Learning about First Peoples

Parents,
This afternoon we began our unit on Native Americans. We started by learning about the very first peoples to cross over the land bridge from Beringia during the last ice age- about 15,000 years ago! We even carved our own Clovis-style arrowheads, like prehistoric hunters preparing to take down a woolly mammoth! 

Today I also handed out a BRIGHT ORANGE page with the project description(s) for this unit. You may notice that it looks very different from prior projects. In fact, it is a menu with 9 items for students to choose from. Please look over the options this week with your student and discuss with them which sound most interesting. I've asked that each student bring back the attached acknowledgement by the end of the week with a tentative selection of menu options. These can be changed and are not "locked in". 

I've also included a calendar of key dates for the unit, including our Potlatch celebration on Wednesday, February 17th. Please save the date! More details to come home later in the month. 

Native Americans Unit Assessment Choice Menu In order to demonstrate mastery of the unit objectives for the Native American unit, you may choose from the activities listed below. You will choose activities that must total at least 8 points. All activities are due on Tuesday, 2/16/16. 3 Points: Remembering and Understanding (A)On a map of the world, locate and label Asia, North America, South America, and the Bering Strait. Using a dotted line, label a Flow Map which shows the migratory route suggested by the Bering Land Bridge theory. Label the Native American regions- Arctic/subarctic, Pacific Northwest Coastal, Southwest, Southeast, Plateau, Plains, and Northeastern Woodlands. (B)Create an original piece of art that represents or depicts an element of daily life from one of the tribes that we studied in class.  Your art should include a written label which includes the title of the piece and a brief description of what it is and how it applies to the tribe you chose. 5 Points: Applying and Analyzing (C)Read a Creation story from one of the tribes we’ve learned about. Write a 1-page retell in your own words and create an illustration to accompany it. An IEW checklist should be used and included along with your KWO, rough and final draft. (D)Research and use a graphic organizer (e.g. a Venn diagram) to compare and contrast the tasks of women and men within a chosen tribal group. Write a short (1-paragraph) summary of your findings. An IEW checklist should be used and included along with your KWO, rough and final draft. (E)Write a poem or song using facts from our unit that could be used to help review OR as a learning tool for next year’s 3rd graders.  You may take an existing song and change the words or you may create an original poem or song. 8 points: Evaluating and Creating (F)Research and build a model of an authentic Native American shelter or home. Write a description of it, including the materials used and how it was made. Tell how it is the same or different to where you live. An IEW checklist should be used and included along with your KWO, rough and final draft. (G)Create a scrapbook about a NA tribe of your choice. Your scrapbook must include the following subtopics: Housing, diet, transportation, women’s work, men’s work, spirituality, clothing, tools or weapons, and recreation. Pages  should include diagrams, illustrations, and artwork. (H)Build a pair of dioramas, each depicting a different NA tribe, in order to compare their respective environments, housing, farming/hunting practices, and social structure (did the whole tribe live in 1 longhouse or with each family in their own smaller dwelling?) Write a short (1-2 paragraph) summary of your findings. An IEW checklist should be used and included along with your KWO, rough and final draft. (I)Request (no later than Thursday, 2/11/16) to take a written assessment (test) on Tuesday, 2/16/16

Do you or someone you know have a connection to a native tribe? We would love to have community guests share what they know about out topic!

Science Fair is this week!

Our class is currently working on a science experiment about Sunscreen! You are welcome to come by Thursday afternoon from 3:30-5:00, when all projects will be on display in the gym!

This Friday's Field Trip:

We will be leaving around 8:45 to travel downtown to see Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space! with the Oregon Children's Theater. We should be back on campus around 11:30 for lunch. The afternoon will be spent exploring our Native American unit more in depth. 

Thank you for reading! Please write 'mammoth' in your child's planner for a Teamwork Dojo point!

Mrs. Gausman