Today’s Walking Classroom podcast focuses on Native American mound builders. Each society built its mounds to suit its own unique purposes. Scientists have uncovered four types of mounds: conical, earthen-lodge, effigy, and temple. All the mounds found are believed to have symbolized their community’s social unity, pride, and identity. While many mounds have been destroyed through erosion, development and vandalism, hundreds remain today.
Character Value: Cooperation
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Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
RH.6-8.4
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Native American Mound Builders Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
Native American Mound Builders Slide Deck
Introduces what archeologists know about ancient Native American mound builders, featuring discovered artifacts and historians’ understanding of them.
Get inspiration from online images of mound and corresponding artifacts, then draw a mound in this activity from Art Class Curator.
Complete an idea organizer and test knowledge of the mound builders using these worksheets from the Arizona Geographic Alliance.
Create an annotated map of a selected mound builder site using Google Maps in this activity from Missoula County Public Schools.
Explore the Cahokia Mounds Map from the Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site.
See More Podcasts in Subject Area: Social Studies
See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Native Cultures