Elders' Stories from California TribesPublished on Lessons of Our Land (http://www.lessonsofourland.org)

Grades: K - 2nd Grade Lesson: 2Unit: 1: American Indian traditional land valuesSubject: English Language ArtsAchievement Goal: Record an origin story from a tribal elder or view a video that includes an elder’sstory.Time: Two class periods

Lesson Description:The students will invite a tribal leader to the classroom to tell an origin story or another story from his orher culture. Students discuss key points and retell the story briefly in their own words.

This lesson fits Common Core standards SL1, SL2, SL3, SL4.

Kindergarten

SL1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and textswith peers and adults in small and larger groups.A. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about thetopics and texts under discussion).B. Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges.

SL2 Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other mediaby asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is notunderstood.

SL3 Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is notunderstood.

SL4 Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provideadditional detail.

1st Grade

SL1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts withpeers and adults in small and larger groups.A. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others with care, speaking one at a timeabout the topics and texts under discussion).B. Build on others' talk in conversations by responding to the comments of others through multipleexchanges.C. Ask questions to clear up any confusion about the topics and texts under discussion.

SL2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally orthrough other media.

SL3 Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says in order to gather additional information orclarify something that is not understood.

SL4 Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelingsclearly.

2nd Grade

SL1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts withpeers and adults in small and larger groups.Copyright © Indian Land Tenure Foundation, 2014

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Elders' Stories from California TribesPublished on Lessons of Our Land (http://www.lessonsofourland.org)

A. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to otherswith care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).B. Build on others' talk in conversations by linking their comments to the remarks of others.C. Ask for clarification and further explanation as needed about the topics and texts under discussion.

SL2 Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally orthrough other media.

SL3 Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says in order to clarify comprehension, gatheradditional information, or deepen understanding of a topic or issue.

SL4 Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details,speaking audibly in coherent sentences.

Teacher Background:Oral traditions are an important method of remembering tribal stories. Elders have learned the originstories since they were very young. They pass these stories on to the next generation in times of tellingand sharing. Traditionally, Native American people revere elders as wise and experienced storytellerswho communicate ancient cultural beliefs and confirm one’s connectedness to the earth and to past andfuture generations of Indian people.

This lesson is a follow-up to Lesson One in this Unite. If Lesson One was completed by these students,some of the Lesson Resources here can be omitted.

Standards:Associated California State Academic Content StandardsFor general guidelines for aligning discussions with English-Language Arts Standards, see Using Lessonsof Our California Land to Help Students Meet California State Content Standards.

Teacher Preparation Resources:

Invite a tribal elder to the classroom to tell an origin story or another story from his or herculture (see A Teacher’s Guide to Community Engagement and the list of Tribal Resources inSouth Central California).If the elder agrees to being recorded, arrange for a video camera to be used during the visit.Alternatively, arrange for students to watch a video of elders' stories online in class.

Student Activity:Option One

1. Introduce the elder visitor to the class and explain briefly what the lesson is about to the elder.2. Set up a video or tape recorder and have the tribal elder tell his or her story.3. Ask the students to listen carefully, as one should when elders speak.4. Ask students questions such as those from the "Learning from Creation Stories handout."

If students are not certain of the answers to the questions, encourage them to ask theelder storyteller questions about the story he or she has told.

5. After the visit, replay the recorded story for the class.6. Stop the replay periodically and discuss key points with the students.7. Ask the students to repeat the story briefly in their own words.

Option Two

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Elders' Stories from California TribesPublished on Lessons of Our Land (http://www.lessonsofourland.org)

1. Have students view a digital story told by a Mono elder, such as Ron Goode, BenCharley, Pauline Walker, or Ruby Pomona, a Miwok elder such as Helen Coats, or a Yokutch eldersuch as Rita Maczko (“As It Was”) or Ruby Vargas.

2. Use the questions on the Learning about Indian Land Tenure from Digital Stories handoutto guide a discussion with the students.

Evaluation:

1. Evaluate the ability of the students to listen carefully and grasp the essential parts of theorigin story.

2. Assess the students’ understanding of the exercise through their discussions.

Lesson Resources:

Indian LegendsNorth Fork Mono StoryYokutch StoryMiwuk StoryDigital Stories told by a Mono elder, such as Ron Goode, Ben Charley, Pauline Walker, orRuby Pomona, a Miwok elder such as Helen Coats, or a Yokutch elder such as Rita Maczko (“AsIt Was”) or Ruby Vargas.Learning from Creation StoriesBruchac, Joseph and Thomas Locker. The Earth Under Sky Bear’s Feet: Native American Poems of The Land. New York: Philomel Books, 1995.Caduto, Michael J. and Joseph Bruchac. Keepers of the Earth: Native American stories and environmental activities for children. Golden, Colorado: Fulcrum, 1989.Goble, Paul. The Great Race of the Birds and Animals. New York: Bradbury Press, 1985.Goble, Paul. Remaking the earth: a creation story from the Great Plains of North America. New York: Orchard Books, 1996.

Source URL: http://www.lessonsofourland.org/lessons/elders-stories-california-tribes

Links:[1] http://www.indianlegend.com/default.htm[2] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/sites/default/files/MonoMakingoftheWorld_0.pdf[3] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/sites/default/files/YokutsStory_0.pdf[4] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/sites/default/files/MiwokStory_0.pdf[5] http://vimeo.com/nativevoices/videos/sort:date[6] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/sites/default/files/StoryQs_0.pdf[7] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/grade-level/k-2nd-grade[8] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/flag/unflag/recently_viewed/439?destination=printpdf/439&token=R5ffIbB1YzrbJ6Zasy4iXHD6hooN71pAbfiUSeixxS0[9] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/flag/flag/lessons/439?destination=printpdf/439&token=R5ffIbB1YzrbJ6Zasy4iXHD6hooN71pAbfiUSeixxS0[10] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/subjects/english-language-arts[11] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/states/california[12] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/states/north-fork-mono[13] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/units/1-american-indian-traditional-land-values[14] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/type/video[15] http://www.lessonsofourland.org/sites/default/files/VideoQsK2.pdf[16] http://landlessons.org/TeacherGuideCommunity.pdf[17] http://landlessons.org/TribalResourcesSoCentralCalif.pdf[18] http://jareddahlaldern.net/lessons/UsingLessonstoHelpStudentsMeetStandards.pdf

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