Understanding the environment that people live in and how that influences their culture and tradition is essential to any social studies unit. In this activity students will create a spider map that details the environment and culture of the First Nations of the Plateau Region. They will include the names of some of the First Nations who live in that area, describe the environment 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 Plateau.
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.
Invite students to bring or create representations of Plateau Region artifacts, such as tools, clothing, or artwork. Displaying these items encourages hands-on exploration and deeper understanding of First Nations culture.
Assign each group a type of artifact—like homes, clothing, or tools. Focusing on one area lets students become mini-experts and share insights with their classmates.
Have teams use books or trusted websites to learn about their artifact, then create a simple model or poster. This boosts research skills and creativity while reinforcing key facts about the Plateau Region.
Set up student displays around the room and allow classmates to visit each one. Encourage students to ask questions and record interesting facts as they learn from each other’s work.
Lead a discussion connecting each artifact to the Plateau’s environment and available resources. This helps students see the strong link between geography and cultural traditions.
The Plateau Region features forests, rivers, valleys, and a semi-arid climate with cold winters and warm summers. These natural features greatly influence the way First Nations people live, gather resources, and develop cultural traditions.
To create a spider map, students should include key points like names of First Nations groups in the Plateau, descriptions of physical features and climate, available natural resources, and examples of how these resources are used for food, tools, clothing, and homes. Illustrations and short descriptions for each cell help organize the information visually.
Several First Nations live in the Plateau Region, including the Nez Perce, Salish, Ktunaxa, and Secwepemc. Each group has unique traditions influenced by their environment and resources.
The Plateau Region offers resources like roots, berries, fish (especially salmon), and game animals. First Nations people used these for food and crafted tools, clothing, and homes from materials such as wood, reeds, and animal hides.
Real-time collaboration allows students to work together on the same storyboard, improving communication and problem-solving skills. It also helps students complete assignments faster and encourages deeper thinking about the Plateau Region's environment and culture.