Introduction
There were over 500 distinct sub-tribes of Native American Indians in California history. The greatclimate and easy access for food made it so that almost 1/3 of all Native American Indians lived in California.
In this Web Quest you will get to learn more about one of these tribes!
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Lesson Objective: Students will use research skills to locate information on a Native California tribe. Students will interpret this information by writing a report.
Subject Matter Content Standard: 4.2.1. : Describe the major nations of California Indians, including their geographic distribution, economic activities, legends, and religious beliefs; and describe how they depended on, adapted to, and a modified the physical environment by cultivation of land and use of sea resources.
NSTE Standard: 3. Students apply difital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. a. plan strategies to guide inquiry, b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media, c. evaluate and select information sources and difital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks, and d. process data and report results.
Task
You will pick one of the listed Native American Tribes from California. You will do online research to answer the essential question:
How did California's geography and resources influence your chosen Native American Tribe's daily life?
While researching you will be completing a worksheet to help you discover more about your choosen tribe. Do a great job because you can use your worksheet to help you write your California Native American Report to answer the essential question!
Process
Select one of these Native American California Indian tribes
| Tolowa | Shasta | Hupa | Yurok | Modoc |
| Achumawi | Atsugewi | Chumash | Bear River | Lassick |
| Cahuilla | Wintun | Salinan | Wappo | Kumeyaay |
Learn more about your selected California Indian tribe by visiting these websites to complete the worksheet.
A short history of California Indian:
http://www.nativeamericancaucus.org/content/california-indian-history
California Indians- YouTube Video Lesson by Tim Bedley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdHpvhu-wTo&noredirect=1
Four Directions Institute Compilation of California Indian Information
http://www.fourdir.com/california_indians_index.htm
Worksheet
After completing the worksheet you will use this information to write your report answering the essential question:
How did California's geography and resources influence the California's Native American Tribes daily life?
Evaluation
The following rubric will be used to grade the report:
California Native Tribe Report Rubric
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4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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Spelling and Punctuation |
There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the story |
There are 1-2 spelling or punctuation error in the story |
There are 3-4 spelling and punctuation errors in the story |
The final draft has more than 4 spelling and punctuation errors in the story |
|
Describe your tribe |
There is a complete food cycle starting at plants and listing at least 2 producers prior to your animal and 2 consumers after your animal. |
There is a complete food cycle starting at plants and has at least 5 parts of the food cycle but it only has 0-1 producers OR consumer |
There is a food cycle starting at plants and has 3-4 parts of the food cycle |
There is not a food cycle or it 2 or less parts of the food web |
|
How did geography influence your tribe’s daily life. |
The report contains many details and/or descriptions about the geography and how it influenced your tribe’s life. 4 or more ways shared. |
The report contains details and/or descriptions about the geography and how it influenced your tribe’s life. 3 ways shared. |
The report contains details and/or descriptions about the geography and how it influenced your tribe’s life. 2 ways shared. |
The report contains little or no details and/or descriptions about the geography and how it influenced your tribe’s life. |
|
Sentence Structure |
No sentence errors; variety in length and type |
Complete sentences; few run-on sentences |
Mostly complete sentences; 1-3 fragments or run-on sentences |
More than 3 incomplete sentences |
|
Requirements |
At least 1 full page with 4 paragraphs, |
3 paragraphs |
2 paragraphs |
Less than 10 sentences |
Credits
Resources:
California Indian Tribal Group Image: http://www.roseville.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=3897
Indian Canoe Image: http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/northeast/ojibwa/canoe.gif
Teacher Page
Throughout this assignment you can assess student's progress and understanding by checking their progress on how they are completing the worksheet which lists the subsidiary questions.
The internet will promote student learning because students will be able to select their own tribe, a form of differentiation, and then because of the internet they will be able to each research their own tribe. In addition to the suggested websites, teachers may also help students find other websites which are specific to their chosen tribe.