A Native American Webquest

Featuring the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne, and Navajo tribes

Created for  M.H. Allen Elementary School by Mrs. Maureen Schoenberger

Introduction|Task|Process|Evaluation|Conclusion|

INTRODUCTION
Long ago, North America was very different from the way it is today. The first people arrived in North America from Asia by crossing a land bridge that temporarily connected the continents. Since these were the first people to live in North America, they are known as Native Americans. Many different cultures of Native Americans developed over the course of time. Culture refers to the people's way of life. Each culture was affected by the natural resources that were available to them. Natural resources were used as tools for survival providing such necessities as food, clothing, and shelter.

This webquest will focus on the following specific Native American cultures:
Kwakiutl, Cheyenne, and the Navajo.

Back to the Top

TASK

Your assignment is to study a Native American Tribe. You will be working with a group to:

• Search for information about your tribe on the internet and in books.

• Write a report about your tribe based on your job

• Create a visual picture using Kid Pix

• Combine all of your group members reports and pictures to create a book.

Back to the Top

PROCESS

1. First, you will divided up into groups of 4-5 and you will be given an Indian tribe.  Your first tribal decision is to decide who will be:

• The Food Finder – Researches for food the tribe eats

• The Clothing Constructor – Researches for clothing the tribe wears

• The Shelter Sorter – Researches the shelter the tribe lives in

• The Art Collector - Researches the art the tribe creates

• The Beliefs Investigator – Researches the beliefs of the tribe

    2. Now, the tribe must split up and begin researching.  Use the resources below to become an expert on your tribe. Find facts that you think would be helpful in writing your report. You may keep track of all facts by using Microsoft Word.

Kwakiutl (Pacific Northwest)

Cheyenne (Plains Indians)

Navajo (Southwest)

 3. Now that you have found all the facts you need, you can begin writing your report:

• Open Microsoft Word

• Click on File and then Page Setup.  Choose the "Landscape" feature instead of "Portrait"

• Write a good paragraph about your tribe with the information you researched. Have a good beginning sentence, at least three sentences containing your facts, and then a good ending sentence.
  *** Don't forget to look at your rubric***

• When you are finished with the report, you can format the text. (Change the colors, style, size, etc.)

4.  Finished writing the report?  Great!  Now you are ready to draw a picture to go along with your report.  Remember, the picture should be appropriate to what you have written about the tribe.  I would like one well drawn picture for each member of the group using KidPix.

5.  All members finished? Great! Now, print out the reports and your drawings and create a cover for your book. Staple the book together and then go onto number 6 until we are ready to share the book.

6. Finished EVERYTHING?  Go onto these great sites:

Back to the Top

EVALUATION

Back to the Top

CONCLUSION

     Native Americans customs and traditions were influenced by the world around them they were excellent adaptors to their environment.  How do you suppose we have adapted to our environment?  What influences the way we live?

Back to the Top