Module 1:

Cultures in Conflict

How did the United States westward expansion impact Native American cultures in the West?

How did the Nez Perce’s homeland sustain their lifestyle and culture?

What role do stories play in Nez Perce culture?

How does the conflict between the Nez Perce and the US government reveal differing cultural beliefs and values?

What important beliefs and values guide Chief Joseph and his daughter, Sound of Running Feet?

What important Nez Perce beliefs and values does Chief Joseph convey in his Lincoln Hall speech?

Reading

Module 1: Cultures in Conflict

In this first module, Cultures in Conflict, we will ask what it means to belong to a culture. How do a culture’s beliefs guide the actions of its people? And what happens when different cultures come into conflict?

Core Texts:

Thunder Rolling in the Mountains
“Lincoln Hall Speech,” Washington, D.C., January 14, 1879
“Coyote and the Monster Story” Parts 1, 2, and 3, told by J. R. Spencer
“How Beaver Stole Fire from the Pines”

Class Art, Videos & Other Media:

Chief Joseph, Nez Perce Chief
Head-and-shoulders Portrait, Facing Forward, E. A. Burbank
The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas, George Catlin
Portrait of George Washington
“Chief Joseph and his Family c. 1880,” F.M. Sargent
“A Landscape of History”

Books to Extend Learning at Home:

Sacajawea, Joseph Bruchac
Trail of Tears, Joseph Bruchac
A History of US: The New Nation, Joy Hakim
How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark, Rosalyn Schanzer
Only the Names Remain: The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears, Alex W. Bealer
Seaman’s Journal: On the Trail with Lewis and Clark, Patricia Eubank
Zia, Scott O’Dell
Sing Down the Moon, Scott O’Dell
Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George
The Birchbark House, Louise Erdrich
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O’Dell
Salt: A Story of Friendship in Times of War, Helen Frost

Writing

Focus: The Writing Community, Writing Process and Personal Narrative (Weeks 1-3)

Build a caring writing community
Get ideas for writing from read-alouds
Draft many pieces in a variety of genres
Select drafts to develop & publish
Revise, Proofread, Write Final Drafts & Publish
Write about significant experiences that resulted in learning or change
Use sensory details
Proofread for consistent verb tense
Explore strong openings and endings

Teacher Mentor Texts

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

The Frog Prince

About Jon Scieszka

Scranimals

Lemonade

Backyard Bubbles

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

Meteor!

About Patricia Polacco

Water Dance

Can It Rain Cats and Dogs?

More About Jon Scieszka

Never the Monkey

Shortstop

George Street

Mrs. Seeton's Whistle

Still Firetalking

On Respect

On Helping Others