Alaska Studies Unit: Native Alaskan Culture Project

Students successfully completing Storylines and Learning Log entries will earn a grade of "C" for this unit.

Part I - To earn a grade of "B": Choose and Complete one project that is listed below.
Date Due:

A) Poster: Pictures may be from a magazine, drawn or computer generated. Must be in color. Include a one page description of items depicted on the poster.

B) An Original Poem: About Two Old Women or another topic about Native Alaskan Culture.

C) Map of Alaska: Showing Regions of Alaskan Natives and at least one fact about each group.

D) 3 to 5 Objects Depicting Alaskan Native Culture: Requires 1-2 page description of objects.

E) Scenery Box/Diorama: Illustrating a scene from the story Two Old Women. Must include a 1 page description of scene depicted.

F) Travel Diary: Illustrating events that happened to the Two Old Women (10 half-pages or 5 full pages front and back) include pictures as well as words.

G) Mini Scrapbook: Introduces people, events, setting, and actions of Native Alaskan life. (10 half pages or 5 full pages front & back) should include pictures.

H) Board Game: Must include facts on Native Alaskan culture and other info on Alaska. Rules for game play must be glued to game board (back).

I) Research Paper: 3-5 typed pages on a topic dealing with Alaska Natives, their history, geographic setting, or culture. Bibliographic sources must be cited.

J) Newspaper: Research paper in newspaper format. Bibliographic sources included.

K) Native Dance: Presented as a live demonstration or Video and 1-2 page explanation of the history and cultural value of the dance.

Part II - To earn a grade of "A": Project of your choice must also include a detailed 1-2 page summary of your topic. Due: with Part I.

1. Be sure to include the history of your project answering the questions of who, when, where, what, why, and how.

Who: which Native group is represented.
When: Is your project representing Native culture from the past or present.
Where: What region of Alaska does your topic/project take place or represent.
What: What sources were used to find information?
Why: What was the primary reason for your choice of this project.
How: How does the information discovered while completing this project relate to better understanding about Native Alaskan culture in your life today?

2. What did your learn about Native Alaskan culture that you had not known before as a result of completing this project?

Topic Ideas for Project

Choose One: (Some projects such as the scrapbook can cover any one or all topics.)

A) Depiction of elements of the story, Two Old Women.
B) Alaska Native Symbols: Can Athabaskan or any other Native Alaskan culture.
C) Typical Native tools, clothing, and shelter needed for survival in AK wilderness. (Past or Present).

General Directions

Individual projects:
1. Posters: should be poster board size. (Approx. 37" High and 25" Wide)
2. Scenery boxes/diorama: Shoe size or small comparable sized box.
3. Objects need to be placed in shoe box or other small container to prevent loss.
4. Poems, map, and Newspaper projects must be backed with construction paper or poster board.
5. Maps should be in color and accurate. Must include an information key.

General Guidelines:

• Written pages are to be double spaced with one-inch margins and indented paragraphs. On one side of paper only.
• Titles are required directly on the project (if possible) and on the one page description.
• All information (words) on the project [Both parts I & II] should be typed using computer or typewriter. If typing is absolutely impossible, all writing must be in blue or black ink
• Pictures must be in color and labeled. They can be from books magazines, hand drawn, or computer generated.
• Use glue in constructing your project. Do not staple or tape pictures or other items. Stapeling research papers or description pages is acceptable and expected.
• When gluing pictures or pages to poster board, rubber cement works best. If you want to change something, pictures can be lifted carefully from the poster board without tearing. However, glued items do not lift from construction paper without damage.
• Make sure your name is clearly written on all parts of your project. Research papers and description pages require standard full headings.
• At least three sources of information must be included in a bibliography according to standard format.

Grading Rubric

Part I: Project

Creativity and Effort (20%)
Overall Presentation/Neatness (20%)
Topic is clearly illustrated (20%)
Bibliography(20%)
Spelling (10%)
Words are typed or legibly written in ink (10%)

Part II: Written Summary

Content (70%)
The questions of who, when, where, what, why, and how, must be adequately answered.
Contains a clear statement of what new information about Alaskan Native culture was learned.

Format (30%)
A full heading with Student Name, Date, Class, and Project Title is at top of page.
Presentation is typed or clearly written in blue or black ink on one side of paper only.
pages are double spaced with one inch margins on top, bottom, and sides of paper. Paragraphs are indented with 5 spaces.

Lesson Plan | General Guidelines & Rubric | Newspaper Project
| Mini-Scrapbook | Scenery Box/Diorama | Travel Diary

© 2000 by Barbara L. Wilt (Schoolmarm). All written material is protected by United States copyright laws and is not to be reproduced by any means without documented reference & credit provided to the author. The only exclusion applies to Lesson Plans & Classroom materials which are freely available for use by all without restrictions.