Grade 3 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 6, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
From Sea to Shining Sea

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 6, Lesson 1: A Desert Homeland (pp. 98-101)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Change To adapt to the natural resources available in the desert, the Navajo learned how to grow crops, raise livestock, weave, and make hogans.

Begin by discussing how we use natural resources to create food, clothing, and shelter. Talk about how each skill (building houses, farming, and making clothes) is taught and learned by others. Then talk about the Navajo and have students share what they know about what crops they grew, what animals they raised, the clothes they wore, and where they lived. Point out how the Navajo used the natural resources to make, grow, or raise what they needed.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Ask students to create a chart with the three headings Food, Shelter and Clothing. Under each heading, have them write what the Navajo learned to meet each need and tell who taught them how to do it.
Ask students to draw a picture that shows where the Navajo family lived, what crops they raised, and the animals they raised.

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