FLORIDA NATIVE AMERICANS

Introduction:

You are about to begin an exciting project utilizing both electronic and print resources to learn more about the Native Americans of Florida. You will work in teams as investigative journalists to create a class newspaper on the different Native American tribes of Florida. To do your research, explore different websites and books from our library. Before you begin, look over the rubric so that you understand the requirements of this activity.

Group roles:

Journalists (1-2) -write an article on their tribe. Advertising -write ads for the food, tools, shelter, or clothing of

their tribe. Remember your persuasive writing strategies! Artists -create comics relating to information learned on their

tribe and help design the layout of the newspaper. Archivist - look at primary resources for ideas on the maps,

artifacts, and diagrams. 

All group members will fill out the graphic organizer of information on their assigned tribe.

Group members must take turns researching on the intranet and in the classroom library.

All members will be editors and check their work for correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.

Roles will be randomly selected by your teacher. Group members may work together to find the information, but all group members are expected to contribute.

Step One

Print out the cluster web graphic organizer. Write the name of the tribe you are researching in the middle circle. As you skim through your research, gather headings for the labels of the surrounding circles such as:

1. Clothes2. Food3. Artifacts, weapons, tools, arts4. Homes, villages5. Families, children6. Language7. Religion, customs8. Other facts Remember, you only need to write down the information that is

important for your task! Also, have extra paper for if you need more room or for drawing pictures of maps, artifacts, tools, etc.

Step Two

Go to the following websites according to your assigned tribe: Calusa Indian Fact Sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on

each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow this link to get more information.. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived.

Tocobago Indian Fact Sheet Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived.

Tequesta Indian Fact Sheet Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information.. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived.

Miccosukee Indian Fact sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived. Also, look at the website for a picture dictionary of Mikasuki Animal Words to include in your notes on language.

Timucua Indian Fact sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. . On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived.

Step Three

Continue researching your tribe with resources in the classroom library. Pay close attention to the rubric for library research. On a separate piece of paper, cite your work by writing down, the author, the title of the book, the publisher, and the copyright date in this form: Last name, First Name. Title. Publisher. City, State abbreviation, date.

The Project

Now is the time to put it all your pieces together and create your project: the class newspaper. Gather your notes all together and get with your group to compare your notes. Discuss the important aspects of your Florida tribe. Decide as a group what information should be in your article, advertisements, comic strips, and pictures and maps. As a class you will need to decide on a name for your paper, a design for the layout, and what will be the feature story. Take a look at some examples of newspapers to get some ideas. Have several sheets of newsprint handy, because you will want to make a "rough" copy before making your final copy.

Presentation

After the final copy of the newspaper is made, you will present your part of the project to the class. Remember that not everyone learned about your Florida Native American tribe, so you will need to explain to the class your process, how you chose your information and why you chose certain facts, and the important information on your tribe that you included.

Rubric

Before turning in your project and your notes, you need to review your rubric by clicking on the evaluation link and make sure it is your best work!

Reflection

Reflect on the process and decide if there is anything that you could do differently or better next time you have a project. Get with your group and discuss how well you worked together and what, if anything, you would change on how you did your project. Look at the group evaluation form, fill out, and turn in to your teacher.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed a webquest to learn about the history of the Native Americans of Florida. Hopefully you have learned not only about the subject of Native Americans, but you also worked cooperatively in groups and learned how thoroughly do a research project. \