Social Studies Curricular Unit: Native Americans

Social Studies Curricular Unit: Native Americans

Unit theme: History

Relevant Standards:

SS4H1 The student will describe how early Native American cultures developed in North America.

a. Locate where the Native Americans settled with emphasis on Arctic (Inuit), Northwest (Kwakiutl), Plateau (Nez Perce), Southwest (Hopi), Plains (Pawnee), and Southeastern (Seminole).

b. Describe how the Native Americans used their environment to obtain food, clothing, and shelter.

SS4G2 The student will describe how physical systems affect human systems.

a. Explain why each of the Native American groups (SS4H1a) occupied the areas they did, with emphasis on why some developed permanent villages and others did not.

SS4E1c Describe how specialization improves standards of living.

Enduring Understandings:

• Location affects a society’s economy, culture, and development.

• The movement or migration of people and ideas affects all societies involved.

• How did important physical features of the United States affect the lives of Native Americans?

• How does the environment affect the lifestyle and economic specialization of the Native Americans settlers who lived there?

• Why did some Native American nations create permanent villages, while others remained nomads?

• How would you describe the environment (land, climate, resources, and culture) of the different Native Americans nations?

• How did Native Americans use their environment to survive?

Vocabulary Terms:

• natural resources, specialization

• totem pole, potlatch, pueblo, adobe, teepee, lodge

• migrate, survive, trade

• forest, grassland, desert, tundra, region