Day
Read Aloud
“Chief Joseph: A Leader in
Difficult Times”
7
Key Idea In the 1870s, the Nez Perce, led by Chief Joseph, fought bravely,
although outnumbered, to keep from being dispossessed from their ancestral lands
because of the discovery of gold there. Finally surrendering, Chief Joseph said, “I
will fight no more forever.”
Learning Focus
RI.4.3
Students will explain events in a historical text, including what happened and why, based on
specific information in the text.
Previewing the Text
3 minutes
Chief Joseph: A Leader in Difficult Times
In the 1800s, the United States government was seeking to expand its control of western
lands. But often, these lands were already lived in and used by many Native Americans.
Sometimes the government worked out an arrangement with Native Americans over territory. But
usually the government tried to force the Native Americans off their land. This is what happened
with a group called the Nez Perce.
In the middle of the 1800s, the U.S. government wanted the Nez Perce territory, but they
made an agreement to allow the Nez Perce to keep a substantial amount of land. Unfortunately,
then gold was found on this territory, and the U.S. government decided to take the land. For
many of the Nez Perce, this was the ultimate betrayal.
Who can briefly tell us what this text is about so far?
Close Listening to the Text
7 minutes
We’re learning more about the history of the American West in this selection. This text gives us
the where, when, who, how, and why of an important event in the history of the West. When I
read information, I look for connections between events so that I’ll understand why the events
happened.
Mondo Bookshop Grade 4 • Theme 9 1
These were difficult times, and the Nez Perce needed a strong and wise leader. But
unfortunately, their leader died in 1871. Chief Joseph, the son of that leader, was elected at the
age of 31. It became his responsibility to help his people keep their land while also avoiding too
many conflicts with white settlers.
But this was difficult. More and more white settlers were moving onto the Nez Perce lands.
And then the U.S. government ordered the Nez Perce to leave and move to a reservation in
Idaho. At first, Chief Joseph refused. But then it seemed the U.S. military might attack Joseph’s
group. Chief Joseph did not want to fight, so he agreed. However, some young Nez Perce
warriors, angry about having to leave their homeland, attacked a white settlement during the
journey.
From what I’ve read so far, it seems to me that the major event is that the U.S. government
tried to force the Nez Perce to leave their land. Now let’s look for why it happened. Who’ll give
us their insight into why it happened?
A point I want to emphasize is that when we make connections to understand the what and
why of a text, we need to rely on the specific information in the text. We don’t just make it up!
So listen closely as I read.
As a result, the Nez Perce were thrown into a war with the U.S. government. The war lasted
several months. Even though the Nez Perce had fewer fighters, they managed to fight bravely.
They fought four courageous major battles. But the Nez Perce, traveling with women and
children, were badly outnumbered. Because the battles were covered by the newspapers, Chief
Joseph had become well known among white settlers. Actually, many people admired the military
skills and strategies used by the Nez Perce. Unfortunately, in the end, they were outnumbered. On
October 5, 1877, Chief Joseph formally surrendered, saying, “I want to have time to look for my
children and see how many I can find. . . . I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun
now stands I will fight no more forever.” After all the battles were over, the U.S. government did
not send the Nez Perce to a reservation in Idaho. Instead they were sent to lands in Kansas and
Oklahoma. Eventually, years later, they were allowed to live on lands in their original region. But
by that time, many of the Nez Perce had passed away due to age, injury, and disease.
Now you’ve heard about the Nez Perce and Chief Joseph. Let’s share information. Who’d like
to tell us some important information they heard as I read?
Correct. Who can give us the why of that event: Why did the Nez Perce lose?
Yes. By listening for information, you’ve put events together to understand their causes.
Discussing the Text
10 minutes
As you discuss this text with your classmates, I want you to use a speaking and listening
strategy you used earlier in this theme. I want you to ask each other questions about things
in the text that might be unclear. And I want you to answer each other’s questions. Who has a
question about what happened in the events of this text?
Who can answer that?
Who has a why question they would like to ask?
Who’d like to try answering that one?
