It’s early June, so while some teachers are inching toward that final day of school, others may already be trying to decompress on summer break… Either way, have you started thinking about next year’s social studies curriculum?
I know, I know. Your first reaction may be, “How could I possibly think about that now?! That’s months away!”
But hear me out. Spending a little time right now considering your start-up for the new school year will save you so much stress! Imagine having your first social studies unit for next year planned in only minutes. Picture a culturally representative and respectful Native American Regions Unit to begin your students’ journey into early American history…
If this sounds too good to be true, it’s absolutely possible! I have spent countless hours creating a 3-week interactive Native American Regions Unit, so you can fall in love with teaching history again! I hope you can tuck this unit into your fabulous teaching ideas for next year, then enjoy your much-needed summer break!
With the abundance of resources available, what sets this Native American unit apart?
For starters, it is teacher-created and teacher-tested.
I’ll say it – most textbook creators have no idea what it’s like to teach students today. They don’t understand what engages students and how to make the information stick.
But educators with textbooks are actually the lucky ones.
Many teachers aren’t given any social studies curriculum! They are left cobbling together online lessons to form complete units. This process takes hours and hours.
That’s why I created this unit. I want to save you precious prep time.
Here are the three best parts about my Native American Regions unit:
⭐ 1) Your students will love it.
Really!
I hear repeatedly from teachers that my units helped their unmotivated students “actually like history now.”
What’s the secret?
Your students will do a different type of activity every single day. As a teacher, I know how important it is to mix up how the material is presented.
Your students will work in groups, get out of their seats, and actually learn the content. Yay!
⭐ 2) The Native American Regions unit is easy to use.
As a former teacher, I know how to lay out a unit.
I made this resource as well-organized and planned as possible.
Each day has a complete lesson plan, all the necessary resources, and the answer keys.
It’s so easy to use that you could leave it for a substitute.
⭐ 3) The Native American Regions unit is enjoyable to teach.
There is a reason you became a teacher in the first place. Unfortunately, the stresses of teaching can sometimes overshadow the joy.
This resource is easy to prep and low-stress, allowing you to enjoy learning, teaching, and discussing with your students.
If this is your first time teaching about Native American history, you may feel nervous about knowing the content. You will find that the informative articles, PowerPoints, and task cards do the heavy lifting.
Here is what educators are saying about the Native American Regions unit:
Sneak Peeks of the Native American History Unit
If you are anything like me, you like to see what’s included before buying. I think it’s essential to see the quality of a resource before using it with your students.
That’s why I’ve provided some sneak peeks below! 👀
1) Watch a Video Preview of the Native American Regions Unit
VIDEO
2) Download a PDF Preview of the Native American Regions Unit
➡️ Click here to download the PDF ⬅️
3) Preview the Lesson Titles and Descriptions
📌 Introduction Lessons
1. Origin of Indigenous People— Contrast Indigenous creation stories and examine scientific theories of human settlement in the Americas
2. What is Culture?— Define “culture” and analyze your own identity by creating an identity chart
3. Mapping Cultural Regions— Explain how geography, natural resources, and climate influence culture; label 8 Native American cultural regions on a map
📌 8 Cultural Regions
4. Eastern Woodlands— Create Cultural Atlas pages about the Native people of the American Northeast and the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)
5. Great Plains— Create Cultural Atlas pages about the Great Plains Indigenous peoples and the Lakota (Sioux)
6. Southwest— Create Cultural Atlas pages about the Southwest Indigenous peoples and the Navajo
7. Pacific Northwest— Create Cultural Atlas pages about the Native people of the Pacific Northwest and the Tlingit
8. Student Project— Plan a group project about a Native American group (project choices: poster, podcast, test and answer key, task cards, lap book, newscast, slideshow, or museum exhibit)
9. Student Workday— Plan a group project about a Native American group
10. Plateau & Yakama Presentations— Listen respectfully to student presentations and create Cultural Atlas pages about the Plateau Indigenous peoples and the Yakama
11. Great Basin & Shoshone Presentations— Listen respectfully to student presentations and create Cultural Atlas pages about the Great Basin Indigenous peoples and the Shoshone
12. California & Yurok Presentations— Listen respectfully to student presentations and create Cultural Atlas pages about the California Indigenous peoples and the Yurok
13. Southeast & Cherokee Presentations— Listen respectfully to student presentations and create Cultural Atlas pages about the Southeast Indigenous peoples and the Cherokee
📌 Conclusion Lessons
14. Effects of Colonization— Explain how European colonization affected Indigenous Americans in general and how it affected people in four specific cultural regions
15. Indigenous People Today— Option 1: Write thoughtful questions to ask a representative of a local tribe about their culture OR Option 2: research and teach about a modern-day Indigenous American leader; illustrate three main ideas from the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
📌 Help for the Teacher
- Table of Contents (also available in the preview)
- Suggested pacing guide
- 15 detailed lesson plans
- Answer keys (of course!)
- Editable end-of-unit test and study guide
- Easy printing file with all student worksheets and articles
Get your Native American Regions Unit today!
So before you head off into a blissful summer break, add this Native American Regions Unit into next year’s Social Studies rotation! You’ll thank yourself when the new school year starts, and your social studies lessons are a HUGE hit.
Check out my other interactive units!
If you find this Native American Regions Unit helpful, consider my other popular units and get more of next year planned TODAY:
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