In this lesson, traditional stories of the Native peoples (i.e., narrative text) introduce students to the study of animals in Alaska (i.e., expository text). Students use the Internet to listen to a Yu'pik tale told by John Active, a Native American living in Alaska. They also use online resources to find facts about animals in Alaska. Students compare and contrast the two types of text in terms of fiction and nonfiction. The narrative stories provide students with a context to begin studying a content area topic; this lesson emphasizes the integration of curriculum.

In this lesson, students will take a trip back in time and look at the lifestyles and classes of people in the late 1800s. Using a WedQuest, text, and graphic organizers, students will learn about the class systems in the 1800s and how the use of symbolism increased the point of interest within the story.

Created By: Hillary Brady, Digital Public Library of America - Time Period: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900) - Subjects: US History; Native Americans - Remixed By: Nicole Cockey - The writing task described here can be used as a diagnostic to assess students' inferential and narrative writing skills. Teachers should asses students' ability to drawing inferences based on what the primary sources explicity show and say. Teachers are also assessing students' narrative techniques, include establishing point of view or perspective, sequencing events coherently, vivid use of language language, and resolution. As a diagnostic, this writing activity should be performed on demand after students have had sufficient time to examine and analyze the primary sources.See "Text Set Exploring Identity, Culture, Agency through Boarding Schools" for more details.