Module 2: The First Americans- Social Studies 5 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, learners will learn how to analyze primary and secondary sources. They will also learn about the earliest civilizations of North America and the Indigenous people from different regions of North America.

Module Materials:

  • Pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Notebook
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Highlighter
  • Markers
  • Blank paper

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources
  1. Differentiate between primary and secondary sources.
  2. Analyze sources to determine whether they are primary or secondary sources.
2 People Come to North America
  1. Identify various theories about how humans came to live on the North American continent.
  2. Map possible routes that people took to arrive in North America.
  3. Compare and contrast two or more arrival theories in terms of routes, evidence, and source.
3 The Earliest Civilizations of North America
  1. Compare cultural aspects and territories of early civilizations.
4 Indigenous People of the Northeast
  1. Describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Northeast region.
  2. Summarize information about the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Northeast region.
  3. Create a plan for a museum display that shows how geography and climate impacted the development of the Indigenous cultures of a region.
5 Indigenous People of the Southeast
  1. Describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Southeast region.
  2. Summarize information about the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Southeast region.
6 Indigenous People of the Plains
  1. Describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Plains region.
  2. Summarize information about the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Plains region.
7 Indigenous People of the Southwest
  1. Describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Southwest region.
  2. Summarize information about the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Southwest region.
8 Indigenous People of the Northwest
  1. Describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Northwest region.
  2. Summarize information about the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Northwest region.
9 Indigenous People of the Arctic
  1. Describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Arctic region.
  2. Summarize information about the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Arctic region.
10 Comparing Cultures
  1. Compare cultural aspects of Native American tribes from different geographic regions of North America.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
primary source
secondary source
land bridge
migration
Beringia
origin story
civilization
Ancestral Puebloans
Aztec
Maya
mound builders
Olmec
Algonquian
Haudenosaunee
human geography
Indigenous
Iroquois
Eastern Woodlands
Choctaw
Cherokee
Chickasaw
Creek
Seminole
Sioux (Oceti Sakowin)
Cheyenne
Pawnee
Hopi
Navajo
Zuni
Chinook
Kwakiutl
Makah
Nez Perce
Tlingit
Yakima
Aleut
Inuit
Native American culture

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources 5 Primary and Secondary Sources Worksheet
2 People Come to North America 6 Arrival Theory and Origin Story Comparison Assignment
3 The Earliest Civilizations of North America 6 Early Civilizations Map Assignment
4 Indigenous People of the Northeast 5 People of the Northeastern States Worksheet
5 Indigenous People of the Southeast 6 People of the Southeast Worksheet
6 Indigenous People of the Plains 5 People of the Plains Worksheet
7 Indigenous People of the Southwest 6 People of the Southwest Region Worksheet
8 Indigenous People of the Northwest 5 People of the Northwest Worksheet
9 Indigenous People of the Arctic 5 People of the Arctic Worksheet
9 Indigenous People of the Arctic 6 Indigenous Cultures Museum Assignment 
10 Comparing Cultures 5 Comparing Cultures Worksheet

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources Ask your learner to find primary and secondary sources around their house and explain why the sources they found are primary or secondary.
2 People Come to North America Ask your learner to compare and contrast two or more arrival theories that explain how people came to North America. Ask them to describe the routes they took and the evidence for each theory they describe.
3 The Earliest Civilizations of North America Ask your learner to explain the meaning of civilization and to give examples of it. Ask them to explain the difference between a nomadic and agrarian civilization. Have them describe the Olmec, Mayan, and Aztecs and explain why they were considered civilizations.
4 Indigenous People of the Northeast Ask your learner to describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Northeast region and summarize the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Northeast region.
5 Indigenous People of the Southeast Ask your learner to describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Southeast region and summarize the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Southeast region.
6 Indigenous People of the Plains Ask your learner to describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Plains region and summarize the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Plains region.
7 Indigenous People of the Southwest Ask your learner to describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Southwest region and summarize the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Southwest region.
8 Indigenous People of the Northwest Ask your learner to describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Northwest region and summarize the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Northwest region.
9 Indigenous People of the Arctic Ask your learner to describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment of the Arctic region and summarize the government, religion, and culture of the Indigenous people of the Arctic region.
10 Comparing Cultures Ask your learner to compare cultural aspects of the Native American tribes they learned about from different geographic regions of North America.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources
  1. What are primary and secondary sources?
People Come to North America
  1. How did people come to live on the North American continent?
The Earliest Civilizations of North America
  1. What were some of the earliest civilizations in North and Central America?
Indigenous People of the Northeast
  1. How did the geography and climate of the Northeast affect the Indigenous people of the area?
Indigenous People of the Southeast
  1. How did the geography and climate of the Southeast affect the Indigenous people of the area?
Indigenous People of the Plains
  1. How did the geography and climate of the Plains region affect the Indigenous people of the area?
Indigenous People of the Southwest
  1. How did the geography and climate of the Southwest region affect the Indigenous people of the area?
Indigenous People of the Northwest
  1. How did the geography and climate of the Northwest region affect the Indigenous people of the area?
Indigenous People of the Arctic
  1. How did the geography and climate of the Arctic region affect the Indigenous people of the area?
Comparing Cultures
  1. In what ways were Indigenous peoples of different regions similar, and how did they vary?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 Indigenous Peoples of North America - Native Americans of the Southwest Stuart A. Kallen
2 Nations of the Southeast Molly Aloian and Bobbie Kalman
3 Native Peoples of the Northeast Liz Sonneborn
4 Native Peoples of the Plains Linda Lowery
5 Native Peoples of the Northwest Krystyna Poray Goddu
6 Native Peoples of the Arctic Stuart A. Kallen
7 The Aztecs: Life in Tenochtitlan Matt Doeden
8 The Ancient Maya Jackie Maloy
9 Quick Facts about the Olmecs Baby Professor
10 Who Were the Mound Builders? David Anthony

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing
1 Find a local museum near you that includes exhibits on Indigenous people from your area. Visit the museum to learn more about the history of the Indigenous people who lived where you live.