Stereotyping and
Past and Present Native American Influence
Overview of Lesson:
This WebQuest will focus on stereotypes and impact of
the Native American people in our world today. It begins
by examining what racism and stereotypes are. Once a basis
of understanding is established, research will focus on
three primary areas:
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stereotypical symbols,
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stereotypical beliefs (about dress, language, and
behavior) and
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past and present Native American influence.
As teachers, we know that flexibility is important. This
WebQuest was designed with flexibility in mine. Please
feel free to use it as a whole class instructional tool,
small group activity, or a culminating class activity.
To present this information, students can work to gather
information about the topics and will have choice in presentation
methods (PowerPoint, Video, Report, Collage, Poster, Tri-fold
Presentation, etc.).
Goal:
Students will understand the meaning of stereotypes and
will examine their own thinking about stereotypes they
hold. They will see impacts of Native Americans in the
past and will look at modern Native American life.
Objectives:
Social Studies Content Standards
Grade 4 Benchmark: People in Society
Indicator: Diffusion
3. Explain how contributions of different cultures within
the United States have influenced our common national
heritage.
4. Describe the contributions of significant individuals,
including artisans, inventors, scientists, architects,
explorers and political leaders to the cultural heritage
or the United States.
Grade 4 Benchmark: Social Studies Skills and Methods
Indicator: Obtaining Information
3. Use primary and secondary sources to answer questions
about Ohio history.
Grade 4 Benchmark: Geography
Indicator: Location
4. Use maps to identify the location of major physical
and human features of Ohio.
Grade 5 Benchmark: People in Society
Indicator: Cultures
2. Compare life on Indian reservations today with the
cultural traditions of American Indians before the reservation
system.
Material:
County outline map of Ohio
Material to make presentations as directed
by the teacher.
Procedures:
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Introduce the concepts of stereotyping, Native American
impact and Native Americans today.
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Introduce students to the concept of a WebQuest.
-
Go over the driving questions listed in the WebQuest.
(This WebQuest can be done in its entirety or it can
be separated into three distinct parts and each group
could do a part and report back to the class on their
part.)
-
Break the students into groups and work through the
assigned part of the WebQuest.
Evaluation:
Rubric for Making A Poster: Native
American Stereotypes
Rubric for Making A Poster: Native
American Impact on Medicine
Rubric for Making A Map: Native
American Impact on Names (Counties, Cities, Parks)
Rubric for Research Report: Famous
Native Americans
Rubric for Research Report: Current
Famous Native Americans
Rubric for Letter-Writing: A Letter
to Current Native American Leaders