Social Studies Strands Activities

Unit- Native Americans

2nd grade

By Katie Hickman, Rosemary Larger, Emily Miklasevich, and

Holly Poor

Table of Contents

History*People in SocietyGeographyEconomicsGovernmentCitizenship Rights and Responsibilities Social Studies Skills and Methods * Following all Strands will be activities,

materials ,and websites

HISTORY

Read a book on Western expansion. The students will discuss how this changed Native American lives. Create a pro’s and con’s chart.History Materials

Book on Western expansionMarkersChart paper

History Activities

As a class create a play depicting the first Thanksgiving. The students will create their own costumes using feathers cardboard and colored paper. Discuss the emotional component as they act out the scene.Materials

Feathers, cardboard, paper, markers, pencils

Discuss how Native Americans passed down their history. Have a Native American storyteller visit the class. The students will go home and learn a story from their history that will be presented in class the next day.Materials

Storyteller

History Activities

Compare and contrast the lifestyles of two different Native American tribes. Take a picture walk through books depicting the lifestyles. List the similarities and differences. Have the students write about where they would prefer to live. Materials

Different books on Native American tribes with pictures, pencil, paper

Research a specific Native American tribe. Create a calendar for that tribe of typical events during the year. Make sure to include seasonal preparations. Have the students create an illustration to accompany each month.Materials

Blank calendar large enough to write in, marker, crayons , extra paper for illustrations

People in Societies

The students will create a picture of a Native American house using a variety of materials. The students will then display the pictures and discuss where the house should be placed on a map. Ex- longhouse are found in Ohio

Societies MaterialsStraw, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, clay…

Paper

Map

People in Societies Activities The students will break up into small groups and choose a Native American tribe. The students will research the different types of food each tribe ate. The students will cut out or draw pictures of this food and glue it onto a paper plate. Then the class will walk around to observe the different types of food.Society Materials

Computer, magazines, books ,glue, scissors, paper plate

The students will break up into small groups and read a Native American legend. The students will then use that same topic to create a legend of their own.Society Materials

Several different Native American legends, paper, pencils

People in Society ActivitiesDiscuss Native American jewelry as a class. Then the students will create their own Native American jewelry using beads, feathers and string.Societies Materials

FeathersStringBeadsPictures of Native American jewelry

The students will research what role Native Americans play in our society today. If possible they should use a tribe they have studied in the past. Compare how there lives are the same as ours and how they are different. Society Materials

ComputersChart paperMarkers

People in Societies Websites

www.crayola.com/calendar/detail.cfm?event_id=2004

www.nativeart.net

www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/settlements/index.shtml

www.ihawaii.net/~story/loreindex.html

www.mce.k12.net/indians/navigation/native_american_territories.html

Geography Activities

The students will create a map with a scale of how to get from the school to Fort Ancient.Geography Materials

Rulers, Large paper, Markers, Map

Take a field trip to Fort Ancient. Have the students create a map showing the important points in and around the Fort.Geography Materials

Field trip materials (bus permission slips), Paper, Markers, Clipboards

Geography Activities

Compare and contrast maps of a Native American village then and the map of that area now. Geography Materials

Maps of both areas, Chart paper, Marker

The students will work together to create a three dimensional model of the Sunwatch village.Geography Materials

Map of SunwatchBoxes, markers, popsicle sticks, twigs, glue, paper, large cardboard base

Geography ActivitiesLook at the foot trail the Native American used. Discuss the type of climate in those areas. The students will write a narrative of a Native American on a journey.Geography Materials

Map of the foot trailsPaper and pencils

Geography Websites

http://www.shakerwssg.org/fort_ancient_hopewell_native_ame.htmlhttp://www.shakerwssg.org/olde_fort_ancient_village.htmlhttp://www.shakerssg.org/miamisburg_mound_state_memorial_.htmlhttp://www.sunwatch.org/special_events.htmlhttp://www.oldforester.com/trails.html

Economics

Discuss the change in trade before and after settlers. Create a timeline of the ways trade has changed over time. Post this timeline on the walls.

