Do You Know Your Tribes?

A WebQuest for 5th Grade Social Studies

Designed by

Jodi Bloom
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Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page


Introduction

What luck!  The Curator for your city's Native American History Museum has promoted you!  No longer will you clean artifacts -- you will be using your knowledge of Native American Tribes to research and identify new artifacts as they are brought into the museum.  It will be a lot of work, but you are confident that this is the job for you!

You are in the museum for less than five minutes when the your first batch of artifacts arrive.  The Curator informs you that the artifacts come from four different tribes: the Anasazi, the Pawnee, the Iroquois, and the Haida.


The Task

Your task will be to identify each new artifact, which of the four tribes it came from, how the artifact was made, and how it was used.  Many resources and advice from colleagues are available to help you achieve your goal.  After you have all the necessary information for the artifact, you will need to create an information card to accompany the artifact when it is on display in the museum.  The Curator has left you an example of what the card should look like.


The Process

You have several resources available.  Click on each link to learn more about the Anasazi, Pawnee, Iroquois, and Haida tribes.  You may want to take some notes!

Links:

Haida - Encarta Article, Haida Art, Haida History, Haida History 2, Haida History 3

Iroquois - Encarta Article, Iroquois Nations, Iroquois History, Iroquois Culture

Pawnee - Encarta Article, Pawnee History, Plains Indians, Teepee, Buffalo

Anasazi - Encarta Article, Anasazi History, Desert People, Pueblo Indians
 
 

Now, here are you artifacts.  Click on each hint to view a larger picture, as well as professional advice from Dr. Al Noing.  Use the knowledge you gained from your resources to identify each artifact.  Remember, you need to:

  • identify each new artifact, 
  • which of the four tribes it came from, 
  • how the artifact was made, and 

    • how it was used

Hint #1

Hint #2

Hint #3

Hint #4

Hint #5

Hint #6

Hint #7

Hint #8

Hint #9

Now that you have all the information you need on each artifact, create description cards for each.  The Curator gave you an example of what he expects.
 
 
 
 

Whale Bone Spoon:  Haida Tribe, Western Canada

The Haida lived on islands in what is today Western Canada.  The ocean was a vital resource.  The Haida hunted fish and whales.  Because whaling was especially dangerous, the Haida did not waste any part of the whale.  Every piece was used for food, clothing, cooking, or tools.  The bone was cleaned and chiseled with stones to smooth and shape it into combs, knives, spears, and cooking utensils.  This spoon was likely used in cooking and eating. 
Sample description card.
 
 






Evaluation

Your grade will be determined using the following rubric.
 
Beginning

1

 Developing

2

 Accomplished

3

 Exemplary

4

 Score
Students will identify artifacts based on pictures
 
  Identity is incorrect.  No reasoning evident.
Attempted to identify object.  Identity is incorrect, but reasoning is evident.
Correctly identified object.
Object correctly identified.  Reasons for identification are given.
  
Students will identify in which tribes specific artifacts originated.
 
  Identity incorrect.  No reasoning evident.
Identity incorrect, but reasons for choice are given.
Correct tribe identified.
Correct tribe identified and reasons for choice are given.
  
Students will identify how artifacts were made.
 
Explanation contains no evidence based on research.
Explanation contains little evidence based on research.
Explanation contains adequate evidence based on research.
Explanation contains  extensive evidence based on research.
  
Students will identify how specific artifacts were used.
Explanation contains no evidence based on research.
Explanation contains little evidence based on research.
Explanation contains adequate evidence based on research.
Explanation contains  extensive evidence based on research.
  
Students will compile data in the form of a summary, including all above elements.
Summary is missing three of the four elements.  Information is copied verbatim from resources.
Summary is missing no more than one of the hour elements.  Summary is in the student's own words.
Summary includes all elements.  Summary is written in the student's own words.
Summary is written in student's own words.  Citations of references are included.
  


Conclusion

Congratulations on the completion ofyour task!  The Curator will be in touch with you regarding the quality of your work. 

If you have interest in learning more about Native America Tribes, here are some links that will help you to explore further. 

Links:
 



Credits & References

Pictures used courtesy of:
 

Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page