Hidatsa and Mandan

Introduction

~ An Indian Winter

 

This month we have been reading and analyzing An Indian Winter by Russell Freedman. In this nonfiction text, Freedman tells the story of Prince Maximilian and Karl Bodmer's expedition to the North West Territories to spend the winter with the Mandan and Hidatsa Indians. We have paid particular attention to the cultural details revealed through words and images. 

Task

Directions: Use the following prompts to guide your thinking about your performance task design.  While the task itself may not incorporate the prompts directly into how it’s written, a reader of the task should be able to identify each component within it.

 

Role-You have been asked to create a culturally accurate short story and visual presentation of the Mandan Indians based off of one of Karl Bodmer’s paintings/drawings.

The challenge is you can only use 55 words and one of Bodmer’s pieces of art

Audience-You need to inform the current 8th grade students about the culture and people of the Mandan Indians through both words and images.

Product, Performance, and Purpose-You will create a 55 word story in Storyjumper in order to inform 8th grade students about the Mandan Indians and what they valued in their culture.

Standards and Criteria for Success-Your story needs to incorporate the cultural elements of the Mandan Indians studied in ELA and Library class.

Your work will be read by WMS 8th grade students who did not read this book last year. They will fill out a feedback form on the level of understanding they have after viewing your Storyjumper/55 word story.

Your product must meet the following standards addressed in the Storyjumper and 55 word story rubric.

 

Process

Step One: Native American Research- Due Friday March 23rd by the end of class: Please review your notes and questions regarding Native American cultural. Choose two or three of your top questions regarding Native American culture and utilize the websites below to help find the answers to your questions.  Web sources:

Mandan Indians                                                               Hidatsa Indian Facts  

Mandan Facts for Kids                                                    Hidatsa Indians 

Mandan Information                                                       Hidatsa: Legends of America 

Native Americans- Mandan 

Question #1:

Answer:

Source:

 

Question #2:

Answer:

Source:

 

Question #3:

Answer:

Source:

 

Step Two: 55 Word Story-Due Friday March 30th by the end of class: Look back through the text and choose one of Karl Bodmer's images/drawings/paintings that you feels "tell a story" and that demonstrates Native American cultural aspects.

You will write a short (very short) story on the Bodmer image you chose. You will need to tell a story in 55 words or less. Look at some of the 55 word story examples below for an idea of how to choose your words carefully. 

55 Word Stories 

55 Fiction 

55 Word Story Samples 

Once you look at the samples and choose a Bodmer image..... take notes on the following:

Page number of the Illustration/Painting I am choosing:

Title of the Illustration/Painting (found on pg 84 of the book):

 

1. Theme/topic of my story:

 

2- Character(s) of my story:

         

3- Setting for my story:

 

 

4- Conflict/problem for my story:

 

 

 

5- Plot events for my story:

 



     First:

     Next:

    But, then:

    Finally:



Step Three: Storyjumper-Due Posted to Kidblog by Friday April 6th by the end of the day:  In Library, you will be working on putting your 55 word story into a Storyjumper.

please log into Kidblog and post the link to your Storyjumper on your Kidblog class page. If you can't access Kidblog, please send me your Storyjumper link: mulvihillj@woodstockschools.net

To access your new ELA 7th Grade class posts:

Kidblog: https://kidblog.org/   -mulvihill  (in the space, put your class’s letter: a, b, d, or e. The only exception to this is f period. Your class site is https://kidblog.org/f-mulvihill7  

Your user name is: First Name Last Name

Your password is wildcat

 

Evaluation

Your work will be evaluated based on two rubrics. One for the 55 word story its self for an ELA grade, and the other for the Storyjumper presentation for a Library grade. Please see each rubric below.

 

                                55 Word/Nano Story Rubric:

 

7-8

Exceptional

4-6

Acceptable

2-3

Needs Improvement

0-1

Not present

  

Comments

Organization



 

The story has a clear beginning, middle and end.  Follows a logical sequence.