Economic MaterialsPaper & Pencil

Tape or magnets

Economic Activities

Look at trade agreements. Role play how this would work.Economic MaterialsLook at how the Native Americans acquired different items. Compare that to how we buy items. Create a Venn diagram to show these differences.Economic Materials

PencilPaper

Economic Activities

Discuss how foot trails were important to Native Americans. Draw a map to show the paths that they took to trade goods.Economic Materials

PencilPaperCrayons/Makers/Colored pencils

Attempt to create a trade treaty with another classroom.Economic Materials

Shoe, Sock, Plastic bottle, Chalk, Marble, Other random items

Economic Websites

http://www.thefurtrapper.com/

http://www.eda.gov/Research/NativeAmerican.xml

http://www.greattradingpath.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American

http://www.42explore2.com/native.htm

GovernmentCompare and contrast a Native American tribal government with the U.S. democracy. Create a poster advertising both.Government Materials

PencilsMarkersConstruction paperGluePoster board

Government ActivitiesHave half of the class write a narrative on the Trail of Tears from a Cherokee perspective. The other half will write from the perspective of the U.S. government.Government Materials

PencilPaper

Discuss the reasons behind Custer’s Last Stand. The students will then break up into small groups and invent their own ghost dance.Government Materials

Music, CD player

Government ActivitiesStudents will be given roles of Native Americans in a matrilineal government. They will be given a problem and hold a tribal council.Government Materials

PencilPaper

The flag is a symbol of our government. Have small groups look into the symbols of different tribes and create a flag for those tribes using those symbols. Display in the room.Government Materials

Pencil, Paper, Markers, Construction paper, Glue

Government Websites

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

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

http://www.libsci.sc.edu/miller/Native.html

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/webnativeaem.html

http://cia-g.com/~rocketstears.html

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities

Research the jobs held by men and women in Native American tribes. Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the jobs.

Citizenship MaterialsPencil

Paper

Citizenship ActivitiesLook at the responsibilities of children in a Native American tribe. Create a class book on the day in the life of…Citizenship Materials

Pencil, Paper, Markers

Research the rights of a Native American tribe and create a Bill of Rights for them as a class.Citizenship Materials

Chart paper, Marker

Citizenship ActivitiesHave small groups create presentations on different jobs Native Americans must do. Presentations can be written, drawn, or dramatized.Citizenship Materials

Pencil, Paper, Markers, Chart paper

Compare and contrast the rights of two different tribes. Vote on the best and modify those rules to implement as a discipline plan for the rest of the day.Citizenship Materials

Chart paper, Marker, Consequence cards

Citizenship Websites

http://www.pitt.edu/~poole/eledHistNatAmer.htmlhttp://www.ccsd.k12.wy.us/themes/themes.htmlhttp://atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Native_Americans/www.getty.edu/artsed.net/resources/Maps/battle.htmlhttp://familytic.net/issues/november2003/games_8.html

Social Studies Skills and Methods

As a class discuss archeology. Divide the class into small groups. Each group receives a box of dirt with artifacts to “uncover”. The students should make observations and inferences about the tribe the artifacts came from.Skills and Methods Materials

Box of dirtVariety of tribal artifactsPaperPencil

Skills and Methods Activities

The students will study the weapons used by the tribes and Europeans at that time. They will create a Venn diagram discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the weapons.Skills and Methods Materials

Pencil, Paper, Information on the weapons

Observe and discuss the Sunwatch poles. The students will then observe, at different times during the school day, how shadows change. A pole will be placed on the playground and it’s shadow marked throughout the day.Skills and Methods Materials

Trip to Sunwatch, Pole, Chalk

Skills and Methods ActivitiesDiscuss with the students how Native Americans communicated over long distances. Separate the students into two groups across the playground. They then attempt to communicate using drums, mirrors and flashlights.Skills and Methods Materials

Drums, Flashlights, Mirrors

Demonstrate to the class how Native Americans used pictorial communication. Have the students look at the meanings of the different symbols and attempt to write a complete thought.Skills and Methods Materials

Markers, Paper, Symbols with accompanying meaning

Skills and Methods Websites

http://www.kshs.org/places/nativeamerican/http://www.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/NorthAmerica/NorthAmerica.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/diabutsu_place/http://www.snowwowl.com/naarttomahawk.htmlhttp://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/native/sign/pictographs.htm