The fourth graders continue to research, read about, and discuss the growth of our nation, and how Westward Expansion impacted the lives of Native Americans.  They are learning about the Rogue River Indian Wars and the Trail of Tears.  These discussions and learning experiences smoothly transition the fourth grade engaged historians to study the Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon.  In this unit of study, the fourth graders will better understand how Westward Expansion impacted Native Americans in the state of Oregon.
The nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon are:

1.  Burns Paiute Tribe

2.  Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw

3.  Coquille Indian Tribe

4.  Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians

5.  Confederated Tribes of The Grand Ronde Community

6.  Klamath Tribes

7.  Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

8.  Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

9.  Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

The fourth graders will be able to locate all nine tribes on our state's map.  They will discuss why these nine tribes are federally recognized.  Federally recognized means the United States government has an existing government-to-government relationship with the tribes.  It allows the above tribes to apply for funding from federal programs for services such as health, education, and housing.  In most cases, these services are guaranteed in the tribes’ treaties inexchange for tribal land.  
 

The fourth graders will be divided into nine cooperative learning groups, each group will be designated one of the tribes.  The groups will research their tribe’s history and culture online and in resources Mrs. Masini has collected over the years to determine their tribe’s:

• Location
• Mission
• Timeline of important events to determine
  • Founding date
  • Date of being federally recognized;
• Natural resources 
• Population (Number of members)
• Land area

The cooperative learning groups will take notes and plan out how they will present their findings.  A special guest speakers from one of the tribes will visit the classroom.  When the fourth grade historians have gathered research, they will create a Google Slide presentation to inform their peers about their designated tribe. Presentations will be determined as we get closer to the completion of the project.  Parents, you will be invited to view your child's presentation.  
 

Building a Covered Wagon

As we all know, pioneers traveled the Oregon Trail in covered wagons, or prairie schooners. Our fourth grade responsible engineers successfully designed and built covered wagons.  The fourth graders followed the scientific method and record their experience on the provided sheets.  As self-aware and engaged learners, the fourth graders were resourceful, inventive, and imaginative!  

 

To celebrate and conclude our unit on Westward Expansion and the Oregon Trail, the fourth graders will participate in Pioneer Day. Pioneer Day is scheduled for Friday, May 24, 2019.  The fourth graders are getting more excited each day!  

The fourth graders are invited to dress as the pioneers did and complete engineering challenges. These STEM experiments will challenge the fourth graders to use their critical thinking skills, scientific minds, and creativity.  They may include building covered wagons and rafts to ford a river, letter punching to design their very own leather bands, making Button Spinners, and playing Rolling Hoops & Marbles. Using craft materials and household recyclables, the students will build and test, and play like the pioneers did in the mid-1800s. To conclude Pioneer Day, the fourth graders will make and enjoy johnnycakes and churned butter with our dedicated parent volunteers. They will try “Pioneer (Vinegar) Lemonade. When they aren’t cooking, the fourth grade historians will film their historic pioneer journals. Look out for their written historical fiction pioneer journals on the hallway bulletin board in late April 2019.