Native American Research Project

Week One
Day One- “Brainstorming” Teacher & class brainstorms how families today meet their basic needs- housing, food, clothing. Then they brainstorm aspects of American culture, entertainment, and religion. These are written on a large chart paper. Next they brainstorm the above information regarding what children know about Native Americans. This is written on another piece of chart paper. Both papers are saved.
Day Two- The teacher reads a book about Native Americans and/or shows a video. Children write in their journals about the information they learned. Class brainstorms “tribes” & a list is created.
Day Three- Jobs are explained. Children write first & second choices of a job. Using this information groups are formed so that each group has one each from the job list. Groups pick first and second choice of tribes. Teacher uses these to assign tribes.
Day Four- Tribes are assigned so that each group is a different tribe. Groups come up with research questions for their tribe.
Day Five- Research Note Taking Techniques using file folders with pockets and index cards is taught.

Week Two
Day One- Research Note Taking Technique is reviewed. Research begins using books and encyclopedias.
Day Two- Research continues using books and encyclopedias.
Day Three- Research continues using books and encyclopedias. Groups meet to discuss research.
Journal- My Group
Day Four- Computer lab. Web Quest research
Journal-Web Quest
Day Five- Computer lab. Web Quest continues.

Week Three
Day One-- Group meetings- What information do you have? What do you still want to know? What new questions do you now have?
Journal- Group
Day Two- Research using encyclopedia CD-Roms
Day Three- Research using internet. Gather pictures from the web and put into a folder on the desktop.
Day Four- Research continues using books and encyclopedias.
Day Five- Group Meeting Discussion- Analyze your information. Discuss how the geography and surrounding natural resources of your tribe effected how the tribe meet their basic needs & formed their culture.
Journal- Tribe Geography and Location Question.

Week Four
Day One- Lesson in paragraph writing and report writing are given.
Journal - Paragraphing
Day Two- Using their note cards, children write a rough draft of their “expert” area on the tribe.
Day Three- Paragraph completed. Peer editing
Day Four- Word processing- Paragraph on tribe.
Day Five- Word processing- Paragraph on tribe.

Week Five
Day One- Word processing- Paragraph on tribe. Import a picture or two from picture file onto paragraph. Peer edit. Print. Self assess using rubric .
Day Two- Group work- Using KidPix create a title page for your group report.
Day Three- Complete & print all paragraphs and title pages. Teacher will take all written reports to create a class book.
Day Four- Requirements & choices for oral report are given.
Day Five- Group Discussion. Oral Report.

Week Six
Day One- Groups prepare for oral report using note cards.
Day Two- Prepare oral report and visual aides.
Day Three- Prepare oral report and visual aides.
Journal- My Group's Oral Report.
Day Four- Prepare oral report and visual aides.
Day Five- Group presentations for the whole class. Self assessment and group assessments given.
Journal- My Group's Oral Report.


Week Seven
Groups will present their oral reports for their kindergarten buddies.
Teacher and groups will create iMovies of oral reports to show at Open House.
Teacher will use the class book created to teach textual comprehension strategies.


Creating Collaborative Groups
I will explain the jobs they are to do, ARCHEOLOGIST, ARCHITECT, SOCIOLOGIST, and CULINARY AND CLOTHING EXPERT . I will have students pick their 1st and 2nd choice of a job. I will form groups so that one of each job is in a group. I will take into consideration GATE students, ADHD students, ELL students, struggling readers, and spread them out among the groups.


There will be 4 students in a group
Description of Jobs
I) ARCHEOLOGIST: As the Archeologist, you will need to research the artifacts that tell us about how your tribe used tools, toys, musical instruments, or other ceremonial pieces in their lives. You must have pictures and/or a model along with your presentation.

II) ARCHITECT: As the Architect, you will research the housing of the tribe. How was the housing constructed? Was it for one family or many? Why do you think the tribe built that type of housing? You must have pictures and/or a model along with your presentation.

III) SOCIOLOGIST: As the Sociologist, you will research the rituals, myths, and ceremonies (such as the powwow) of your tribe. You will need to have pictures and/or a copy of a myth or legend told in your tribe, along with your presentation.

IV) CULINARY AND CLOTHING EXPERT: As the Culinary and Clothing Expert, you will research the basic diet of the tribe and the clothing worn by its members. What did they eat? Did they hunt and fish, grow food, gather food, or was it some combination of these practices? What did they wear? How did they construct the clothing? You will need pictures and/or samples along with your presentation.