Nature Shapes Lives

Grade Level

2nd Grade

Duration

30 minutes

Class Size

10 students

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Unit

Exploring Ohio's Native Americans
Lesson 4 of 5: The Influence of Nature on Culture

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Common Core State Standards Alignment

Social Studies (Aligned with Ohio’s Learning Standards and Common Core ELA Integration)

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.3
  Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas, or steps in technical procedures in a text.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1
  Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2
  Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement.

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Learning Objectives

• I can explain how nature affected the lives of Ohio Native Americans.
• Students will identify and describe two ways Ohio’s natural environment influenced Native American lifestyles.
• Students will collaborate to discuss natural resources and how they were used.
• Students will write a short paragraph imagining how they would live in Ohio’s environment.

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Success Criteria

Students can:

• Verbally give two examples of how nature influenced a tribe’s way of life.
• Use visuals and videos to support their understanding.
• Write a short paragraph describing their own adaptation to Ohio’s environment.

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Materials

• Short, age-appropriate video (3-4 minutes) showing Ohio’s Native American environment and lifestyle
• Visual aids/photos of local natural resources (forests, rivers, animals, plants)
• Chart paper and markers
• Dyslexia-friendly printed text passage describing resources and adaptations (color-coded, simple font like OpenDyslexic)
• Writing paper and pencils
• "Think-Pair-Share" prompt cards

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Vocabulary

• Environment
• Natural Resources
• Adaptation
• Tribe
• Shelter
• Food source

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Lesson Procedures

Time	Activity	Details & Differentiation
0-5 min	Engage & Activate Prior Knowledge	Begin with a short question to students: “What are some things in nature we use every day?” Show quick visuals of woods, rivers, and animals. Use dyslexia-friendly text to introduce vocabulary. Use think-pair-share to promote peer discussion and scaffold ideas before sharing with the group.
5-12 min	Watch Video & Discussion	Play a 3-4 minute video demonstrating how Ohio Native Americans used natural resources (wood for homes, rivers for fish, animals for food & clothes). After the video, lead a guided discussion with questions such as: "How did the river help the tribes?" and "What did they use the trees for?" Capture student responses on chart paper. Use visual prompts to aid comprehension.
12-20 min	Small Group Activity: Matching Resources to Uses	Divide into pairs. Give each pair picture cards of natural resources and cards describing how these were used by Native Americans. Students match cards and explain their choices to each other, then share one example with the whole group. Teacher circulates, providing vocabulary support and positive feedback.
20-28 min	Writing Extension: “How I Would Adapt”	Students write a short paragraph answering the prompt: "If I lived a long time ago in Ohio, how would I use nature to live?" Sentence starters and word banks will be provided for support. Advanced writers can add more details or draw a picture to accompany. Encourage use of I can statements and vocabulary.
28-30 min	Wrap-up & Exit Ticket	Students share one example from their writing or discussion. Collect a quick exit ticket: “Name two ways nature influenced Ohio Native Americans.”

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Differentiation Strategies

• Visual and multimedia support: Video and picture cards to strengthen comprehension.
• Dyslexia-friendly materials: Use OpenDyslexic font and colour-coded text passages to support struggling readers.
• Think-Pair-Share: Supports students who may need language processing time and builds confidence.
• Sentence starters and word banks: Help scaffold writing.
• Peer collaboration: Promotes social learning and language development.

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Extension for Advanced Learners

• Write a detailed paragraph including at least three ways nature helped tribes survive.
• Illustrate their paragraph with a labeled drawing showing natural resources and tribal adaptations.

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Assessment

• Observation of student participation during discussion and matching activity.
• Review student paragraphs for understanding of how nature shaped Native American life.
• Exit ticket responses to assess grasp of the two required examples.

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Reflection for Teachers

• Did students make clear connections between environment and culture?
• Were visuals and video effective for comprehension?
• How did differentiated supports assist diverse learners?
• Plan for final lesson in unit to build on this understanding.

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By integrating collaborative conversations, multimedia resources, and writing across the curriculum within a tight 30-minute timeline, this lesson offers a dynamic and inclusive approach that meets Common Core standards while sparking curiosity about Ohio’s rich Native American history.