In this activity students will create a spider map that illustrates what they have learned about the First Nations of the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies region. Their maps will include the names of some of the First Nations that call the region home, describe the environment of the Plains 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 Native Americans of the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies
Requirements: Names of some of the First Nations, environment (physical features and climate), natural resources, useful tools and items made from the natural resources including clothing and homes.
Presenting spider maps helps students develop communication skills and deepens their understanding by explaining their work to others.
Clarify why sharing is important so students feel motivated—presentations allow everyone to learn from different perspectives and reinforce cultural appreciation.
Demonstrate a sample presentation, highlighting clear speaking, respectful listening, and referencing specific details from the spider map. This sets expectations and builds student confidence.
Decide if students will present in small groups or to the entire class. Smaller groups can make sharing less intimidating, while whole-class presentations foster a sense of community.
Encourage students to offer at least one positive comment or thoughtful question after each presentation. This builds a respectful, collaborative classroom environment.
A spider map activity is a visual organizer where students illustrate key facts about the First Nations of the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies, including tribe names, environment, resources, and culture. It helps students organize and present information clearly.
Students can use Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration to work together on the same spider map. Teachers simply enable collaboration in the assignment settings, allowing students to build and edit the project simultaneously, improving communication and teamwork skills.
The lesson should cover tribe names, the environment (physical features and climate), natural resources and how they were used for food, tools, clothing, and homes, as well as unique cultural traditions or interesting facts.
Collaboration helps students think more deeply, communicate better, and solve problems together. Working in groups can also speed up project completion and enrich learning through shared perspectives.
Teachers should: 1) Create the assignment in Storyboard That, 2) Enable Real Time Collaboration in the assignment's Edit tab, 3) Instruct students to start the assignment and work together to illustrate and describe key aspects of the Indigenous Peoples of the Great Plains.