My Name is Not Easy
I.
The Planning Stage:
A.
Topic: My Name is Not Easy by Debbie Dahl Edwardson
B.
Name of Course and Grade Level: Social Studies 8th grade
C.
Key Vocabulary/Academic Language:
Snow birds, Eskimos, Native Alaskan, nomadic, sedentary, sustenance, diversity, First
Nations, acculturation, assimilation, dissemination, boarding schools, heathens, bomb
shelter, civil disobedience, culture, sacred, ethical, civil rights, genocide
D.
Social Science Content Standard
California 8th grade social science standards: 8.3.3, 8.4.1, 8.2.2, 8.8.1, 8.8.2, 8.12
California 6-8 HSSA standards
E.
Learning Objectives
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F.
Students will have an exposure to the geography of Alaska and the difference in
cultures between Alaskan tribes due to the diversity of climate
Through photographs, letters, reports, interviews, and other primary documents
students explore the forced acculturation of American Indians through governmentrun boarding schools
Students should understand the goals and accomplishments of the American Indian
Movement within the context of the larger Civil Rights Movement
Time Line
Five Days
G.
Interdisciplinary Component
English, Geography, History, Sociology, Technology, Science, Art
H.
Resources/Materials
The American Vision – Glencoe Publishing, “Savagery and the American Indian” video,
Smartboard or Overhead Projector, various images of supportive material, worksheets
pertaining to daily lesson
II
Lesson Plan Content and Instructional Strategy
A.
Hook – images of boarding school
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTm479tr2jo&feature=BFa&list=PL4BE135AAFE390
2EA&1f=results_main
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJKrGu2cwT0&feature=related
B.
Transition – Introduce the laptop folder and how to we will be using it as a graphic
organizer
C.
Lesson Content
Day 1&2 Discuss vocabulary words – Eskimos, First Nations, Native Alaskans,
assimilation, acculturation, and boarding schools. Students will choose one of
the following Native Alaskan cultures: Intupiaq, St. Lawrence Yupik, Yupik, Cupik,
Athabascans, Unanqax, Alutiiq, Eyak, Tlinqit, Haida, or Tsimshian and write a
brief summary of the tribe. Read first selection of book.
Day 3: Introduce Vocabulary. Small group work: using photographs of children before
and after attending boarding schools, students will analyze and discuss the
visible differences in the children, as well as infer the emotional loss the children
might have experienced. Students add to their laptop folders the positive and
negative aspects of boarding schools. Read second selection of book.
Day 4: Iodine 131 Experiment – Introduce vocabulary. Brainstorm with students
concerning their prior knowledge of nuclear weapons and testing of those
weapons. Read page 197 through 216 of book. Students work in groups to
complete the worksheet about testing in different parts of the country using the
fact sheets provided – class discussion concentrating on civil rights and situations
where native people were experimented on without knowledge of toxicity.
Day 5: Group work – Students fill out their laptop folders discussing the following:
1. Five examples of ways larger society imposed rules to eradicate traditional
tribal practices
2. Five examples where Native Peoples asserted self-determination to preserve
their traditional beliefs
Discussion on linking main ideas of the book.
Conclusion: Students create collage using copies of photographs and their own
drawings, students will express their impression of the information they learned
over the past four days.
Assessment: Participation and completion of laptop and collage
Bibliography:
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/fallout-docs/images/pamphlet-03.gif
http://www.pbs.org/harriman/1899/native.html
http://www.hss.energy.gov/HealthSafety/ohre/roadmap/achre/chap12_4.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb8pOwi5wbg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBzT1G4G-40
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/indianschools/appear.html
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/alaska/aktirbe.htm
http://www.epa.gov/tp/whereyoulive/tribes-alaska.htm
http://www.learner.org/interactives/historymap/indians2.html
http://www.alaskanative.net/en/home/
http://alaskatrekker.com/natives.htm
http://www.aaanativearts.com/alaskan-natives/alaskan_native_cultures.htm
Savagery and the American Indian
The American Vision