How Do You Track When and Where You Are?

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This inquiry explores how the indigenous people of the northern Great Plains kept track of time and understood the space around them. This topic is introduced through the investigation of the compelling question “how do you track when and where you are?” The importance of understanding time and space in this context is twofold: (1) students should be able to understand there are cultural differences around the world in how people mark time and spatial areas and (2) Native American cultures have used a variety of time tracking and mapping methods for thousands of years. While progressing through the inquiry, students will analyze how ideas of time and space are similar and different to across cultures.

The terms “Native Americans” and “Native peoples” are used in this inquiry. The terms “American Indians” and “Indians” are used in much of the scholarly literature. In this inquiry, precise tribal names will be used when they are known. There are more than 500 federally recognized tribal nations within the United States, with more than 200 unrecognized tribes that are recognized by state governments or who are petitioning for federal recognition. Each of these tribes has its own history, language, and culture. There are five federally recognized tribes in North Dakota, four reservations, and one service area. Federally recognized tribes have sovereign status and make their own laws. There is no one “Pan-Indian” belief system, and even within small communities there can be significant variation in opinions, ways of thinking, and of doing things.

This inquiry is expected to take two class periods; however, teachers are encouraged to adapt the inquiry to meet the needs and interests of their students and the amount of time they have available.

Inquiry Design Model (IDM) Blueprint™
Compelling Question
How do you track when and where you are?
Standards and Practices
ND.6_12.4.1 Identify the Native American groups in North Dakota before European contact and describe their culture.
Staging the Question
How do you keep track of when and where you are?
Supporting Question 1
Supporting Question 2
How did early peoples on the northern Great Plains keep track of time?
How did early peoples on the northern Great Plains think about where they were located?
Formative Performance Task
Formative Performance Task
Create a graphic organizer that identifies milestones in your life and an image or symbol to represent each. Use the graphic organizer to create a poster or timeline that represents major events in your life.
Create a map of your community using an alternate orientation besides north (north isn’t “up” on the map). Include a symbol key.
Featured Sources
Featured Sources
  • Winter Counts Document Set
  • Additional library and resources
  • Native American Map Set
  • Additional library and resources
Summative Performance Task
Argument
How much of our understanding of time and space is universal and how much is unique to the culture we grew up in? Construct an argument that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical sources while acknowledging competing views. Create a poster and present your argument to your class with evidence to support your claims.
Extension
Invite a Native American elder or tribal community representative or archeologist to speak to your class either in-person or virtually.
Taking Informed Action

Understand: Who creates the standard maps and calendars that the world follows?

Assess: What are the pros and cons of some of the different ways people keep track of time and space? Is there one “right” way to do it?

Act: Using the poster and additional research you conducted, create a short website. Present the project to your community during a history fair.