What to Eat?

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AUTHOR: Maureen May

 

HISTORICAL TOPIC/ERA:  Food of the Native Americans

 

GRADE LEVEL(S):  3rd

 

TIME REQUIRED: Two 30-minute class periods

 

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:  Nevada is home to four native tribes, which include the Washo(e), the Western Shoshone, the Northern Paiute and the Southern Paiute.  These tribes had to adapt to the extreme weather of the high desert environment.  Each of these tribes developed their own, yet similar ways of life.    The Great Basin Indian culture was very connected to the land and animals of the environment.  The tribes learned to use what nature offered very effectively.  The natives took only what they needed and wasted nothing.

 

Pronghorn Antelope and pine nuts provided major food sources for these people.  The Pronghorn provided primarily food, but the hides and bones were used as well. Pine nuts were a staple amongst the Northern Paiute.  The nuts were used to make soup, cereals, and breads.

 

The Pronghorn were hunted in the spring and fall when the animals gathered together into larger herds.  Large numbers of native hunters would gather together

and build huge traps.  The traps consisted of two parts: an oval corral to hold the animals and wings to direct the animals into the corral.  Sagebrush, our state flower, was used to build the walls of the enclosures.  Hunters would club or shoot the animals that had been caught.  Pine nuts were gathered each fall from the forested areas and provided food throughout the year.    

 

 

NEVADA STANDARDS:

 

Nevada History Standard:  5:0: 1200 to 1750: Describe Native North American life prior to European contact, such as food.

 

Nevada Writing Standard:  5.3.3 Write a fictional story or personal narrative.

 

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS/OBJECTIVES: 

 

Students will understand the scarcity of food resources.  Students will understand how available food resources were used.  Working in groups students will create a Native American menu with Great Basin Indian foods. 

 

Examples MATERIALS/SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS:

 

Step 1.  Go to www.onlinenevada.org

Step 2.  Go to Peoples of Nevada, Native American History:  Communal Antelope

               Drives

Step 3.  Read in pairs/groups the articles on line.

 

Step 4.  Folklife of Tribal Groups:  Read relevant paragraphs regarding pine nuts.

Step 5.  Use pictures of Pronghorn Antelope and their environment.

Step 6.  Have pictures of pine trees, along with actual pine cones with seeds.

 

 

ACTIVITIES/STRATEGIES:

 

Examples:

 

1.  Students will work in groups of four and discuss the articles that were read.

 

2.  Each group will examine the pictures and the pine cones.

 

3.The teacher will facilitate the group discussion and then monitor the interactions within each group.

 

4. Each group will then develop a Great Basin Indian menu.  Each student will be responsible for writing a part of the menu.

 

5.  Each group will present their menu to the class.

 

 

 

EVALUATION OF STUDENT LEARNING:

 

Each group will develop a Great Basin menu.  Each student will be responsible for writing a part of the menu and present to class.