provided for your research. 

3.    Use print resources in our classroom to learn more about your assigned tribe.

4.    Remember, whether you use Print or Electronic resources, you need to READ, READ, READ! 

5.    Once you have all the information, you and your Eagle Eye team will create a dialog.  The On-Air Talent member will interview the other members of your group who now will role-play the part of the Native American boys and girls.  The On-Air Talent will ask the questions from your Research Guide and the other team members will answer them - this is an INTERVIEW.

You should practice the questions and answers like a play. Practice speaking clearly, with a good tone and a good pace. When your Eagle Eye team is ready, let your Station Manager know so that your group can be taped.

Advice

• Working in a group can be tricky!  Be sure that everyone understands what jobs have to be completed and be sure that everyone gets a fair turn.  Everyone needs to contribute!

• Your Internet chauffers or drivers will be close by as you look over the web site information.  Always ask questions if something doesn't look right to you.

• Be sure to check out the Internet resources in the first column of the Resources Table.  You may find exactly what you need in those web sites -- they usually have a lot of different tribes and nations gathered in the same place.

• It is a good idea to write out your team interview as if it were a play -- and PRACTICE IT!  Being shy in front of a camera could also be a problem -- be sure you know what you want to say ahead of time.

Evaluation

The Station Managers will judge your Eagle Eye team's work and award points.  We call this a rubric.  The more complete your Research Guide is, the more points your team can earn.

Conclusion

Native Americans customs and traditions were influenced by the world around them -- they were excellent adaptors to their environment.  How do you suppose we have adapted to our environment?  What influences the way we live?