Becky Sellers

Ed 417

Elementary Social Studies

Ronald Helms

The Culture of Native The Culture of Native AmericansAmericans

Third GradeThird Grade

ObjectivesAfter doing the following lesson on Native American culture the students will…

¤ Name several different Native American tribes and tell how they differ from one another.

¤ Explain and understand Indian Legends and their importance.

¤ Explain and be experienced with the arts and crafts of some Native American tribes.

¤ Identify some of the common animals that were important to the Native Americans.

Web Sites:

National Museum of the American Indian

http://www.si.edu/nmai/nav.htm

Art-links to artists, art types, galleries

http://indy4.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/art/art.html

Music

http://hanksville.phast.umass.edu/misc/Namusic.html

Nativve American Resources-legends and stories

http://indy4.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/stories/stories.html

Schools- link to native schools, pen pals

http://indy4.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/schools/schools.html

Childrens Literature Web Guide

http;//www.ucalgary.ca/%7Edbrown/

Native American Culture

Activity 1: Native American Music

Materials: Cassettes

“Myth, Music and Dance of the American Indians” by Ruth Cesare Alfred Publishing, 1988.

“Songs about Native Americans” by Lois Skiera-Zucek Kimbo Education, 1994.

“Aarow to the Sun” by Gerald McDermott Weston Woods, 1974.

The students will listen to several different Native American songs. The students will compare Native American music to American music.They will discuss their likes and/or dislikes of Native American music.

Native American Culture

Activity 2: Making beads

Materials: flour, salt, water, paprika, mixing bowl, string, and tooth picks

Measure 1 1/4 cup flour, 1 1/4 cup salt, 1 cup water, 2 tbl. Paprika and put into a bowl. Add water and mix until workable. Form clay into small balls and tubes. Use different objects to add texture to beads. Push a toothpick through the centers, jiggling it around to form holes. Bake in 200degree oven for an hour. Make necklaces out of beads.

Native American Culture

Activity 3: Native American Art

Materials: Computer-Internet

Have students visit different Native American Art web sites and look at different types of art. Have the students look in Native American books to view different art styles and types.

Have the students break into groups and talk about the different types of art; their likes and dislikes.

Native American Culture

Activity 4: Write to Native American Pen Pals

Materials: Computer-Internet

Schools- link to Native schools, pen pals

http://indy4.fdl.ccc.mn.us/~isk/schools/schools.html

Have the students get on the Internet and find pen pals to communicate with. This will help the students to really understand Native Americans and how much they are just like us. The students can write or email these pen pals.

Native American Culture

Activity 5: Read stories and poems about Native Americans

Materials: Books

Fiction:

Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott

Good Hunting Little Indian by Peggy Parrish

Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr.

Legend:

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola

Buffalo Woman by Paul Goble

Poetry:

How Rabbit Stole the Fire by Joanna Troughton

Dancing Teepees by Virginia Driving

Native American Culture

Activity 5 (cont…): Read stories and poems about Native Americans

By reading different stories and poems the students will understand about the living styles and dress of the Native Americans. They will learn about tribes and how there are several different tribes, and how all tribes are different. They will learn about the different animals and products that are important to the Native Americans. The students will learn about Legends and why Native American write, enjoy and retell Legends. They will see just how much Native Americans are just like “Americans”.

Native American Culture

Activity 6: Watch Native American Videos

Materials: Videos

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Great Plains National Institute, 1988

Hawk, I’m Your Brother by Southwest Series, 1988

The Indian and the cupboard by Columbia Tristar Home Video.

Native American Culture

Activity 7: Make Succotash

Materials: bacon, onion, cooked corn, green pepper, lima beans

Fry the bacon, drain the fat. Add 1 chopped onion and 1/4 cup of chopped pepper. When the onion is golden brown, add 2 cups of cooked corn and 2 cups of cooked lima beans. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Native American Culture

Activity 8: Make table top teepees

Materials: paper towels, plastic straws, clay, construction paper, straight pins, and tape

Have the students cover their desks with paper towels. Secure three plastic straw s in three small balls of clay. Connect the straws at the top with a straight pin. Instruct each child to cut the construction paper laying the paper long ways. Cut a curve at the top of the paper going from corner to corner. Then cut the bottom of the paper to match the top curve. Both curves should be curving the same way - up in this case. This shape should fit around the teepee. Show the children how to fit the teepee cover over the straws and tape it in place.

What is culture?

Culture is a way of perceiving, believing, evaluating and behaving; providing the blueprint that determines the way we act in society.

What is Multiculturalism?

Multiculturalism is being a part of more than one culture. Being exposed to beliefs and values of other cultures, learning about cultures other than your own, and participating in these cultures.

What is prejudice?

Prejudice is a set of negative attitudes about a group of people.

What is a stereo type?

A stereotype is making false judgements about a person before you get to know them.

Why do we sometimes have stereotypes

of people from different cultures? The way the media presents people to us effects they way we think about them. The way people are portrayed in books, cartoons and magazines also has us form opinions about a group of people or a culture.

Is it okay to have prejudices and stereotypes about other people?

Native Americans

Where do Native American names come from?

Native American names often reflect (tell something) Something about the person.

Some examples of Native American Names are:

Black Hawk

Boy who hunt Buffalo

Can you think of a name for yourself that would reflect something about you?

What is a tribe?

A group of people that have the same belief system. They speak the same language, they may have similar attitudes and values.

Native Americans

* Read First came the Indians by M.J. Wheeler.

* Introduce Different tribes living quite differently.

*In groups, compare several of the tribes from the story.

•Native Americans

* In groups, assign each group a different tribe from the group.

* Groups- use additional information and resources to research tribe.

* Prepare a class presentation on your tribe.

What is a Legend?A legend is a short story that explains a natural phenomenon- something that happens in nature.

* Read The Gift of the sacred dog.

* Divide into groups of four or five.

* Write a legend to explain a certain event.

* Some examples:

– How Mountains were created.

– How sunsets get their color.

–Why the sky is blue.

We are going to have Native American Day!!!

Groups will share information about their tribe with the class.– Show how your tribe dressed.

– Tell about its customs.

– Bring in food from the tribe. (if possible)

– Bring in music from the tribe.

–Bring in books or poems about the tribe.

–Bring art from the tribe.

Questions for review:

1. What are some different tribes?

2. What are some of the differences between these tribes?

3. What did you learn from your pen pals about Native Americans?

4. What is culture?

5. What is multiculturalism?

6. What is prejudice?

7. What is a stereotype?

Questions for review:

8. What are some things that you learned about Native Americans that you didn’t know?

9. What did you learn about Native American music?

10. What did you learn about Native American art?

11. What did you learn about Native American dance?

12. What is a Legend?

13. What is the importance of Legends?

14. What is a tribe?