Aiken County Public Schools
Division of Instruction and Accountability
3rd Grade South Carolina Studies Writing Task
Content standards
(What students will
write.)
3-2.1 Compare the culture, governance, and physical environment of the major
Native American tribal groups of South Carolina, including the Cherokee,
Catawba, and Yemassee.
Corresponding CCSS
Writing Standards
(How students will
write.)
W.3.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with
reasons.
Learning Objective
Essential Question
Write a short opinion paper that compares the Native American tribal groups of South
Carolina.
Which Native American tribal group do you believe can best meet your needs?
Source A: Chapter 3 (pages 86-103)
Stimuli
Source B: South Carolina Native American Tribes PPT
Source C: Graphic Organizer
Task
You have just returned from exploring the area around your settlement and
discovered that your fellow explorers have left to go back to England. They did
not leave you any food or supplies, so you decide that you must travel to one of
the Native American tribal villages to see if they will let you live with them.
Based on your knowledge of the Native American tribes of South Carolina, you
must decide which tribe will meet your needs.
Differentiation Options
Consideration: This writing task may be either part of
the ongoing teaching process for the unit or a
summation at the end of the unit. Choose the format
that best meets the needs of your students.
Teacher Directions
Process:
I do: Teach the unit covering South Carolina Native
Americans. Read the writing task to the class.
We do: Students work collaboratively to fill out
graphic organizer. (1) Students share their
opinions on which tribe they believe they
would join. (2)
You do: Students independently write an opinion
paper on which tribe they would join.
Writing Prompt
(1) Provide
key words,
numbers or line spaces
to support students as
they identify
information to include
on their graphic
organizer.
Allow students to
view the PowerPoint in
their small groups to
encourage
collaboration
regarding what
information is
pertinent for their
assignment.
(2)
Using the information you have learned from the
textbook and the resources provided, compare and
contrast each of the Native American tribes and choose
one tribe that you wish to join.
Building for a better tomorrow – one child at a time.
LE
Aiken County Public Schools
Division of Instruction and Accountability
Be sure to: (3)
A. Choose one tribe that you will join.
B. Explain your reasons for joining that tribe
based on:
1. location
2. dwellings
3. food
4. clothing
5. council
C. Provide reasons that support your opinion.
Supply a rubric to
encourage students to
self-assess their
writings during the
writing process.
(3)
Special note: To meet the expectations of Common Core State
Standards and Smarter Balanced, allow students to respond
independently using technology (i.e., computers, netbooks, iPads,
iPods, etc.).
Building for a better tomorrow – one child at a time.
LE