Lesson plan

Wampum: Money vs. Communication


GeoHistory GeoSTEM

Description

Students often have little concept of life “before them.” How did people communicate before cell phones and mass media? How did people purchase items before credit cards and electronic transfers of money? In this lesson, students will read background information about wampum, a string of beads used by American Indian tribes as a form of currency and communication. Students will also calculate lengths in metric and the customary units.

Duration

1 class period

Author

Joanne
Munson

Standards

4: The physical and human characteristics of places
10: The characteristics, distribution and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics
16: The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources

Teacher Instructions

MunsonWampumT.pdf (341.13 KB)

Student Materials

MunsonWampumS.pdf (1.43 MB)

Materials To Assist Teachers and English Language Learners

Supplemental Files