Native Americans

This WebQuest is designed to teach 5th grade students about Native Americans in the six (6) major regions of the United States. Students will learn about the different tribes, geographic features of the regions, shelter, food, clothing, customs and beliefs, and how Native Americans adapted to their environments. 

This WebQuest is designed to be an entire unit on Native Americans. You should allow about 4 weeks for this project. The research will take the longest amount of time. Once students have completed their research, they will need to work with their team to complete the newsletter. While one person is working on the newletter, other members of the team should be working on their artifact (or finishing up research if necessary).  Group presentations could take up to a week depending on the number of students and time allowed for presentations each day.

Standards

SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS (5th Grade Oregon Standards) US History 1492-1786

Historical Knowledge:
5.1 Identify and compare historical Native American groups and settlements that existed in
North America.

Geography:
5.7 Identify, locate, and describe places and regions in the United States.
5.10 Describe how physical and political features influence events, movements, and adaptation
to the environment.

Social Science Analysis:
5.20 Gather, use and document information from multiple sources to examine an event, issue, or
problem through inquiry and research.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS (5th Grade Common Core State Standards)

Reading Informational Text
5.RI.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability
to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
5.RI.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak
about the subject knowledgeably.

Writing
5.W.4 Produce clear and coherant writing in which the development and organization are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5.W.6 With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to
produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate
sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single setting.

Speaking and Listening
5.SL.4 Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using
appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes, speak
clearly at an understandable pace.

Credits

All images courtesy of Google Images.

Other

Lesson Objectives:

Students will...
- Identify and compare historical Native American groups and settlements in the United States.
- Describe how physical features influence events, movements, and adaptation to the environment.
- Gather, use, and document information from multiple sources.
- Work collaboratively with other members of their group.
- Increase knowledge of Native Americans by investigating different aspects of their life.
- Identify and locate different places and regions in the United States.
- Write and speak knowledgeably about Native Americans and regions of the United States.

Lesson Extension:

- Invite other classes to hear the student presentations.
- Copy newsletters and give to other classes.
- Present information in a "science fair" fashion and have students available at their presentation boards (with newlsetters) to answer questions from others.
- Write a legend that relates to one of the tribes and explain significance.

Modifications:

- Students can work in pairs for additional support.