This iAdventure is designed to help students to learn more about the Native Americans who lived here before the Europeans arrived.  They may work independently if you have enough computers, or in pairs if needed.  The final projects should be done individually.  This is designed for 5 or 6 class sessions for students from 4th-6th grade. When the students go to links they can get back to the iAdventure by simply clicking on the x.

You will be able to click on any page on the map below and go directly to that page.  To return to this page, click "back".

 

Background Information

An iAdventure is a way of teaching students important concepts and skills by involving them in a storyline about one or more characters (fictional or real). For this iAdventure, the student will be exploring websites that provide information about Native Americans.  After visiting many different websites, the student will be able to create a visual representation of the information they have learned about a specific tribe of Native Americans.

Curriculum Standards

The following are the Missouri standards used in this iAdventure.  If you are outside of Missouri, please refer to the standards used in your state.
 

GOAL 1: Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to gather, analyze and apply information and ideas. Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to      1. develop questions and ideas to initiate and refine research      2. conduct research to answer questions and evaluate information and ideas      4. use technological tools and other resources to locate, select and organize information      5. comprehend and evaluate written, visual and oral presentations and works      8. organize data, information and ideas into useful forms (including charts, graphs, outlines) for analysis or presentation

GOAL 2: Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively within and beyond the classroom. Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to       1. plan and make written, oral and visual presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences      3. exchange information, questions and ideas while recognizing the perspectives of others

GOAL 4: Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to make decisions and act as responsible members of society. Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to       1. explain reasoning and identify information used to support decisions      5. develop, monitor and revise plans of action to meet deadlines and accomplish goals

In Communication Arts, students in Missouri public schools will acquire a solid foundation which includes knowledge of and proficiency in       4. writing formally (such as reports, narratives, essays) and informally (such as outlines, notes)      6. participating in formal and informal presentations and discussions of issues and ideas

In Social Studies, students in Missouri public schools will acquire a solid foundation which includes knowledge of       5. the major elements of geographical study and analysis (such as location, place, movement, regions) and their relationships to changes in society      and environment      6. relationships of the individual and groups to institutions and cultural traditions      7. the use of tools of social science inquiry (such as surveys, statistics, maps, documents)

Resources Needed

For this iAdventure you will need an Internet connected computer for each student, or you may want the students to work in pairs and share a computer.  A printer is needed that is accessible to each computer.  You will need a scoring guide for each student. Students will need to provide their own materials from home to build their visual projects.

 
 

Assessment

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Name __________________________________

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Contribute
Research, Gather Information	Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.	Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.	Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.	Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
Share Information	Does not relay any information to teammates.	Relays very little information--some relates to the topic.	Relays some basic information--most relates to the topic.	Relays a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
Be Punctual	Does not hand in any assignments.	Hands in most assignments late.	Hands in most assignments on time.	Hands in all assignments on time.
Visual Project
Quality of work including size requirements	Project is not close to the correct size, or the quality is below average.	Project is within 2 inches of the correct size, and the quality is average.	Project is correct size, but the quality of construction is average.	Project is between 14 and 24 wide and long. Very high quality of construction.
Includes environment, home, food, clothing, and transportation	Only 1 area is easily observed.	Only 2 areas are easily observed.	Only 3 or 4 areas are easily observed.	All 5 areas are easily observed.
Accuracy of information	Many important items are not accurate for the tribe selected.	Many details are not accurate for the tribe selected.	A few minor details are not accurate for the tribe selected.	All information shown is accurate for the tribe selected.
Data Collector Sheets	Most answers are inaccurate and don't match the visual display.	Many items are inaccurate or don't match the visual display.	Some information is inaccurate or doesn't match the visual display.	Information is accurate and matches the visual display.
				Total

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Creating Conclusions and Student Products

The final project that the student creates should be made at home with the student providing the materials.  I would encourage the students to use natural materials instead of store bought for two reasons.  First, it is affordable to all socioeconomic levels to find sticks, grass, straw, paper, and cloth.  Second, it reinforces the idea that the Native Americans relied on nature for all their wants and needs.  Limiting the size of the project is also encouraged so you won't have some students (and parents) thinking bigger is better. Each Data Collector page may be printed by the student and turned in for credit.
 
 

Acknowledgements

I was able to use some great pictures from Yahoo Picture Gallery at  http://gallery.yahoo.com.  I also used FlamingText  at http://www.flamingtext.com. I would like to thank Mr. Stan Smith of the Warrensburg, Missouri school district for opening up the world of iAdventures to me.  It is a great concept to integrate technology with curriculum standards. The iAdventure concept was developed in the Warrensburg, MO school district, as part of the "Learning with iAdventures" program. This program was funded by a Competitive Technology grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

For more information on iAdventures, visit the iAdventure Home Page.