241 Books > Series: 100% History Detectives > Unit: The Talking Rocks of Chaco Canyon
Big Question: What is history and why should we care about it?
Synopsis: Miss Flash and her students take a virtual trip to Chaco Canyon where they uncover two centuries-old mysteries and examine artifacts to discover what evidence they reveal about the past.
Overview
Focus: Native American History
While this unit focuses on the archeological and historical evidence found at Chaco Canyon, it serves as a case study that supports commonly taught standards aligned with Native American history. Chaco Canyon shows how Native peoples adapted to and shaped their environments, which is a key theme in any study of early America.
Objectives: In this book unit, students will…
Discuss and debate the answer to the Big Question: What is history and why should we care about it?
Read and discuss a fictional story about the mysteries of Chaco Canyon, a Native American site in the American Southwest.
Build key comprehension skills through content-based discussion questions and checks for understanding.
Learn and apply these social studies vocabulary words: artifact, archeology, evidence, and petroglyph.
Learn and apply the prefix ex- and the suffix-ous.
Learn and apply these Latin roots: vid/vis and struct.
Analyze historical artifacts to understand the importance they play in understanding history.
Write and explain a simile for history.
Pacing
1. Before You Read
The Big Question: 10 min | Slides 2-4
Preview: 45 min | Slides 5-7
Social Studies Dictionary: 20 min | Slides 8-9
2. Read Aloud
Introduction / Chapter 1: 30 min | Slides 10-11
Chapter 2: 20 min | Side 12
Hands-On History: 30 min | Slides 13-15
Chapter 3: 20 min | Slide 16
Chapter 4: 20 min | Slide 17
Class Activity: 45 min | Slides 18-20
Paired Reading: 20 min | Slide 21
3. After You Read
Wrap Up: 10 min | Slides 22-23
Processing: 20 min | Slide 24
Word Play: 20 min | Slides 25-26
Assessment: 30 min
Preparation
Preview the Unit and Book
Open the Teacher's Guide to review the Unit Overview, ELA and Social Studies Standards, Unit Support & Extensions, and Student Journal Answer Key. The first page of the Teacher’s Guide is replicated on this web page.
Preview the Digital Book.
Print and Prepare Materials
Print one Student Journal for every student.
Make sure each student has a hard copy of the book: The Talking Rocks of Chaco Canyon (or if necessary, use the Digital Book).
Print a copy of the Teacher’s Guide - which includes the Student Journal Answer Key - to reference during the lesson activity.
Download the Slide Deck (or use the Slide Deck at the top of this page). The slides in each section will guide you and your students through the book and lesson activities.