Local Native American history is a fairly common unit in grades 2-4. Some fellow 3rd grade teachers in different states (CT., IL., and southern CA.) thought it would be exciting for our students to share their learning with other classes around the country. One of the primary objectives would be to compare how the natural resources and climate of an area influenced local Native American lifestyle (food, clothing, and housing, etc.).
The collaboration will be done through a wiki and we are hoping to do it during late Nov/Dec.
If you are interested in participating, or if you have suggestions about the best platform for sharing, please leave a comment. Thanks!
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The project is now up to 15 members. We welcome more, and would especially like to have participants from the southwest, northwest and northern plains area. A few classes have started already, but most are not getting underway until mid-late November so there is still plenty of time to plan or ask questions.
Hi, I teach 4th grade in Ca and our curr. is heavy into the Native American groups in CA and how they used the environment. I'm new to wikis and want to learn. I also have to see if my district will allow a wiki, they have a strong firewall. So, I'd like to participate.
After experimenting with both PBworks and wikispaces, I find wikispaces easier to navigate and edit for both teachers and students. So, I have changed the wiki for the project. You can access it here.
We now have about 12 members. More are welcome!
Sharon Regner > Jonah SalsichSeptember 17, 2009 at 9:24pm
Please make that 13 members. We're located in the Bay Area, Northern California, and would love to participate. I teach 45 eager 4th graders.
I have several 2nd grade teachers that would probably be willing to participate. We live in Roanoke, VA and can share information about the Eastern Woodland Indians. Please let me know you have room for us in this project!!
Jonah Salsich > Meg SweckerAugust 24, 2009 at 7:36pm
Glad to have you join us Meg! It will be neat to see the similarities and difference between the Eastern Woodland tribes of CT. and VA., and then compare those to the others from around North America.
So far there are 5 schools involved from the U.S. and Canada. I set up a wiki thorough PBworks. You can visit it here: Native Culture Wiki
The map is through Google My Maps, and the place marks should link to pages.
If you are interested in participating, it doesn't have to be during Nov/Dec, but whenever it works into your curriculum.
I would love to be a part of this project. I'm up in Canada - a main component of my curriculum is how the geography of a location influenced the Aboriginal culture and lifestyle. I always focus on Canada, but it would be great to extend south to see similarities and differences.
A google map - with location tags and information linked to each tag - embedded in the wiki could be a neat addition to facilitate sharing.
I teach grade 5, but have no problem working with lower grades, if you'll have me.
Jonah Salsich > Jen DeyenbergAugust 19, 2009 at 1:46pm
Welcome aboard Jen! We would love to have you participate in the project. And I don't see why you couldn't still focus on Canadian indigenous culture and lifestyle. As you said, the focus is on the environment's influence on lifestyle, not modern political lines. So, a northern perspective would be great!
I have started a wiki here and actually already embedded a google map just like you suggested. Just "request access" on the wiki site and then you can edit away. I'll add a "planning" page where we can kick around ideas for a title, appropriate terminology, etc. I can also give you access to edit the google map, or I can add the tags where you would like, either way works for me.
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We now have about 12 members. More are welcome!
The map is through Google My Maps, and the place marks should link to pages.
If you are interested in participating, it doesn't have to be during Nov/Dec, but whenever it works into your curriculum.
A google map - with location tags and information linked to each tag - embedded in the wiki could be a neat addition to facilitate sharing.
I teach grade 5, but have no problem working with lower grades, if you'll have me.
I have started a wiki here and actually already embedded a google map just like you suggested. Just "request access" on the wiki site and then you can edit away. I'll add a "planning" page where we can kick around ideas for a title, appropriate terminology, etc. I can also give you access to edit the google map, or I can add the tags where you would like, either way works for me.
Thanks for the interest, it should be fun!
Jonah