Lesson Plan

Curriculum Standard:
1. Develop an understanding of the state in relationship to the expanding horizon theme. (C, H, G, E)
a. Describe the history of people who first lived in Mississippi.
c. Evaluate the impact and interactions among all groups throughout the history of Mississippi (e.g., European, African, Asian, Native Americans, etc.).

Objectives:
The students will create a map showing where the five main Mississippi Native Americans live.
The students will recognize that various cultures enjoy different art, dress, food and languages.
The students will use word processing software and digital pictures to create a pictorial story about the Trail of Tears.


Big Idea: There are five main geographical/cultural groups of Mississippi Native Americans that eventually evolved, this lesson will guide students to learn more about the Native American culture and the trials and tribulations they endured.

Preparation:
1. Introduce the First Americans and where they came from (across the Bering Strait).
2. Explain that five main cultural groups of Mississippi Native Americans eventually evolved.
3. Look at a map of Mississippi overhead with the students.
4. Tell the students that the are going to research the five groups of Mississippi Native Americans, and create a map showing where they lived in Mississippi.
5. After the students are done, have some volunteer to show their maps and talk about the regions of the state the Native Americans lived in as opposed to where we live.
6. Talk with the students (using a PowerPoint showing images of what you are dicussing) about the way the Native Americans in Mississippi dressed, ate, the crafts they did, etc.
7. Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the life of the Native Americans to the life of the students in the class.
8. Read the book ONLY THE NAMES REMAIN: THE CHEROKEES AND THE TRAIL OF TEARS by Alex Bealer.
9. Discuss questions about the book.
a. Did you like the book. Why or why not?
b. How was the life of the Cherokees different from your life?
c. Why do you think they were willing to fight alongside the white settlers?
10. Use the computers to research the Trail of Tears and the Cherokee Native-American tribe.

Guidance:
Guide the class into small groups and have them create a pictorial map representing the Cherokees and the Trail of Tears using computer software.
Walk around and assist as needed.

Application:
Have students start writing on a promethean chart (set up kind of like a wiki) what they learned about the Cherokees and the Trail of Tears.
Allow other students to add to the chart.

Assessment:
Teacher observation of the students' map showing where the five Native American cultural groups lived.
Teacher created rubric for the pictorial story.