The Blending and Understanding of Indigenous Cultures in the Middle School ELA Classroom

Abstract

The usual introductory lesson to informational text will be used to remind students of the seven types of informational texts. The five pieces that will be used for analysis will focus more on Indigenous issues and people as a way of maintaining and encouraging the students to be actively involved in the class. We will move into learning and researching tribes of the Southwest in small groups of three or four. Each group will present their materials in a PowerPoint or poster format. For example, if the students chose the Wampanoag tribe their first piece would describe the Wampanoag beliefs and character. Their second would focus on the history of the Wampanoag tribe. Their third would identify an issue the tribe faced and how the tribe was affected by it. The fourth would identify a problem the Wampanoag tribe faces or faced and explain how it could or was resolved. The fifth piece would be a comparison between the tribe chosen by the group and the people of Kingman. I would like to add a language component to this project by asking for five words in the tribal language if discoverable. I would ask students to try to find words for home, school, friend, family, food. Students will be scored based on the depth of their analysis and gathering of information.