Cheyenne, Navajo, Kwakiutl 

to

Relocate in Illinois

An Inquiry Based Learning Project

created by Christina Martens
Puffer-Hefty School District #69
July 2000

Scenario

Disaster has stricken!  With the westward movement of the settlers, Native American nations are in danger.  Settlers are cutting down trees by the thousands for their housing and farms.  Buffalo and other meat sources are becoming scarce due to the over-killing of the wildlife.  The Indians have no options left but to relocate.  The Federal Government  has set aside land in Illinois  for a single native nation.  The Native Nations Council needs your help!  You will need to compare the environment, natural resources, and daily living needs between the state of Illinois and the three Native American tribes.  Then determine which tribe Cheyenne, Kwakiutl, or Navajo could best survive on this land.

Task

Your team will need to present your findings to the Native Nations Council.  They will expect a team presentation and an individual report on the following essential question.

Which tribe (Cheyenne, Kwakiutl, or Navajo) could relocate and survive best in Central Illinois.


The foundation questions below will help you determine the best tribe for Central Illinois.
 
 

What is geography?

What is location?

Where were these three Native American tribes located? 

What types of housing were built by the three Native American tribes?

What is climate?

What was the climate like for the three Native American tribes?

What is the climate like in Central Illinois? 

 

What are natural resources?

What natural resources did the three tribes use to help them survive?

What natural resources are in Central Illinois?

Resources - Online

Dictionary.com
http://www.dictionary.com

Use this site to look up your vocabulary words!

Sites for all three Native Nations

Native American Project (Cheyenne, Kwakiutl, and Navajo)
http://www2.connectnet.com/~dmp/grade3_indian.html

Another third grade class reports on how the Navajo, Cheyenne and Kwakiutl tribes lived.  Use this site to investigate questions about the tribes general needs, their trade (special skill) and food gathering.  Check to see if you find out the same information.  Remember to check to see if this information is correct!

Native American Reports
http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~hixson/cuff/native.html

Reports written by a third grade class.  Investigate what these students found out about the Navajo Indians.  Check to see if you find out the same information.  Remember to check to see if this information is correct!

Native North America
http://www.alfy.com/Scripts/go.asp?url=http://www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu/cultural/northamerica/index.shtml&purl=/Teachers/Teach/Thematic_Units/Native_Americans/Native_Americans_1.asp

Click on Kwakiutl, Cheyenne, or Navajo and find out about the daily lives, histories, and languages these tribes spoke.

Native American Shelters
http://www.alfy.com/Scripts/go.asp?url=http://www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu/prehistory/settlements/index.shtml&purl=/Teachers/Teach/Thematic_Units/Native_Americans/Native_Americans_1.asp

Click on Plains (Cheyenne), Northwest (Kwakiutl), or Southwest (Navajo) to find out about each tribes shelter.

Britannica Encyclopedia
http://www.britannica.com/

Use Encyclopedia Britannica to look up facts on all three native nations.

Cheyenne Indians

How the Cheyenne Met Their Needs
http://www2.connectnet.com/~dmp/G3_Indian/CheGen.html

A third grade class report on how the Cheyenne nation lived.  Use this site to investigate how the Cheyenne used their natural resources to survive. Check to see if you find out the same information.  Remember to check to see if this information is correct!

Navajo Indians

Southwest Native Americans - Navajo
http://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/swest.htm

General information on the Navajo culture.  Find out how they got their food, what types of houses they built, and about their special trade.

Photographs of the Navajo
http://www.csulb.edu/projects/ais/dine.html

Look here to see real photographs of the Navajo nations (housing, clothing, land, and people).

Encarta Learning Zone - Navajo
http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=06360000

Find facts about the religion, daily life, and history of the Navajo nation from Encarta Encyclopedia!

The Navajo People
http://www.desertusa.com/ind1/du_peo_navajo.html

Use this site to find out about the Navajo crafts and where they lived.
 

In addition please look at the following link for more information on desert life, wildlife and animal, plants and wildflowers.

DesertUSA.com
http://www.desertusa.com/index.html

Kwakiutl Indians

The Spirits: Native Religion of The Pacific Northwest
http://www.fvhscc.org/1996history/spirits.htm

Use this site to investigate Kwakiutl spirit life.  The spirit (the Great Spirit) influenced their daily lives.

Northwest Culture
http://www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/northwest.html

Reports written by a third grade class.  Investigate what these students found out about the Northwest Indian culture.  Check to see if you find out the same information.  Remember to check to see if this information is correct!

Encyclopedia Britannica
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/0/0,5716,47630+1+46546,00.html

Use the Encyclopedia to look up facts about the Kwakiutl Indians.

Central Illinois

Historical Climate Summaries
http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/Summary/Html/118179.html

Find out the climate for Springfield, Illinois.

