Native American Unit By: Tara Decker Using the Internet In Education Project #3 Digital Story

Description of the Unit The following unit is an introduction to Native Americans. It is geared towards first grade students and will take place during Native American History Month. The students will learn simple facts pertaining to Native American Culture, their way of life, as well as other interesting facts. The unit will start by viewing pictures, provided by the teacher. The students will be asked to describe the picture in one to two sentences in their own words (direction will be provided if needed). The teacher will then conduct a session where the students will incorporate their facts (with their own voice) into the digital story. As a closing to the unit the students will view their original digital story. The following will describe the unit in greater detail.

Lesson One (Digital Story)  Students will be able to respond and react to picture prompts provided by the teacher relating to different facts pertaining to Native Americans. They will also participate in a digital story. On chart paper the teacher will conduct a shared writing lesson where he/she will write one to two sentences pertaining to each picture. Information will be directed from the students. The lesson will then continue by the teacher recording the students voices, repeating the descriptive sentences that they have concluded. The students will then be informed that in celebration to the end of the unit they will view their own student created digital story. The following would be an example of the digital story that would be created. This DIGITAL STORY was narrated by my daughter Madeline Raccuia. W hen photo story opens, click next, next, then preview.DIGITAL STORY

Lesson Two  Students will be able to describe and illustrate some natural resources the Native Americans utilized. Teacher will read aloud Plains Indians. Students will respond to the book. Then the teacher will use pictures from resource books to show the children examples of the various resources of Native Americans: food, homes, means of cooking, means of transportation, etc. The children will then work in groups to create murals showing the Native American’s using the natural resources with a written description to go along with each illustration. Each group will then share their work with the class. The murals will then be displayed in the classroom.

Lesson Three  Students will be able to recognize and enjoy the differences amongst themselves and each other. After gathering on the rug, several students will be asked to volunteer and answer several questions for the class. The children will then ask those students questions: what do you like to do, what is your favorite food and will also note, hair color, eye color etc. We will then discuss why it is so important that we have these different traits. (Answers could consist of: because it shows that no two people are the same, so we can learn from each other etc.) Students will then be given a partner. They will interview each other and learn his/her individual traits (what makes them unique).

Lesson Four  Students will be able to view and interpret a “full video” from United Streaming. Students will gather to watch Giving Thanks, a video known as the Thanksgiving Address (found on unitedstreaming.com, to view sign up for 30 day trial, search “Giving Thanks” open and enjoy).Giving Thanks Students will understand that this Native American good morning message is based on the belief that the natural world is a precious and rare gift from the grass that grows to the stars in the sky. Students will then write and illustrate several things they are thankful for; that they consider to be a precious and wonderful part of their world. Students will then share their opinions. Each paper will then be collected and made into a booklet. Every student will be given an opportunity to take the booklet home.

Lesson Five  Students will learn the difference between a “myth” and “reality”. Students will regain knowledge from a previously read book. Teacher will conduct a re-read aloud of Plains Indians. From information gained students will decide if 10 statements about the American Indians are mostly myth or reality. They will examine common stereotypes of American Indians, while investigating the differences between myth and reality. Students will understand that most of which we get our information from (films, TV, advertisements) are not reasonably accurate portrayals of the American Indians.

Lesson Six  Students will be able to celebrate the closing of the unit through a celebration. Students, with teacher and parental involvement will plan and prepare a small harvest feast. This can be integrated into a theme on food and nutrition. Some suggested foods to be include would be corn bread, homemade butter, turkey and something made from pumpkin. Parents will be invited to join in this celebration. As a closing to the day all will view the digital story created by the students, at the beginning of the unit. Click DIGITAL STORY to view the story once more (when photo story opens, click next, next, then preview).DIGITAL STORY

Resources Ansary, M.T. (2000). Plains indians. Chicago, Ill. Heinemann Publishing. (2006). Nativestock pictures. Retrieved November 17, 2006, from The native stock Web site: Indian Country Images. (2006). Retrieved November 17, 2006, from Music download Web site: (2004). Retrieved November 17, 2006, from The United Streaming Web site:

Credits I would like to extend a special thanks to my daughter Madeline Raccuia for narrating my digital story, to enhance the assignment.