Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Make an American Indian game

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 3rd Grade

Content Standard Addressed:

SS3H1 Describe early American Indian cultures and their development in North America. a. Locate the
regions where American Indians settled in North America: Arctic, Northwest Southwest, Plains, Northeast,
and Southeast. b. Compare how American Indians in each region used their environment to obtain food,
clothing, and shelter. c. Discuss how American Indians continue to contribute to American life (e.g., arts,
literature).
Technology Standard Addressed:
3. Knowledge Conductor
Selected Technology Tool: computers, Discovery Education

URL(s) to support the lesson: www.discoveryeducation.com

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☒ Evaluating ☒ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☒ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Discovery Education has so many helpful properties for UDL. Teachers
can manipulate the Tech Book for readers who might not be on level. This manipulation allows the student to
get the same information, but on a level that they can comprehend. Also, this web-site allows for students
who’s L1 is Spanish to switch the site to Spanish. It also has text to talk options for anyone from Eb’s to
readers who struggle. They have interactive maps that students can manipulate to explore different areas
that American Indians would live. These UDL techniques would keep students engaged, as well as the fact
that the student is driving the lesson. They get to create a game using the information learned.

Lesson idea implementation: I would have students end the unit with this project. Students would have
already spent at least a week learning about the different major American Indian tribes, where they lived in
the past, and what their culture was like in the past. We would have already discussed the fact that they still
exist and have maintained some of their traditions. The students would be allowed to choose to base their
games on the American Indian culture of the past or the present. The information about American Indians
that is/was taught to the students would be from traditional textbooks and Discovery Education.
Students would design a game using Discover Education. They will be familiar with the site by the time they
are asked to design with it. The game will have to include the chosen tribe’s culture, beliefs, priorities, and
aspects of every day life. The students will work on the game in pairs and share their finished project with
other students. The development of the game will show their understanding of a tribe’s culture, and it will
engage the students in higher thinking to develop the steps for the game. If a student pair chooses the
Cherokee, they would have to understand that this tribe did not have tipis and was not nomadic so therefore
it would be a different game than if they chose the Dakota tribes.

Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
Reflective Practice I believe that students will really enjoy this project. They will put their learning into action
by making something fun, a game. I believe that this is a project that students would remember and
therefore assimilate the information that has been taught. For furthering the lesson, we could pass the
games around the classroom and let all classmates have a chance to play each other’s. And, to go beyond the
classroom we could trade games with another class that did the same project. I plan on using this lesson plan
in a future class.

Spring 2018_SJB