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The Natives Before the Settlers |
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The Natives Before the Settlers |
1. Students will identify on a map the location of the 3 major Indian tribes of pre-Jamestown, Virginia.
2. In a brainstorming activity, students will list the names of Indian influenced locations in the area.
3. Students will complete a short outline on a particular Indian tribe and orally present that information to the class.
4. Students will write a short essay about Indian life prior to 1607.
This lesson introduces the students to the idea that a distinct and ancient culture existed in VA. just 300 years ago. This background is necessary to understand the early relationship between the English and the Indians.
To begin class, have the students participate in a brainstorming session to list names of places, and towns in their area with Indian names.
Show the Indian tribe location map to the class. Divide students into following groups based on the geographic regions of VA.
1. Tidewater
2. Piedmont
3. Blue-Ridge-Shenandoah Valley
4. Southwest
Distribute to each group a handout with the tribe map and a description of the tribes in that area. (They are available on the web site.)
DO NOT tell the students the tribe names for their region. They must determine that through the map.
Each group has to find the following information about Indian tribes in their geographical location.
1. What was that tribe called?
2. What was the size of the tribe?
3. What were some of the characteristics of this tribe?
4. Was the tribe part of a bigger nation or confederacy?
5. Name one fact they found unique.
Have one of the students from each group present their findings to the class. Students must record each groups findings as notes.
Have the class make a chart and answer the following questions.
1. How did geography influence the tribes diversity?
2. How were they similar?
3. How were they different?
4. Does geography still influence culture and economics in VA now? how? why or why not?
This page was last updated on and is maintained by the UVA's Program in Social Studies Education.
URL for this page: http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu.