Native Nations Today for Grades 4 and 5: A Respectful Research Unit
Native nations today for Grades 4 and 5: nations, not stereotypes
Many classrooms still teach Native peoples in the past tense, as a single group. The Native Nations Today unit presents Native nations as present-day nations with sovereignty and teaches students to use nation-led sources.
See the unitsIn short: Teach Native nations in Grades 4 and 5 as present-day nations, one at a time, using sources the nations produce themselves. The Native Nations Today unit starts with nations rather than stereotypes, looks at regions as models and what their boundaries leave out, and gives one lesson each to the Cherokee Nation, the Makah and the Diné/Navajo Nation. It then covers sovereignty and relationships, research ethics, and comparing without ranking.
Starting point
Nation, not stereotype
Lesson 1 asks students to think about Native peoples as nations rather than through stereotypes. This is the lesson that sets the tone, so give it time. Begin by asking what students already think they know, and where that came from. Do not correct anyone in front of the class. Collect the ideas on a chart, and revisit the chart at the end of the unit.
Use present tense every time you speak or write about a living nation. Say "the Cherokee Nation has", not "had", and expect students to copy you. A simple class rule helps: if the nation still exists, the verb is in the present. You will probably need to remind yourself as often as you remind the students.
Regions
Regions as models, and what boundaries leave out
Lesson 2 uses regions as models and notices their limits. The unit does not treat a region as a boundary that fits every nation. Students learn that grouping nations by region is a way to organize information, and that every grouping leaves something out. A nation is not defined by the region it is placed in.
This idea connects to the US Regions and State Geography unit, where students use a stated regional convention for the 50 states. If your class has done both, ask how the idea of a convention applies in each case and where it helps and where it hides detail.
Three examples
The Cherokee Nation, the Makah and the Diné/Navajo Nation
Lessons 3, 4 and 5 each focus on one present-day nation: the Cherokee Nation, the Makah and the Diné/Navajo Nation. The point of three separate lessons is that students meet specific nations rather than a single generalized group. After the third example, ask students to say one thing that is true of one nation and not of another, using the lesson pages as evidence.
Say each nation's name carefully and correctly, and model it for students. When you can, use the nation's own spelling and its own descriptions of itself. The guide and the lesson pages are a starting point, and the unit teaches students to look to nation-led sources for more.
Sovereignty
Sovereignty and relationships between nations
Lesson 6 covers sovereignty and the relationships between nations. Rely on the lesson pages and the teacher guide for the explanation, and invite students to describe the idea in their own words afterward. A short written sentence is enough in Grade 4. Grade 5 students can add a second sentence about a relationship between two nations.
If you are also teaching the American Revolution, the American Revolution unit has a lesson on Native nations and sovereignty that fits with this one. Teachers who use both can show students that nations appear in the historical record and in the present.
Lesson plan
A suggested eight-lesson plan
The unit does not specify timings. This plan assumes one lesson per session, with the learning check and project afterwards. The teacher guide has the sequence and preparation notes.
| Lesson | Focus | Suggested pacing | Quick check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nation, not stereotype | 1 to 2 sessions | Start a chart of ideas and revisit it at the end. |
| 2 | Regions and boundaries | 1 session | What does a region leave out? |
| 3 | Cherokee Nation example | 1 session | Write about the nation in the present tense. |
| 4 | Makah example | 1 session | Write about the nation in the present tense. |
| 5 | Diné/Navajo Nation example | 1 session | Say one thing true of one nation and not another. |
| 6 | Sovereignty and relationships | 1 session | Explain the idea in your own words. |
| 7 | Research ethics | 1 to 2 sessions | Record who made each source. |
| 8 | Compare without ranking | 1 session | Compare using same and different, with no ranking. |
| After | Learning check and project | 2 to 3 sessions | Use the project record and reflection page. |
Research ethics
Research ethics and nation-led sources
Lesson 7 is about doing respectful research with nation-led sources. Students learn to ask who made a source, who it is for and whether the nation itself is speaking. It is a research habit that applies to any topic, and it protects students from copying the first image or paragraph a search engine returns.
Practical routines help. Before students search, agree on three questions to ask of any source: who made this, how do they know, and does the nation speak for itself? Ask students to record the answers beside each fact in their notes. Check the notes as well as the final product. Skip costumes, role play and craft projects based on a nation's ceremonies or clothing, because they pull students toward stereotype.
Comparing and finishing
Compare without ranking, then close the unit
Lesson 8 asks students to compare nations without ranking them. Offer sentence starters such as "One thing that is the same is ___, and one thing that is different is ___", and set a rule that the words better, more important and most real are not allowed. A learning check, a project brief, a project record and a reflection page complete the unit.
November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States, and many teachers plan the unit then. The unit works in any month, and spreading the lessons across the year is a good way to avoid treating nations as a once-a-year topic. Our post on respectful lesson ideas for Native American Heritage Month adds more planning ideas.
Resources
Native nations unit, bundle and related social studies
The Native Nations Today unit leads this page. The US Social Studies Bundle adds three more Grade 4 and 5 units, and the other cards cover regions, the Revolution and the Constitution.
Native Nations Today | 8 Lessons, Case Cards & a Project | Grades 4–5
US Social Studies Bundle | US Regions, the American Revolution, the Constitution & Native Nations | 4 Units | Grades 4–5
The American Revolution | 10 Lessons, Case Cards & Inquiry Workshops | Grade 5
US Regions and State Geography | 8 Lessons, Case Cards & a Project | Grade 4
The US Constitution and Three Branches | 8 Lessons, Case Cards & a Project | Grade 5
Civics & Civil Rights Bundle | Martin Luther King Jr., Voting, Direct Democracy & Freedom of the Press | 4 Resources | Grades 5–9
- Print the 32 student pages, or edit the DOCX text editions for your own class.
- Teach each nation in the present tense and use its own descriptions where you can.
- Check answers against the teacher guide, which covers all eight lessons.
- Use the case cards as quick written evidence of reasoning each lesson.
- Use the 17-slide presentation to introduce the lessons.
- Close with the learning check, then the project brief, project record and reflection page.
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Questions teachers ask
Frequently asked questions
Which standards does this unit fit?
The unit is written for Grades 4 and 5 social studies. Standards differ by state, so check the lessons against your state's academic standards. No alignment or approval is claimed.
Does the unit teach Native nations in the past or the present?
The present. It presents Native nations as present-day nations with sovereignty, and uses nation-led sources. The three examples are the Cherokee Nation, the Makah and the Diné/Navajo Nation.
Are answers included?
Yes. The separate teacher guide has answers and teaching notes for all eight lessons and an assessment key with feedback.
How long does the unit take?
The material gives no timings. One session per lesson is a workable plan, with extra time for research ethics, the learning check and the project.
Can I edit the pages?
Yes. Editable DOCX text editions of the classroom material and teacher guide are included. The PDF is the print reference, and line breaks in the DOCX may differ.
Is TeachLessons independent?
Yes. TeachLessons is an independent publisher, and no state, district, ministry, exam board or Native nation has approved or endorsed the unit. Use the unit alongside the nation-led sources it teaches students to look for.
Add regions, the Revolution and the Constitution
The US Social Studies Bundle includes this unit and three more Grade 4 and 5 units, and costs $29.97 less than the four bought separately.
See the social studies bundle