If You Lived With the Indians of the Northwest Coast Lesson Plan
- Grades: 3–5, 6–8
About this book
Subject Area: Social Studies
Reading Level: 3.0
What was life like for Native American tribes along the northwest coast of the United States before the arrival of European settlers? Details from housing to dress to food are provided in an engaging question-and-answer format.
Using a nonfiction source, students will be introduced to the life and times of Native American tribes living along the Northwest coast of our country before the arrival of European settlers. They will practice their research skills and compare/contrast what they learn to their own lives.
Standard: Students will gain an understanding of the daily life and values of early Native American cultures.
Standard: Uses prior knowledge and experience to understand and respond to new information
The question-and-answer format is fun and informative. Have your students pose questions of their own.
- Ask students to think about what it might have been like to be a Native American living along the Northwest coast of our country 200 years ago. How might the Native American way of life have been different from our own? What similarities might we share?
- Have each student to come up with a list of three to five questions they have about Native American life in this particular place hundreds of years ago.
- As you read through the book (individually or as a class), ask each student to look for answers to his or her question.
- After reading the book, if any students have unanswered questions, encourage them to look for information online or in the school library.
All About My Time
Encourage your students to think about their place in history.
- Have each student choose five (or ten, or more, depending on the abilities of your class) questions from If You Lived With the Indians of the Northwest Coast.
- Ask students to answer their chosen questions using their own lives as a basis. For instance, in answering a question such as "What was your house like?" students would provide information about their houses or apartments. It might help to write these questions and answers in a double-entry journal. One side would include "Life on the Northwest Coast" and the other side "My Life."
- Next, ask each student to compare and contrast his or her answers to the answers provided in the book. How are our times different from those described in the book? How are they the same?
- Have each student share his or her questions and answers with the class.
- If more than one student chose to answer the same question, talk about how their individual answers are alike or different.
What a Surprise!
What unexpected facts did the book reveal?
- Challenge your students' preconceived ideas about Native American people by asking each to list two (or more) surprising facts gleaned from the book. Examples: how Native Americans made their clothing; some tribes had slaves; the importance of wealth; food sources.
- Have each student list his or her surprising facts. Then, have each list what information they expected to find and why. For instance, did they expect that clothing would be made from wool? Why? Share each student's list with your class.
- What other assumptions do your students share? Turn your attention to another culture or another period of history. As a class, pick a topic to research. Encourage your students to do online research, use classroom resources, or visit the school library.
- Talk about your discoveries as a class. What assumptions were proven true? Which were disproved?
More "If You Lived…" Books
This celebrated series introduces readers to fascinating chapters of American history through a question-and-answer format.
If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King
by Ellen Levine
If You Lived With the Sioux Indians
by Ann McGovern
If You Lived in Colonial Times
by Ann McGovern
If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War
by Kay Moore
If You Lived in the Alaskan Territory
by Nancy Smiler Levinson
Other Books by Anne Kamma
If You Lived With the Hopi
If You Lived With the Cherokee
If You Were at the First Thanksgiving
Lesson Plan Written by Rebecca Gomez