Teacher Resources
In this interactive lesson, students will explore how Native American nations in Maryland are living, active communities that continue to adapt, lead, and maintain strong connections to their culture, land, and history. By analyzing diverse sources, students will gain a deeper understanding of how Native nations preserve their heritage and actively shape the present and future of Maryland, highlighting their enduring resilience and connection to place.
Lesson Information
- Grade Band: 6-7
- Focus Standard: Maryland Middle School United States History Standards
- Topic: U.S. History
- Completion Time: Three, 50-minute class periods
- Vocabulary: Visit the Glossary page for definitions of key vocabulary in this module.
Additional Resources
- Interview with Mervin Savoy [of Charles County] - These digitized interview clips feature Mervin Savoy, tribal chair of the Piscataway Conoy Confederacy and Sub-Tribes and a prominent advocate for state recognition of Maryland's Piscataway people.
- Maryland State Arts Council: Land Acknowledgements - This guide to the Maryland State Arts Council’s Land Acknowledgement Project includes sphere-of- influence maps and background information on many of Maryland’s Indigenous tribes. It also defines key concepts in the tribal past and present and provides additional resources.
- Mayis Indigenous Records: Indigenous Archive Project for Eastern Shore of Maryland - This collection of recorded oral history interviews with Elders and tribal knowledge-keepers from Eastern Shore communities is maintained by the Maryland State Archives.
- MPT in the Classroom: Native People of Maryland - Use this lesson starter to help students learn about the Yaocomico way of life and the impact Europeans had on the Indigenous people of Maryland.
- TPS in the Classroom: The Long Road to Recognition - This Indigenous Maryland Inquiry Kit features sources about how a tribe becomes recognized in the state of Maryland.
Related Standards
Maryland Social Studies Standards
Standard 2.0: Peoples of the Nations and World
Standard 3.0: Geography
Grades 6 and 7 | Unit 8: Regional Case Study of Geographic Thinking
- Content Topic and Timeframe: American Indians Today (2010s CE-present)
- 6/7.8.4 Students will examine how American Indian nations responded to European settler colonization by:
- Examining demographic data on contemporary American Indian communities. (6/7.8.4.a)
- Analyzing how native culture among identified tribes has persisted and evolved over time. (6/7.8.4.c)
Sources and References
- Through Piscataway Eyes Master Plan - destinationsouthernmaryland.com
- Geographic Spheres of Influence maps - msac.org
- A Fight for Recognition: The Lumbee Tribe in Maryland - Maryland Center for History and Culture
- Historical Map of Maryland’s Native American Tribes - Maryland Center for History and Culture
- Milestones of the Pocomoke Indian Nation: Pocomoke Nation Tribal Homelands Historical Marker
- Educational Programs: Pocomoke Indian Nation Pop-Up Museum
- Piscataway Members Preserve Tribe's Legacy in Maryland NBC4 Washington
- Mayis Indigenous Records: Indigenous Archive Project for the Eastern Shore of Maryland
- Your Charles County: Piscataway Conoy Indigenous People Festival Charles County Government
- Indigenous Maryland: Guide to Indigenous Maryland logo
Using This Site
This lesson is built for use on classroom computers and tablets. If you have access to a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or an interactive whiteboard in your classroom, you may complete the lesson in your classroom. Otherwise, you will need to schedule time to use your school's computer lab. For technical specifications, see below.
Some activities on this site may include videos and narration, so you may want to have headphones available for students working at individual stations. For best results in viewing the videos and interactives, you should have a high-speed, stable Internet connection.
This lesson may contain PDFs for students to complete. They can print the PDFs and fill them out by hand, or download the files and fill them out on the computer. Most or all portions can be filled out online. Please check with your Instructional Technology Specialist for instructions on downloading the PDF. (Note that to complete the PDFs on the computer, you will need a viewer that supports forms, such as Adobe Reader.)
Technology
This site is an Internet-based activity, and was built to run on the following computer operating systems and browsers:
- Windows 10 or Newer: IE 8, 9, 10, 11; Current version of Chrome; Current version of Firefox
- Mac OS 10.7 or Newer: Current version of Safari
- iPad2/iOS6 or Newer: Current version of Safari
- Android 4.0 or Newer: Current version of Android browser
- Chromebook: Current version of Chrome
Users running Internet Explorer 8 will not be able to use the highlighter tool. Instead, teachers should consider partnering students for a brief discussion.
Visit the Accessibility page for detailed information on the site's accessibility features.
