UNIT 1: A World of Their Own:

The Americas to 1500
Content and Concepts:

1. A culture is made up of many aspects that are interrelated and dependent on one another.

2. Cultures reflect the interaction between humans and their environment.

3. The six tribes of the Iroquois Confereracy lived in harmony with nature and with each other.

4. Stories and legends demonstrate how Indians lived in harmony with nature and what happened if that harmony was interrupted.

5. Stereotypes create a narrow view of Indian culture.


Teacher's Rationale:
This unit concerns the study of the culture of the Iroquois, the Indians that European explorers were most likely to have encountered in upstate New York in the l6th century. The Iroquois are used in this unit as a model for studying Indian culture. The unit was written, however, so that it could be adapted to any Indian tribe located in the various cultural regions of the United States. The bibliography contains resources pertaining to other tribes that can be used in classrooms throughout the United States.

This unit is designed to provide a greater awareness of the traditional culture of the Iroquois--to make them "come alive" as a distinct people rather than a stereotypic image. Students will be able to "step into" the moccasins of a Indian boy or girl to learn about the cultural aspects of the Iroquois (food, shelter, transportation, social and political systems), and learn how these people created a structured and organized way of life for themselves. At the same time, it is hoped that students will also gain greater respect and empathy for Indian culture.

Throughout the unit, content will be interrelated with the language arts skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The classroom teacher will work closely with the librarian, and the art, music, and physical education teachers to establish an interdisciplinary approach to teaching the unit. Just as members of Indian tribes worked cooperatively with each other to accomplish their daily needs, students will work with classmates throughout the unit in that same cooperative fashion.

Table of Contents:
Lesson 1: Defining and Understanding the Term Culture.
Lesson 2: Describe the Geographic Features of New York State and How Those Features Helped Meet the Needs of the Iroquois.
Lesson 3: Describe the Economic, Social, and Political Life of the Iroquois Indians of 16th Century New York State.
Lesson 4: Folktales and Legends Are Part of the Heritage of Indians.
Lesson 5: Stereotypes Create a Narrow View of Indian Culture.
Unit 1 Grade 3 Resources