That sounds like a sensible answer to me. It connects what and why. What specific information
helped you make that connection?
2 Westward Ho!
Day
Read Aloud
“Chief Joseph: A Leader in
Difficult Times”
8
LEARNING FOCUSES
RI.4.3, RI.4.5
Students will describe the structure of events as they continue to explain what happened and
why, based on specific information in the text.
REFLECTING ON THE TEXT
3 minutes
I’m going to reread the text about Chief Joseph today. Let’s review what you learned last time.
CLOSE LISTENING TO THE TEXT
7 minutes
As I reread the text, I’m going to keep looking for the what and why of events. To help me do
that, I’m going to notice how the text structures those events. In history texts, authors often
narrate events in chronological, or time, order, from first to next to last. That shows the what.
Authors also write about the causes and effects of events. That shows the why. Those two
structures can work together in the same text.
Chief Joseph: A Leader in Difficult Times
In the 1800s, the United States government was seeking to expand its control of western
lands. But often, these lands were already lived in and used by many Native Americans.
Sometimes the government worked out an arrangement with Native Americans over territory. But
usually the government tried to force the Native Americans off their land. This is what happened
with a group called the Nez Perce.
In the middle of the 1800s, the U.S. government wanted the Nez Perce territory, but they
made an agreement to allow the Nez Perce to keep a substantial amount of land. Unfortunately,
then gold was found on this territory, and the U.S. government decided to take the land. For
many of the Nez Perce, this was the ultimate betrayal.
These were difficult times, and the Nez Perce needed a strong and wise leader. But
unfortunately, their leader died in 1871. Chief Joseph, the son of that leader, was elected at the
age of 31. It became his responsibility to help his people keep their land while also avoiding too
many conflicts with white settlers.
Who heard an example of a first-event-to-next-event structure in what I just read?
MONDO BOOKSHOP GRADE 4 • THEME 9 1
Who would like to add why it happened?
As I read the next portion, listen for the order in which events happen and the reasons they
happen.
But this was difficult. More and more white settlers were moving onto the Nez Perce lands.
And then the U.S. government ordered the Nez Perce to leave and move to a reservation in
Idaho. At first, Chief Joseph refused. But then it seemed the U.S. military might attack Joseph’s
group. Chief Joseph did not want to fight, so he agreed. However, some young Nez Perce
warriors, angry about having to leave their homeland, attacked a white settlement during the
journey.
Who wants to retell a series of events from that portion?
Let’s have someone else keep going and give us a reason why the fighting began.
I’ll read to the end of the selection now. This part is longer than the previous ones, and it’s
packed with information, so listen carefully.
As a result, the Nez Perce were thrown into a war with the U.S. government. The war lasted
several months. Even though the Nez Perce had fewer fighters, they managed to fight bravely.
They fought four courageous major battles. But the Nez Perce, traveling with women and
children, were badly outnumbered. Because the battles were covered by the newspapers, Chief
Joseph had become well known among white settlers. Actually, many people admired the military
skills and strategies used by the Nez Perce. Unfortunately, in the end, they were outnumbered. On
October 5, 1877, Chief Joseph formally surrendered, saying, “I want to have time to look for my
children and see how many I can find. . . . I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun
now stands I will fight no more forever.” After all the battles were over, the U.S. government did
not send the Nez Perce to a reservation in Idaho. Instead they were sent to lands in Kansas and
Oklahoma. Eventually, years later, they were allowed to live on lands in their original region. But
by that time, many of the Nez Perce had passed away due to age, injury, and disease.
Who would like to state some information they heard that was presented in the order of
events?
Who’ll share some why information about those events?
DISCUSSING THE TEXT
10 minutes
Who would like to share a different cause-and-effect connection that they noticed in the text?
Now discuss the text in groups. Remember to pose questions to your classmates and answer
the ones they pose. Add to the points your classmates make.
As you read other historical texts, remember to look for what happened and why, and the
connections between events. Notice how the structure of the text helps you understand the
information.
2 WESTWARD HO!