Weather Channel for Peoria, Illinois
http://www.weather.com/weather/cities/us_il_peoria.html

Find out the climate for Peoria, Illinois.

Grand Prairie Friends
http://www.prairienet.org/gpf/

Look for information on Central Illinois' prairie natural resources.
 

In addition, please look at this site to find out specifically what a prairie is.
Grand Prairie Friends
http://www.prairienet.org/gpf/

Need to know what a prairie is?  Here is the site for you.

State of Illinois Conservation of Forestry
http://dnr.state.il.us/conservation/forestry/index1.htm

What you might find in an Illinois forest.

State of Illinois Conservation of Forestry
http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/inrin/ecosys/forests/forepage.htm

Find out specific information on Illinois forest animals, plants, and historic changes.

Illinois Ecosystems
http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/inrin/ecosys/ecosyspg.htm

Find out about all different types of Illinois ecosystems.

Resources - Traditional

Please use our classroom library to research each tribe.

Product

Step 1: Take Notes

Your team will be required to work together as a group to answer the essential question. Each of you will be expected to take notes on index cards to answer each foundation question. Your team must use at least 4 web sites and 4 traditional texts (magazines, classroom library, student library) as resources.
 

Step 2: Check Your Facts

You must cross reference your facts with other teams.  Share and check your information with another team to make sure that you both have accurate facts.
 

Step 3: Team Work

Discuss with your team your findings.  Your team will need to decide which tribe will survive best in Central Illinois.
 

Step 4: Oral Presentation

Your team will need to present your findings to the Native Nations Council.  They will expect a team presentation.  This presentation may include dioramas, posters, pictures, etc. on the tribe best suited for the Illinois environment.
 

Step 5: Writing Your TWO STEP Report

Each person will need to write an individual report on their specific tribe.

Assessment for Written Report

 

Skill

Advanced 

Intermediate

Beginner

No Attempt

Weighting (X)

Total Points
Spelling All common writing and weekly spelling words are correctly spelled Most common writing and weekly spelling words are correctly spelled Some common writing and weekly spelling words are correctly spelled No attempt to correct spelling
2
  
Sentence/Paragraph Structure Sentences are complete and have proper punctuation Most sentences are complete and have proper punctuation Sentences are incomplete and have incomplete punctuation No attempt at writing sentences with punctuation
4
  
Organization
  • Paragraphs are organized with a topic sentence and supported by facts

    •  
  • Paragraphs focus on topic
    		•
  • Paragraphs are somewhat organized 

    • (contain similar facts)
     
  • Paragraphs have some focus
    		•
  • Paragraphs have been written, but lack  a topic  and focus
    		•
  • No attempt at writing paragraphs

    •  
  • No focus
    		•
    3
    		  
    Notecards
    (answers to Foundation Questions)
  • Notecards are neatly written

    •  
  • Complete answers to Foundation Questions 
    		•
  • Notecards are easy to read

    •  
  • Most Foundation Questions are answered
    		•
  • Notecards are difficult  to read

    •  
  • Some Foundation Questions are answered
    		•
  • Can not read notecards

    •  
  • Foundation Questions have not been answered
    		•
    3
    		  
    Answer to Essential Question
  • Essential Question is answered completely

    •  
  • Facts have been given to support answer
    		•
  • Essential Question is mostly answered

    •  
  • Many facts have been given to support answer
    		•
  • Student has tried to answer some of the Essential Question

    •  
  • Some facts given to support answer
    		•
  • No attempt at answering the Essential Question

    •  
  • No attempt has been given to support the answer
    		•
    3
    		  
    Answer written in own words Complete report written in own words Most of report written in own words Some of report written in own words Copied directly from source
    4
    		  

    Assessment for Oral Presentation

     
    Skill Advanced Intermediate Beginner No Attempt Weighting (X) Total Points
    Oral Presentation Presentation flows smoothly
  • Most of presentation flows smoothly

    •  
  • Most of presentation reports on important facts 
    		•
  • Some of presentation flows smoothly

    •  
  • Some of presentation reports on important facts
    		•
  • No attempt was made at giving an oral presentation

    •  
  • Presentation does not flow nor does it report on important facts
    		•
    5
    		   
    Organization Reports on important facts in organized way Most of presentation is organized Some of presentation is organized Presentation is not organized
    4
    		   
    Appearance Student speaks clearly, loudly, and has eye contact with audience

    Student can read presentation without asking for help

    		 Student speaks clearly, loudly, and has eye contact with audience most of the time

    Student can read most of presentation without asking for help

    		 Student has difficulty speaking clearly, loudly, and rarely has eye contact with audience

    Student has difficulty reading presentation without asking for help

    		 Student does not attempt to speak clearly, loudly, and does not attempt to have eye contact with audience

    Student has difficulty reading presentation 
    4
    		  
     

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