ABSTRACT

Fifth-grade students at a selected elementary school within the Rochester Community Schools were taught differentiated, detailed, and specific lessons in which they learned about Native Americans. These lessons were focused on the four largest Native American regions in North America; the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, the Plains, and the Eastern Woodlands. Instruction was delivered in many ways; students watched movies and took notes, researched for specific information, worked collaboratively, and were given direct instruction by Viola Warden. In order to assess impact, students were given a ten-question assessment before any instruction was given and then given the same assessment after all instruction took place. The before-instruction median score was 4/10, with a range of 1-7 correct. The after-instruction median score was 6/10, with a range of 2-9 correct. Overall, the fifth-grade students at Meadow Brook Elementary improved their scores after instruction showing that planned and specific instruction positively impacts learners.