Teaching Social Studies with Native American Artifacts
One of the topics we study in social studies focuses on Native American cultural regions. We start by using the textbook to learn about the natural resources available in the different regions and how the people in that area used the specific resources around them to hunt, build housing, tools, clothing, jewelry and other daily necessities.
I have the kids take notes on identifying characteristics of each region including the climate, animal populations, trees/plants, and other resources that could be found in each region.
After reading, and taking notes, I wanted to have my students apply their learning and actually use the notes they took to analyze and identify some Native American artifacts.
I don’t have access to any real Native American artifacts, so I had to use the next best thing- photos!
I found a variety of public domain photos of Native American artifacts, numbered each one, printed and laminated them. I used them just like task cards. I posted them around the room, and had the students circulate around the room trying to identify the region and/or Native American tribe associated with each item on the photo cards. I allowed students to use their notes and their textbook as they worked.
This activity really got them reading carefully with an intended purpose and analyzing the notes they took to draw conclusions based on the information they had learned.
I knew this would be a good activity, but I had no idea how much deep thinking and analysis would take place! As the kids worked I helped as needed but mostly observed and overheard so many good discussions! Many of the artifacts in the pictures weren’t the exact ones we read about in our book, so they really needed to use clues from the photos to identify the object and region.
It was fun to hear kids trying to identify what the different objects could possibly be made from, then trying to narrow down the possible regions based on which regions naturally had that material. For example, in the coat above photo they first had to decide that it was some sort of cape or coat. They discussed what typed of animals or resources it was made from. Then they had to think about which climate it would be needed in.
The analysis of the artifacts and the critical thinking that happened during this activity was so fun! My kids loved trying to figure each photo/artifact out. Like I said, I thought it was a good idea for an activity, but I had no idea how much the kids would get into it and how much higher level thinking would take place during the activity.
What types of activities do you do to teach social studies that really get your students excited and engaged in learning?