The story has a beginning, middle and end.  Events are in logical order.

The story does not have a clear beginning, middle and end.  The sequence of events is confusing.

The story is missing either a beginning or ending.  The relationship between events is often confusing.

  

Plot



 

Plot is interesting and has conflict which is established, developed and resolved after a gripping climax.

The plot makes sense and the conflict is established, developed and resolved after a climax.

The plot may be hard to follow.  The conflict is established and resolved, but lacks proper development.

The plot is hard to follow.  The conflict is not developed and it may not be resolved in a logical way.

  

Character(s)

Characters are well-developed through dialogue, action or thoughts.

Some characters are well-developed through dialogue, actions and thoughts.

The characters are described rather than established through dialogue, action or thought.

The characters may not be fully described, even through description.  Some characters are revealed through dialogue, action or thought.

  

Setting

The setting is described through vivid sensory language.

The setting is clear and some sensory language is used to describe it.

The setting is identified but not clearly described.

The setting may be vague.

  

Point of View

One point of view was used consistently throughout the story.

Point of view is fairly consistent.

Point of view changes several times throughout the story.

What is the point of view?  I can't tell.

  

Culture

&

Values

(x2)

The description of the Mandan culture has specific ideas from research.  The little details about the culture and people are shown. Very obvious you have done research.

The description of the  Mandan culture has some ideas from research, although it focuses just on the big things.  Obvious research was done.

The description of the Mandan culture has very few ideas from the research.  There are only big events described. Research was not effective.

The description of the Mandan culture is weak.  Elements from the research are not used effectively.

  

Word Count and Usage

(x2)

Story is 55 words and clearly word usage and selection was carefully considered.

Story is roughly 55 words (+/- 3 words) and word usage was considered.

Story is not 55 words +/- 6 words and word usage was somewhat considered.

Story is not near 55 words + 10 words and word usage was not considered.

  

Spelling, Grammar, and Mechanics

There are few or no errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling. Dialogue is punctuated  and formatted correctly.

There are some errors in mechanics, usage, grammar or spelling.  Dialogue may have minor errors in punctuation or format.

There are many errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling.  These sometimes make the story hard to understand. Dialogue is punctuated and formatted inconsistently.

Numerous errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, and spelling which interfere with meaning.  Dialogue may be hard to tell from narrative, or it may lack essential elements, such as quotation marks or end punctuation.

  

Totals

      

 

  

          /80pts



 

 

 

                                     StoryJumper Rubric: 

 

Exemplary

7-8

Developed

4-6

Needs Work

1-3

Comments

E- Book Content

(x3)

Intro begins with a strong hook engage the audience.  Summary provides

information that is current, clear, and accurate.  Information is fresh, interesting and pertinent, with strong evidence for topic/ethics of topic.

Intro is developed.  Topic is mostly current or accurate.  Summary provides information, may extend too long/wordy.  Most information is accurate and some support on topic. There is a conclusion.

Intro lacks details about the topic.  Information is partially accurate and current.  Conclusion is

weak or missing.

  

Images

(x2)

Images are crisp and clear, enriching and extending the details and meaning of the topic.  Images are appropriately cited and highly engaging.

Images are relevant and support the topic.

Images are appropriately cited and illustrate the content/audience

Images are not relevant or as used mostly as decoration.  Images may be grainy. They detract from the content or are inappropriate.  Images may not be appropriately cited.

  

Presentation

(x2)

Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc, to enhance the presentation.  All elements work together seamlessly to create an interesting and compelling presentation.

Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. To enhance to presentation.  Elements are related, if not compelling, and overall effect is sound.

Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. but they may detract from the presentation content.  Elements may not complement each other and overall effect needs life.

  

Class work &

Effort

(x3)

Class time spent well. On task and focused. Effort is great.

Class time mostly spent well. Mostly on task and focused. Effort is good.

Some class time was spent on task. Effort is needs improvement.

  

Total:

        

          /80pts