When students are studying the Native American Cultural Regions, it's important for them to understand how the environment impacted the traditions and way of life for the people who lived there. In this activity students will create a spider map that illustrates what they have learned about the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean Region. Their maps will include the name(s) of the Indigenous peoples, describe the environment of the Caribbean with physical features and climate, list the natural resources available and how these were used as food and to create tools, clothing, and homes. They may also describe any other cultural traditions or interesting information.
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that describes the lives and traditions of Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean Region
Requirements: Names of some of the Indigenous Peoples, the environment (physical features and climate), natural resources, useful tools and items made from the natural resources, including clothing and homes.
Use primary sources such as historical images, maps, or artifacts to help students visualize and connect with the daily life of Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean. Showing authentic materials sparks curiosity and supports critical thinking about culture and environment.
Display a primary source and invite students to observe, describe, and discuss details they notice. Ask questions like, “What does this tool tell us about how people used their environment?” to encourage thoughtful discussion and draw connections to their spider maps.
Assign small groups to explore online museums or archives for photos, drawings, or stories from the Caribbean’s Indigenous Peoples. This empowers students to find real-world examples and adds variety and depth to their projects.
Model how to cite and summarize what students discover from primary sources. Encourage them to add a brief note or illustration from their findings to their spider map, deepening their understanding and making their work more authentic.
Taíno, Carib, and Arawak are the main Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean. They adapted by using local resources for food, building homes from palm leaves and wood, and crafting tools from stone, shells, and bones to suit the region's climate and geography.
To create a spider map, students should place the main topic in the center and branch out with sections for names of peoples, environment and climate, natural resources, homes and tools, and cultural traditions, adding descriptions and illustrations for each.
Indigenous peoples used coconuts, cassava, fish, and tropical fruits for food; palms, wood, and cotton for building homes and making clothing; and shells and stones to craft tools and everyday items.
Collaboration helps students share ideas, deepen understanding, and improve communication and problem-solving skills. Working together can make storyboarding more creative and efficient, especially when using real-time tools.
Teachers should go to the "Edit Assignment" tab and enable the collaboration feature. This lets multiple students work on the same storyboard in real time, making group work smooth and interactive.