About this book
About this book
Subject Area: Language Arts and Social Studies
Reading Level: 6.7
Book Summary
Sixteen-year-old Sacajawea is kidnapped from her Shoshone tribe. As she begins to adapt to her new life in the Mandan village, a group of explorers ask her to join their soon-to-be famous expedition. Sacajawea joins Lewis and Clark's great adventure, guiding them through danger, as they make their way from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. The alternating voices of Sacajawea and William Clark bring to light the ancient art of storytelling and give a new perspective of this historical event.
Objective
Students will write an original folktale to illustrate a particular part of the book.
Standard: Student reflects on what has been learned after reading and formulates ideas, opinions, and personal responses to text.
Warm-up Activity
- For the following activities, students will need to have started reading the book Sacajawea.
- First read students a Native American folktale. Ask them, why do people tell stories? (Entertainment, pass down history or culture, express political or social points of view, etc.)
- Read students the traditional tale Sacajawea tells on page 27. Ask why the author chooses to start all of Sacajawea's chapters with a tale. How is she preserving her culture through this tale? Why do you think the preservation of a Native American tradition is important to Sacajawea at this point in history? Who are the main characters in her stories?
- Investigate one of the tales she tells. Ask students to consider some of the following questions:
- How does this tale relate to the story she tells about her life?
- How are stories stronger "than fish and water creatures and the boats of people"?
- How does her tale relate to the previous chapter written by Clark? You may want to reread the chapter and focus on the last line, "Now I will leave you to your reading. Mark my work, lad, learn to read and the world will open wide to you in every direction." (p.26)
Teaching Plan
After-Reading
- Tell students that they are going to create an original Native American tale that brings to light one of the themes or events from a chapter in the book.
- Remind students that the main characters of the tales are often animals. Have students research the animals and environment that Shoshone people would have encountered in their everyday life.
- Ask students to pick a chapter and have them identify the main idea. What is the storyteller (Sacajawea, Clark) trying to teach young Pomp? How can you tell? After students have located the main idea or theme of the chapter, have them write a folktale that illustrates that theme.
Follow-up Activity
After students have finished writing their tales, gather the class for a storytelling festival. Teach students the skills of storytelling (eye contact, fluctuation of voice, etc).
Other Books About Strong Native Americans Women (Theme: Courageous female protagonist struggling to survive)
Truth About Sacajawea
by Kenne Thomasma
An inside look into the life of this indispensable guide on the Lewis and Clark expedition
The Story of Sacajawea, Guide to Lewis and Clark
by Della Rowland
A portrait of the young girl and her life.
Thunder Rolling in the Mountains
by Scott O'Dell
In the late 19th century, a young Nez Perce girl, Sound of Running Feet (Chief Joseph's daughter), relates how her people were driven off their land by the U.S. Army and forced to retreat north until their eventual surrender.
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell
Based on a true story, a young Indian girl lives alone on a Pacific island for 18 years. This fictionalized account brings to life the adventures that follow her as she perseveres to survive.
Other Books by Joseph Bruchac
Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons
Many Nations: An Alphabet of Native America (International Reading Association Teacher's Choice Award)
The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story
Squanto's Journey
The Heart of a Chief
Between Earth & Sky : Legends of Native American Sacred Places
The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet: Native American Poems of the Land
The Journal of Jesse Smoke: A Cherokee Boy, Trail of Tears, 1838 (My Name Is America)
The Arrow Over the Door
Many Nations: An Alphabet of Native America (International Reading Association Teacher's Choice Award)
Crazy Horse's Vision
How Chipmunk Got His Stripes: A Tale of Bragging and Teasing
The Circle of Thanks
The Waters Between: A Novel of the Dawn Land
The Great Ball Game: A Muskogee Story
The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale
The Native American Sweat Lodge: History and Legends
Bowman's Store: A Journey to Myself
Eagle Song
Teaching Plan by Gabrielle Nidus
- Part of Collection:
- Everything You Need:
- Subjects:Early Exploration and Settlements, Westward Exploration and Expansion, Cooperation and Teamwork, Main Idea and Details, Literary Devices, Plot, Character, Setting, Story Elements, Listening and Speaking, Creative Writing, Literary Response, Narrative Writing, Creativity and Imagination, Native American, Historic Figures, Social Studies through Literature, Women's History and Experience
- Skills:Literary Elements, Main Idea and Details, Plot, Character and Setting, Descriptive Writing, Narrative Writing
