Professional Documents
Culture Documents
GHHS
James Shanda Hutchison
Mod 2, Room 4
919-380-3700
jhutchison@wcpss.net
Twitter: @GHhistoryhutch
Planning:
Course Overview &
4th Period, 12:51-2:18
Class Website:
Expectations
ghhsamericanindianstudies.weebly.com Welcome to American Indian learning and develop projects
Studies! which demonstrate that learning.
Tutorials: This is a rigorous course with de-
Tutorial A - Tuesday & Friday This course will explore the com- manding standards for student pro-
10:28 - 10:50 plex and vibrant cultures of the duced work, however, it has been
Indigenous peoples on the Ameri- my experience that students rise to
Virtual Hours: can continents, specifically focus- the challenge!
I will be available online to answer
questions on Twitter or by email from ing on those of the pre-
approximately 7:00 to 9:00 pm Sunday sent day United States. The story of Indigenous The course will explore
through Thursday nights. I will Students will engage in America is a living story, the dynamic histories of
periodically check email over the a wide variety of learn- being played out not Native nations and cul-
weekends.
ing experiences as we tures from prior to con-
work together to develop only in the pages of tact with Europeans to
Below: Recreated 1611 town in the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, CN
an understanding of the history, but all around us today. It will also ex-
many and varied cultural today
plore the legacy of colo-
traditions. nialism in Indigenous
communities today. We will dis-
The course will engage students in cuss some of the major challenges
dynamic learning experiences and facing the American Indian Com-
will use mainly authentic assess- munity today as well as the many
ments of mastery in lieu of more successes. Students will engage
traditional tests and quizzes. This with primary historical sources, as
means that students will be called well as contemporary literature in
upon to take charge of their own their journey in this class.
setting the stage >>>
Typical learning
experiences
Students in American Indian Studies can Short Story Book Club
expect to encounter a wide variety of On weeks that do not require a blog post,
learning experiences in this class. Here students will be expected to read and reflect
Above: Sherman Alexie, Celebrated Novelist and Poet
are some of the regularly occurring activi- on a piece of literature in their outside of
class time and to bring their thoughts to the Projects
ties. Each unit of instruction will also feature a
discussion in class during these bi-weekly
Student Blogs sessions. number of small learning projects. Some of
All students will be required to keep a blog these will allow students choice in creating
where they will post bi-weekly. Some posts Class Seminars their final product while others will be
will be on topics provided by the teacher, but One to two times per unit, students will en- teacher determined. Among the teacher
most will be on topics chosen by the student. gage in class debate/discussion seminars on assigned products are projects where stu-
Students are also expected to read and com- critical topics. Some seminars will utilize dents will create websites, podcasts, and
ment on classmates’ blog posts throughout provided readings while others will require online galleries. Most of these projects will
the semester. Details on this activity will be original research. The seminar dates and require collaboration with other students
provided in class. topics can be found on the class calendar. and regular consultation with the teacher.
Major Projects
This course is designed to allow three major opportunities for students to put their learning
to work in major projects. There is one ongoing project experience along with a culminat-
ing project at the end of each quarter.
Students will develop an appreciation tively and other students rely on your re-
spectful promptness. In general, late work
of Native self-expression in various
will be met with a 10% overall point deduc-
forms, including literature, art, fashion,
tion for each day late, up to 40% of the total
scholarship, and the digital world. grade possible.
In the event you are absent, you have
three days to make up any missed assign-
finalthoughts...
Finding An Agent That’s Right For You
I am very excited about this semester and I believe that each of you will go away
with an experience you will remember which we have build as a team. Please feel
free to approach me at any time with questions or concerns. I am here to support
you and I can do that best when you communicate concerns to me early.
PACING GUIDE
Unit Essential Topics Time* Major Learning Activities
Class Seminar/Debate -
1 Conflicts over Origin Stories
Peopling the Americas
Introduction, 8-10
Origins, and Days Culture Websites project
Pre-contact cultures and civilizations
Issues
Short Story “Book Club”
Class Seminar/Debate -
Contact & the Columbian Exchange
2 The question of Genocide
Settler Settler Colonial policies & actions
12-15 Indian Wars Podcasts project
Colonialism,
Days
Genocide, and Treaty Era, Removals, and Indian Wars
Reservations Research Project
Survival
Reservation System and Resistance
Short Story “Book Club”
Class Seminar/Debate -
Boarding Schools and the
3 Dawes Act, Allotment, & Boarding Schools “Friends of the Indian”
Assimilation 10-12 movement
Myth of the Vanishing Indian
Policies and Days
Class Seminar/Debate -
Resistance Activism and Militarism AIM and Militaristic activism