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Standards

4.12.4 Make inferences about an authors culture and historical viewpoints; evaluate the influence of historical events and culture on an authors works. 5.12.1 Use prewriting strategies to plan written work. 6.12.7 Write a variety of communications in appropriate formats. 7.12.5 Listen to, provide, and evaluate constructive feedback; solve problems by identifying, synthesizing, and evaluating data.

Objectives
SWBAT: Read Native American myths and legends and evaluate the influence of culture on an authors work. SWBAT: Watch Reel Injun and make inferences about the authors culture and historical viewpoints that may have influenced, or been the influence for, what they have read and watched. SWBAT: Use prewriting, note taking strategies to plan their essay. SWBAT: Write a variety of communications in appropriate formats: notes, reflections, journal entries, and finally a reflection essay. SWBAT: Listen to one another and provide feedback, then evaluate the constructive feedback they were given and identify, synthesize, and evaluate what they need to do to improve their draft.

Lesson
Lesson will take four days and is part of Unit Plan Around the World in 80 Days in which our class will read stories, poetry, novels, and watch films about certain cultures. Day One: Students will begin by completing a circle map or bubble map that details what they know, or think they know, about Native Americans and the culture. I will hand out an explanation of the 2 3 page essay they will write. The essay must be in MLA format and sources must be properly cited. Citation information for

the myths and legends will be provided on this explanation sheet. Students will have to write a) what they originally thought about Native Americans, b) what they learned and if the perception changed, and c) how the legends and myths are similar and different to either their own beliefs or the myths and legends they have studied from other cultures. I will give a brief history about Native Americans and ask them to write notes of the back of their charts, listing information that they did not know previous to my lecture. Students will be given a packet of myths and legends from various native tribes. We will read the following stories in this listed order: When Grizzlies Walked Upright (Modoc Tribe) A Tale of Elder Brother (Pima Tribe) The First Ship (Chinook Tribe) Where The Girl Saved Her Brother (Cheyenne Tribe) The Land of the Dead (Serrano Tribe) The Ghost Wife (Brule Sioux Tribe) The End of the World (White River Sioux Tribe)

Students will write a reflection on one or more legend, listing the similarities or differences they find in either their own belief system or other mythology they have read previously. Students will finish reading at home if we do not finish the short readings in class. Day Two: Students will begin their day by answering the question: What have I learned from the media (movies, comedians, history shows) about the Indian culture? We will discuss what we read the previous day and then begin watching Reel Injun, which they will take guided notes on. Day Three: Students will immediately begin watching the rest of the film. Upon reading and viewing the documentary Reel Injun, the students will write a reflection about what they have perceived versus what is reality, then form groups of two to four and discuss what they have learned. The will begin work on it. They will finish a rough draft as homework. Students will have to write a) what they originally thought about Native Americans, b) what they learned and if the perception changed, and c) how the legends and myths are similar and different to

either their own beliefs or the myths and legends they have studied from other cultures. Day Four: We will do a peer editing workshop and then students will spend the period working on revising their drafts and asking me questions they need clarified. A typed second draft will be due the Tuesday following week. Final drafts will be due the Friday of the following week.

Grading Rubric
Students will use the following to determine what their essay covers what I am looking for: 1) Does my essay answer all three of the prompts listed on the essay explanation paper? (Total of 25 points) Answers none of the prompts: 0 points Answers one of the prompts: 15 points Answers two of the prompts: 20 points Answers all three prompts: 25 points

2) Does my paper use proper spelling? (Total of 25 points) Very few words are spelled correctly: 0 points Some of the time: 15points Most of the time: 20 points All of the time: 25 points

3) Am I using examples from the text? (Total of 25 points) No examples: 0 points One example: 15 points

Two examples: 20 points More than two examples: 25 points

4) Are my sources cited in MLA format? (Total of 25 points) All of my sources are cited properly in MLA: 25 points None of my sources are cited: 0 points on the entire paper

This paper is worth a total of 100 points.

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