First+Grade+Curriculum+Design


 * Unit Questions**

What unit/big topic will be used?
Thanksgiving

What big ideas should students understand?
Interaction between Native Americans and Pilgrims

**What projects could be designed for the unit**
Comparisons of Native American housing, transportation, clothing, food to that of Pilgrims

**What are the objectives/learning goals?**
Holiday celebration Reason for the pilgrimage Native Americans as the first inhabitants of the new world Difficult conditions Pilgrims faced upon arrival Contributions Native Americans made toward Pilgrim survival

**What assessments will be used to measure learning?**
oral assessments draw pictures art projects written story or booklet

By First Grade Blue River Cohort

**Great Thanksgiving Books:**

The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Elaine Raphael and Don Bolognese The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross The Pilgrims First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey If You Sailed on the Mayflower by Ann McGovern Happy Thanksgiving by Margaret McNamara Sarah Morton's Day by Kate Waters Samuel Eaton's Day by Kate Waters The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward How Many Days to America? by Eve Bunting N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims by Rober San Souci The Pilgrims of Plimoth by Marcia Sewall The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness Thanksgiving is.. by Louise Borden Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen Squanto: Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla Squanto : The Pilgrim Adventure by Kate Jassem Squanto by Joan Wade Cole The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola Super Book of Indians by Michael Shulan Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. Three Little Indians by Gene Stuart

Make a tepee from Native America Teacher Created Materials Make a memory scroll from Scholastic Inc. Tell story using picture dictionary Paper dolls from Native Americans Native American Welcome play Patterns for Pilgrim hats Make Native America headbands Draw and write about what you have learned
 * Activities:**

Pilgrim settlers religious freedom voyage journey Mayflower hardships common house dwellings harbor explorers Natives feast harvest celebration Plymouth Puritans
 * Vocabulary**

Begin by discussing reasons for Pilgrim's voyage to America. Discuss hardships during voyage Compare their voyage to the student's trips Talk about the hardships when they arrived to America Discuss how Squanto and the Native America people helped the Pilgrims Celebration of surviving the New World with a Thanksgiving feast Present a Native American Welcome play Field trip Speakers Videos
 * Implementation of Native American Unit**
 * Optional:**

Presenting books to whole group with discussion Small groups creating art projects Whole group / small group play
 * Teaching strategies:**

Individual assessment on writing projects Oral assessments
 * Assessment:**

How will we have adequate time for all of the activities? [|weeklyreader][]
 * Questions to ponder:**