Native Americans
We already knew a lot about Native Americans...
We began our new Project work by finding out what the students already knew about Native Americans. We created the following web to detail our ideas and facts.
The Mid-Continent Library provided many books that we researched the most important facts about Native Americans. Here are pictures of us freely investigating the topic to figure out what direction the children wanted to take to guide their learning.
Student Directed Learning
After starting our Native American Project work the children expressed what they wanted to learn more about! When students are fully engaged in Project Work they see themselves as investigators! Investigators read to learn more, write to report their findings, calculate, compare, and contrast important infomation that leads to more questions and discoveries!
The students were provided names of Indian Tribes that were located all across the United States. Since the children had already discussed their prior knowledge of Native Americans and had the opportunity to research Native American books they had a good understanding of these communities. The students viewed the bulletin board outside our classroom of a map that located each Indian Tribe. Each student had the opportunity to choose the tribe they wanted to research. When students are given choices they feel more invested in the work they do.
The students were provided names of Indian Tribes that were located all across the United States. Since the children had already discussed their prior knowledge of Native Americans and had the opportunity to research Native American books they had a good understanding of these communities. The students viewed the bulletin board outside our classroom of a map that located each Indian Tribe. Each student had the opportunity to choose the tribe they wanted to research. When students are given choices they feel more invested in the work they do.
Native American Tribes-We will continue our Native American work through the first week in December, so stay tooned!
Sioux Indians
Below is the Sioux tepee that our class created! You're welcome to come in to see the tepee, (not the added Souix Indian:) in our classroom anytime!
Tlingit Indians
Below are student comments about totem poles and pictures of our unfinished constructed class totem poles. The students learned about the importance and significance each totem pole meant to families of the Tlingit tribe. We are constructing our totem poles to resemble special talents, gifts from God, and tools we rely on at school to be life long learners. Stay tooned!