How does WHERE we live affect HOW we live?

This year, the 3rd Grade team was interested in stretching their Native American unit to include Native Central and South American Indigenous peoples. Students would be doing their own projects on Native North American tribes in small groups. The goal of the residency was to give the students a stronger knowledge of how nature influences culture. Each class explored informational text to understand the geography of a different region. Then they brought to life a myth from that region, which was tied to the tribe's interaction with their environment. The students showed excellent retention, brave theatricality, and deep respect for these cultures.