Social Studies 11-12 Stereotypes of Native Americans

Social Studies 11-12 Stereotypes of Native Americans

Standards & Objectives

Essential and guiding questions: 
  • Find an excerpt from the text that tells you about life in America for both the colonists and the Native Americans during this time.
  • What evidence is provided to point to the relationship between the colonists and the Native Americans?
  • What viewpoints do different colonists present upon meeting Native Americans?
  • What viewpoints do Native Americans present upon meeting the colonists? 
  • Delineate between the positive and negative perspectives the colonists and the Native Americans expressed of each other.
  • What evidence from the text supports positive perspectives of the Native Americans? Negative?
  • When and how do colonists praise the Indians, and vice versa?
  • Cite evidence for when you think the praise is sincere, or when it is expressed for diplomatic or manipulative purposes.

Activity/Task Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Differentiation suggestions: 

Scaffolding and support for special education students, English language learners, and struggling readers:

  • The skill of previewing and understanding basic text features could benefit students who have not had much exposure to primary documents; however, the teacher will need to be careful to do so briefly without giving away too much content as well as isolating/disengaging students at the beginning of the lesson.
  • Multiple in-class discussions of the text-dependent questions will also likely help all students.
  • The teacher could scaffold learning by creating a t-chart with one side stating Settlers’ Beliefs and the other side stating Native American Beliefs.