Introduction
Before the Pilgrims, the 13 Colonies, and the Declaration of Independence, this land was home to the American Indians. Our country was once the land that belonged to the Native Americans. They lived in all regions of what we know as the United States, however, the ways in which they lived varied from region to region.
It is important to know the history of our country and learn about how we came to be the country we are today. Using this webquest you have been given the ability to travel back in time and visit the various tribes that lived in the different regions of the United States.
How are Native American tribes different from each other and how did they adapt to and survive in their surroundings? At the end of our research, you will create a presentation of a chosen tribe to be presented to the class.
Task
You need to learn about Native Americans in one region of the United States. You will work in a team of five historians.
Each team will be assigned one region to become experts on. You will create a presentation to share what you have learned about the tribes in your region.
There are certain areas that you will need to research in order to gain a thorough understanding of your region and how Native Americans adapted to and survived in their surroundings.
The regions are: Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Southeast Woodlands, and Northeast Woodlands.
Each historian in your group will become an expert in one research area.
The areas of research are:
- tribes and geographical features
- food and hunting
- shelter and transportation
- clothing and technology
- customs and traditions
Process
Click here for research questions to help guide you.
In addition to your presentation, for homework each historian will create an artifact. This might be a totem pole, clothing, symbol story, shelter, jewelry, artwork, or anything else that relates to your tribe. You must be prepared to explain the importance of the artifact and how it relates to your tribe. Be creative!!
Each team of historians will create a presentation which will include the following; your team poster/powerpoint, each individual artifact, and pictures with descriptions of the areas each expert researched.
Evaluation
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Low |
Nearly Meets |
Meets |
Exceeds |
Score |
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Researches the chosen area of your teams assigned region. Shows knowlegde of assigned aspect of Native Americans in your region by completing your section of the project. |
Inclomplete section of project. Does not include example or picture. |
Gathers and summarizes some relevant information and completes project section. Uses bullets rather than paragraphs and has some convention errors. Includes 1 example or picture. |
Gathers and summarizes relevant information and completes project section. Uses complete sentences, paragraphs, and has few convention errors. Includes 1 example OR picture. |
Gathers and summarizes relevant information and completes project section. Uses complete sentences, paragraphs, and has no convention errors. Includes 1 example AND picture. |
20 |
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Produces an artifact that relates to Native Americans in their researched region. |
Artifact is incomplete OR does not relate to a tribe in reseached region. |
Creates original artifact using little creativity and neatness. Difficult to relate to a tribe in researched region. |
Creates original artifact using creativity and neatness. Artifact relates to a tribe in researched region. |
Creates more than 1 orignial artifact using creativity and neatness. Both artifacts relate to a tribe in researched region. |
20 |
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Presents project and artifact to the class demonstrating knowledge of Native Americans in researched region. |
Does not present project. May or may not present artifact. |
Presents project demonstrating some knowledge of Native Americans in region. Uses limited facts and details. Explains artifact but does not explain its significance. |
Demonstrates knowledge of Native Americans in region by using relevant facts and details. Explains artifact and its significance. |
Demonstrates extensive knowledge of Native Americans in region by using relevant facts and descriptive details. Explains artifact and its significance. |
20 |
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Works cooperatively with team members while completing project. Uses class time effectivley |
Does not manage time without constant re-direction from teacher. Does not work cooperatively with team. |
Somewhat manages time while working independently on research, working on project.Often needs re-direction from teacher. |
Effectively manages time while working independently on research, manages time working on project. Needs little re-direction from teacher. |
Effectively manages time while working independently on research, manages time working on project. Needs NO re-direction from teacher. |
20 |
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Total Score: 80 |
Conclusion
Congratulations!! You have successfully completed your first WebQuest. You and your fellow historians are now "experts" on different Native American Regions in the United States. You have worked independently and as a team to create your presentation. You will have a chance to learn about the Native Americans in all regions of the U.S. as they are presented by each team to the class. How were the Native American tribes different from each other and how did they survive in their environments?