September 25, 2012

Native American Unit Study

In this unit study we learned about the 12 Native American regions and 22 tribes. We studied the habitat, home, dress, and food of each tribe. We also learned a little geography and how to write a biography. This unit study is geared for elementary students with 23 days worth of lessons.  I did this unit study with my 2nd grader and would recommend it for 1st through 4th grade.  J and his Dad started learning archery this summer.


Native American Book List
Books can be read by the child or by the parent to the child, depending on the child's reading level. I don't think that a child is ever too old to be read to.

Lesson Plan Books...
More Than Moccasins by Laurie Carlson
Native Americans A Complete Thematic Unit by Jill Norris 
Native Americans : Primary Thematic Unit by Leigh Severson 
Native Americans Thematic Unit by Leigh Hoven 

 

Books I used in the lessons...
Christopher Columbus by Amie Jane Leavit
The Ancient Maya by Jackie Maloy
The Aztec Empire by Sunita Apte
Apache by Heather Kissock and Jordan McGill
The Pueblos by Alice K. Flanagan
The Navajo by Andrew Santella
Pomo by Barbara A. Gray-Kanatiiosh
The Shoshone by Sarah De Capua
Nez Perce by Richard M. Gaines
Chinook Indians by Suzanne Morgan Williams
The Cree of North America by Deborah B. Robinson
The Inuit by Kevin Cunningham & Peter Benoit
The Sioux by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack
The Cheyenne by Andrew Santella
The Blackfeet Nation by Allison Lassieur
The Pawnee by Barbara A. Gray-Kanaiiosh
The Crow by Christin Ditchfield
If You Lived with the Cherokee by Peter and Connie Roop
Seminoles by Irene Estep
The Iroquois by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack
Shawnee by Barbara A. Gray-Kanatiiosh
Wampanoag by Barbara A. Gray-Kanaiiosh
The Very First Americans by Cara Ashrose
North American Indians by Marie and Douglas Gorsline
The Popcorn Book by Tomie de Paola
Pueblos by June Preszler
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie DePaola
Quillworker by Terri Cohlene
The Gift of the Sacred Dog by Paul Goble
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble
Geronimo by James R. Rothaus
Chief Joseph by Bill McAuliffe
A Picture Book of Sacagawea by David A. Adler
Osceola by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack
Crazy Horse by Elaine Landau
Sequoyah by James Rumford

Native American Regional Map
Before we started a new region we looked at this Native American Regional Map that I found.  Then we looked at a modern day map to compare where they used to live with how the land is divided out now into different states.Then he colored in the region on the map on page 7 of Native Americans A Complete Thematic Unit by Jill Norris.
Circum-Caribbean:
Taino
Mesoamerica:
Maya
Aztec
Southwest:
Apache
Pueblo
Navajo
California:
Pomo
Great Basin:
Shoshone
Plateau:
Nez Perce
Northwest Coast:
Chinook
Sub Arctic:
Cree
Arctic:
Eskimo (Inuit)
Great Plains:
Sioux
Cheyenne
Blackfeet
Pawnee
Crow
Southeast:
Cherokee
Seminoles
Northeast Woodland:
Iroquois
Shawnee
Wampanoag
 
Native American Tribe Chart 
After we learned about each tribe we filled in the Native American Tribe Chart that I had made.

7 comments:

Tina Y said...

THANK YOU for this! Exactly what I wanted.

Hannah S. said...

I just wanted to say that you are amazing! I am planning to use this for a 1st &4th grader and this is just what I needed! Thank you for sacrificing your time so I don't have to have a headache! From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!

Jessi Rose said...

You are very welcome... That is why I do this :)

E said...

This is great!! I'm doing a unit on Native Americans starting next Monday. We won't do nearly as much as you did, but I love your ideas! Thank you!

Jennifer said...

This is awesome! Thank you! We have been using this as a guide for our own unit on North America!

Jessi Rose said...

I am glad that you are enjoying it.

Cynthia Leitich Smith said...

Hello!

It always heartens me when folks prioritize learning about Native Nations, cultures and peoples. Here is a resource that may be helpful to you and your blog readers: https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit-resources/read/diversity/native-am/native_resources/

It's up to date and prioritizes accurate and authentic educational information about children's-YA books, written and illustrated by Native and First Nations creatives.