EBSCO/NoveList® Thematic Teacher Guide
Using Literature to Study History
Native North Americans
(Middle School)
Introduction
Literature is a vehicle to widen our experiences, to make us more aware of other
individuals, issues, cultures, our own cultures and our own attitudes. Literature
moves us out of our personal spheres and extends our understanding as we change.
Sacagawea and Chief Joseph were called to do just that. They are the two Native
North Americans whose lives anchor this theme. The first, was a woman, mother,
translator, and a pivotal player in the Lewis & Clark expedition that signaled the
large-scale opening of the West and potential for understanding among cultures. The
second is a chief of the Nez Perce tribe in America’s Pacific Northwest, a people who
once sheltered and guided the Corps of Discovery in their exploration. They stand as
examples of honor, intelligence, compassion and courage - representatives of
cultures ultimately persecuted and marginalized by Manifest Destiny.
This theme explores their characters, and how their encounter with whites signaled
changes beyond their control, altering their personal and world views forever.
Standard
For imaginative/literary texts
Student uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of
literary texts
Objectives
•
compare one’s culture to the culture portrayed in a literary work.
•
make associations between ideas expressed in literary works and personal
experiences.
•
compare and contrast a variety of perspectives of self, others, and world
issues through a selection of literary works.
•
use literary works to develop an understanding of the many dimensions of
human experience (e.g. philosophical, ethical, spiritual)
© 2005 EBSCO Publishing
Suggested Text for Sacagawea
All titles are searchable using NoveList
Sacagawea: The Story of Bird Woman and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Joseph
Bruchac
Grades 7-10, Lexile 840
This novel about Lewis and Clark's epic Western exploration alternates between the
voices of Sacagawea, the young Shoshone guide, and William Clark. Sacagawea’s
intelligence and strength, set in historical context are crucial for the party’s survival.
Folktales and excerpts from expedition journals bring the perilous journey and its
players to life. Ages 10-14. Review credits: Great Books for Girls, Kathleen Odean
(Chair of Newbery Award Committee); and 2000 Cahners Business Information.
Alternate Text
Streams to the River, Rivers to the Sea, Scott O’Dell
Grades 5-8, Lexile: 740
A young Shoshone woman, accompanied by her infant and cruel husband, shares in
joy and heartbreak when she joins the Lewis and Clark Expedition seeking a way to
the Pacific. She also proves to be a key member, as guide and translator.
Suggested Text for Chief Joseph
Thunder Rolling in the Mountains, Scott O’Dell
Grades 5-8, Lexile not yet available
In the late nineteenth century, the young daughter of Nimipu chief Joseph relates
how her people were driven off their land by the U. S. Army and forced to retreat
north until their eventual surrender.
Alternate Text
From Where the Sun Now Stands, Will Henry
Grades 8-9, Lexile: 950
Chief Joseph tries to lead the Nez Perce to Canada in a safe retreat from their
Northwest home, but the U.S. Army has other ideas.
Skill Practiced
Synthesizing information
Drawing Conclusions
Using varied technology in the classroom
Group work
Basic Inquiry
Summarizing written material
© 2005 EBSCO Publishing
Map reading
Map drawing
Co-curricular Applications
Social Studies
Geography
Terms to Consider
ancestral rights: rights to land or other possessions by way of inheritance
assimilated: absorbed into the prevailing culture
diplomacy: the practice and art of conducting negotiations with other people or
nations
genocide: the systematic annihilation of a racial, ethnic, national or cultural group
Indian Removal Act: legislation passed in 1830 that ordered the removal of all
Native Americans to territories west of the Mississippi River
Nez Perce: the Nima Pu tribe of Native North Americans once occupying much of
the Pacific Northwest, noted for horsemanship; in French, the name “Nez Perce”
means “pierced nose”.
oppressors: persecutors or abusers of power and authority
rations: a fixed share or portion of allotted food
relinquish: to surrender or release control of something
reservation: land set apart by the government for settlement by Native Americans
Shoshone: a tribe of Native North Americans formerly living in parts of Nevada,
Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Texas
unceded: not yielded or granted by treaty
Activities
1. Explorers in My Back Yard - Imagine for a moment that you come home from
school to find a group of strangers walking toward your house. They present you
with a document similar to the one written by President Thomas Jefferson (see
“The Mission” at the end of this unit), with references to your neighborhood.
