Math - Wampum
Content Standard: Solve addition and subtraction problems up to 100 in context.
Differentiation: Advanced students – White Wampum $ .16 and Red/Blue $ .32
Below Average students – White/Red/Blue Wampum $.01 – Lower the cost of item to fit needs
Cooperate with their partner and work together
Respect for traditions
Goals and Objectives: The children will be learning about wampum while practicing their adding and subtracting skills.
Anticipatory Set/Prime Time One: The children will be shown pictures of wampum and one I made out of macaroni. They will then be told a brief history about the wampum belts and how Native Americans used them for trading goods.
Wampum, purple and white beads made from conch and clam shells, were used by Native Americans as decorations, as a means of identifying a spokesperson, and as money. Native Americans treasured the beads because they were difficult to make. Because white shells were more abundant, purple wampum was worth twice as much as white wampum. The beads were laced together to create wampum belts, which usually conveyed a meaning or recorded an event
What other things do they think were traded?
Teaching Techniques/Instructional Strategies: Macaroni will be dyed prior to class. Red and Blue macaroni will represent purple wampum and plain macaroni will represent white macaroni. Dental floss will be used to string the macaroni into jewelry. Divide the classroom in half. Each half will find a partner in their group. One group will be the White Man the other Native Americans. (four students two White men, two Native Americans per trading post) The White Men will be setting-up they’re trading post with pictures of objects for sale. (see attachment for ideas on items for purchase) The Native Americans will use their wampum to purchase the products. They will be given $5.00. They will have to figure out how many white and purple macaroni pieces they will need to make the purchase. After the purchase they will need to keep a running total of how much money they have left. The White Man will have to check they received the correct amount of macaroni. They will also keep a running total after each sale to see how much money they have earned. Purple Wampum will have a value of 10 cents and white wampum a value of 5 cents. Time the activity for 10 minutes.
Assessment: At the end of the set time ask students from both sides to count up their red, blue, and white pieces of macaroni. Ask the students to see if it matches their running record sheet, if not they need to go back and see where their error occurred. Then ask the students to turn in their running record sheet to see if they added and subtracted correctly. See if they were correct on how much money they would have. If time allows switch sides and play again.
Technology Used: None for this lesson
Materials: Red, blue and white macaroni
Pictures of items for trade – could bring real items in as well
Dental floss
Resources: The Mailbox – Native Americans
Google sites for pictures
$ .80
$1.05
$ .65
$ .70
$1.95
$ .65
$1.30
$ .70
$ .55