DESCRIPTORS

Curriculum Areas: Reading, Listening, and Culture

Recommended Levels: Primary

Time Frame: Two days (45 minutes a day)

Tribal Affiliation: Santa Clara Pueblo

Geographic Location: Southwest (New Mexico)

Developed by: Patricia A. Madrid

Email addresses of developers: patty_madrid@teachnet.edb.utexas.edu

Date lesson was developed: July 24,2001

INSTRUCTION

Goal: To learn about an important role model and the elements of a biography

Behavioral Objectives: Students will

· Listen to Pablita Velarde: Painting Her People by Marcella J. Rich

· Identify author’s purpose.

· Discuss the book.

· Make a concept map.

American Indian Standards:

Language & Literacy

· Listen for meaning and gain information from English and a Native language

· Use a variety of strategies to gain meaning from text.

· Use different forms of writing to communicate.

· Be familiar with children’s literature with Indian themes, especially with that pertaining to the student’s tribe and literature written by Indian authors.

Prior Knowledge Needed:

· Listening skills

· Beginning understanding of elements of literature

· Experience in creating a concept web

· Some knowledge of Kidspirationä

Materials and Resources Needed:

· Pablita Velarde: Painting Her People by Marcella J. Rich

· Kidspirationä

· Paper & Pencils or markers

Lesson Summary and Performance Tasks:

First students will be introduced to the elements of a biography. Then the teacher will read Pablita Velarde: Painting Her People by Marcella J. Rich to the class. As a class the students will discuss the book and identify the author’s purpose. In small groups students will then create a concept map of the things they think are important from the book. Each group will create a concept map with graphics using Kidspirationä.

Assessment:

Teacher will assess each group concept map using a rubric created by the teacher.

Culture Content and Strategies:

Pablita Velarde is a well-known Native American author and illustrator form Santa Clara Pueblo. By studying her work we learn about the culture of Santa Clara Pueblo.

EXTENSION

Technology Integration:

Kidspirationä

Information on Kidspirationä may be obtained on the Internet at the Inspiration.com web site.

Enrichment/Remediation:

· Students can also listen to Old Father Storyteller by Pablita Velarde, Velarde, Pablita. Old father story teller
Santa Fe: Clear Light Publishers, 1989.

· Students can draw pictures of parts of the legends.

· Students can write their own legends using Pablita’s as a model.

Teacher Reflections

Teachers should have read the books and have some understanding of how this book is a biography. After the lesson is presented, other reflections on improvements and adjustments to the lesson for future use.