The overarching project for the Pre-Colonial Native American unit involves group research on 8 tribes from 8 different regions of the US.   Each group members selects a tribe from a different region and contributes to a collective slideshow.  Research includes geography, culture, history, government, European contact and interesting facts.  
Students are working interdependently and cooperatively and it's encouraging to see everyone contribute to their group project.  I saw one set of group presentations from each class today and have to say they're impressive!
Essential Learnings from this project include:
1) Native Americans are not a monolithic civilization or culture that revolve around a single story.  They are diverse and complex and represent a wide variety of experiences, histories, cultures, traditions, languages, social structures,  governments, and unique pearls of wisdom.
2) Native Americans are STILL HERE.  They're not extinct and want to be seen and recognized.
3)Native Americans have a relationship with the land, and the land holds stories for them and influences how they live.
Essential Questions include:
How can we live respectfully with the land and one another?
What stories does the land hold?
What kind of ancestor do you want to be?

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