Once we were here . . .

As native populations migrated and settled across the vast expanse of North America over time, they developed distinct and increasingly complex societies by adapting to and transforming their diverse environments through innovations in agriculture, resource use, and social structures.   These generalizations are common throughout History and will foreshadow the role of geography and environment in the development of European colonies throughout the “New World”. 

Questions to consider: 

• What is the purpose of memorials and monuments?   What impact do they have on us and the way we think about history?

• What parts of their history are most important for us to remember today?   How can we ensure that this history is not forgotten?

You are to RESEARCH . . . 

• 1. The degree to which geography, environment, culture, and technology each contributed to the arrival, development, and ultimate success or failure of your assigned community prior to the arrival of Europeans.

  2. . . . how and why your assigned community, in the period before European contact, interacted with and was shaped by the natural environment in North America.

You are to PRODUCE . . . 

• 3. Each student will demonstrate the efficacy of their research by proposing a public memorial design celebrating/commemorating their assigned native civilization.  

     1. • The proposal must include the memorial’s design ( the medium will be for you to choose ) 

        • AND a written explanation of how the memorial celebrates/commemorates its civilization’s culture, technology, and relationship to its geography and environment.

          • In designing your memorial, you should consider what events, people, or ideas you want it to represent. Take some time to reflect on what you’ve learned about your assigned community and what you think is most important for you and others to remember.  

            • Create a plan for your memorial. Your plan should answer the following questions: 

              1. What message do you want the memorial to convey? 

              2. Who is the audience for the memorial? 

              3. How will the memorial communicate your ideas? 

              4. Where will the memorial be located?   How will its location affect its meaning? 

              5. What specific materials, forms, imagery, or words will it include? 

              6. After you’ve researched your assigned community and considered these questions, create something—it can be as simple as a sketch or as complex as a model made from physical materials. Finally, give your memorial a title and write a brief description or artist’s statement to accompany it. 

        • The rubric for this assignment is linked HERE and is attached below.