How would you react? What would your first questions be? Your first
conversations with these strangers? Read the words of Thomas Jefferson in “The
Mission document worksheet”. Individually and then in groups, write the kinds of
questions you would ask the strangers, remembering that it is your neighborhood
and town they’ve been sent to.
Ex. What is your purpose here?
© 2005 EBSCO Publishing
How long will you stay?
What do you want with us?
Where will you stay?
See content for “Explorers in My Back Yard” and “The Mission” at the end of this
unit.
Teacher: Note the original spelling and language Jefferson uses.
2. Think about It – Native American children were given names that conveyed
their inner character. The title of one of the texts, Thunder Rolling in the
Mountains is actually the English translation of “Inmutyahlatlat”, Chief Joseph’s
given name. The name “Joseph” was a Christian name given later. Ask students
to think for a moment about these questions:
How might American government and military attitudes toward this
chief have changed if he were known only as “Thunder Rolling in the
Mountains”? Would attitudes have changed?
What does the name “Thunder Rolling in the Mountains” convey?
Describe a man who fits that name. Do the descriptions fit the Nez
Perce chief students come to know through the texts?
Extension Activities
1. Over the River – Social Studies/Geography – Allow students to participate in
further exploration with the Corps of Discovery by accessing an engaging
interactive expedition.
Lewis and Clark @ nationalgeographic.com was created by Rosalyn Schanzer for
the book How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark,
published in 1997 by the National Geographic Society.
2. Show Me the Way – Geography map activities.
a. Accessing free information available through www.marcopolo.com, map the
route of the Sacagawea’s trip with Lewis & Clark. See Resource section for site
navigation
b. Accessing free information available through www.marcopolo.com, map the
route of the Nez Perce flight toward Canada in 1877, keywords Chief Joseph. See
Resource section for site navigation
Resources
1. “Explorers in My Back Yard” handout
2. “The Mission” handout
3. www.discoveryschool.com, search keywords Chief Joseph or go to
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/howthewestwaslost/
4. http://www.marcopolosearch.org/mpsearch/basic_search.asp, search
keywords Lewis & Clark, Sacagawea, Chief Joseph
© 2005 EBSCO Publishing
5. General sources about Lewis & Clark, go to
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/01/lewis.html
6. For other sources for Activity 1 “Explorers in my Back Yard”, go to
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/g68/object.html
7. Source for Extension Activity 1 “Lewis and Clark @ nationalgeographic.com”,
found at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/west/
Evaluation
Students will be graded on their participation and cooperation and discussions. You
may also assess their written work.
Rubric
For samples of Rubric format, please consult the following websites.
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html
http://mecr.state.mn.us/rubric.pl?OBJ_REQ=LISTVIEW
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/tidepoolunit/Rubrics/collrubric.html
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.pres.html
Two Worksheets follow below
© 2005 EBSCO Publishing
Worksheets
Questions for Explorers in My Back Yard
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
© 2005 EBSCO Publishing
Text: The Mission
President Thomas Jefferson’s Mission for Lewis and Clark
June 20, 1803 To Meriwether Lewis
“The Object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River … as by its course and
communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon,
Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct & practicable water
communication across this continent for the purpose of commerce…”
“…which may be carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue, …
therefore endeavor to make yourself acquainted . . . with the names of the nations &
their numbers;
their relations with other tribes of nations;
their language, traditions, monuments;
their food, clothing, & … accommodations;
…their laws, customs …
and articles of commerce they may need or furnish . . .
. . .the state of morality, religion … among them;”
Thomas Jefferson
This is excerpted through fair use from Marco Polo free Internet Classroom resources
“Xpeditions” activity © 2001 National Geographic Society
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/01/lewis_story_1.html
© 2005 EBSCO Publishing