An Exchange of Cultures: Interactions between Native Americans and Others in the Ohio Country

Lesson Plan


Created by Elizabeth Bowens, Heidi Breudigam, Lisa Ferris

Colonial Toy Reproduction

Peopling the New World: Immigration and Migration of Natives and Newcomers
 

Grade Level:

4
 

Estimated duration of lesson:

Two, 50-minute periods.
 

Content Standards: 

People in Societies – Grade 4

GLI 1: Describe the cultural practices and products of various groups who have settled in Ohio over time: a.  prehistoric and historic American Indians, b.  migrating settlers, c.  European immigrants.  Interactions among these groups have resulted in both cooperation and conflict.
GLI 3: Explain the reasons people came to Ohio including: a. Opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and mining; b.  Family ties; c.  Freedom from religious and political oppression.
 

Primary Sources: 

Colonial Toy Reproductions: Graces, Jacob’s Ladder, Ball and Cup, Nine Pins, Marble, Buzz Saw
 

Lesson Summary: 

Students will begin learning about interactions between Native Americans and Europeans at Schoenbrunn.  They will watch a presentation describing their way of life and complete several interactive activities through the presentation.  Then students will view a toy artifact.  As a pre-assessment, students will complete an artifact analysis worksheet relating to the toy and discuss.  Students will then be given an explanation of the toys by watching the remainder of the presentation and discussing how they were used in Shoenbrunn Village with the Delaware Indians.  Students will then make their own Buzz Saw toy.   As a post-assessment students will complete a Venn diagram comparing a toy from colonial times to an electronic toy of today.  They will also complete the artifact analysis worksheet to show what they have learned from the activity.   
 

Instructional steps:

Introduce lesson by telling students that many Native Americans lived in the area called the Ohio Country.  One group, the Delaware, had a special relationship with a group of Moravian missionaries from Germany.  
 
Show the Video relating to Schoenbrunn.  Then show the following Presentation. Stop the it before it begins talking about toys
 
Discuss with students things they saw in the presentation.  Work through several activities that were in the interactive presentation.  
 
Explain that the missionaries used many methods to teach the Delaware including the use of toys.  Distribute images of toys and here is also a Powerpoint presentation of those images.
 
Distribute 
 
Finish watching the remainder of the presentation and working through activities.  Teacher will then further explain what the artifact was and describe how the first settlers in Schoenbrunn Village taught the Delaware Indians to play games with the artifact.  
 
Distribute Buzz Saw toy materials and directions.  Work together so everyone has a completed Buzz Saw toy.  
 
Once discussion is complete, distribute   This will be used as a post-assessment.  Students will compare and contrast a toy from colonial times with an electronic toy of today.  Teacher may choose the items being compared or let students choose.  They will also complete the Artifact Analysis worksheet again to show what they have learned from the lesson.  
 

Worksheets:

Venn Diagram Worksheet
Buzz Saw Instructions
 

Post-assessment:

Venn Diagram, see Rubric Here
 

Teacher materials:

several examples of toy artifacts, Artifact Analysis Worksheet, Venn Diagram Worksheet, Buzz Saw materials and instructions
 

Student materials:

Pencils
 

Additional Resources related to Native American Interactions in the Ohio Country

The following entries from the Ohio History Connection's Ohio History Central can provide good information and links to many more entries and information: