Texas Natives: Tonkawa & Comanche

3
rd
grade- Lizzie Allen


A. Objectives
1. Lesson Content

Tools
Artifacts
Patterns of Migration
Diet
Crops
Cultures
Clothing
Traditions
Languages
Beliefs

2. Skill Objective(s)
The students will compare and contrast two Texas Native American tribes, The Comanche and
Tonkawa.

Students will work cooperatively in small groups

Students will understand that Native American groups are not all alike.

Students will evaluate environmental factors on lives.

3. TEKS
(2) History. The student understands common characteristics of communities, past and present. The
student is expected to:
(C) compare ways in which various other communities meet their needs.

(4) Geography. The student understands how humans adapt to variations in the physical environment.
The student is expected to:
(B) identify and compare how people in different communities adapt to or modify the physical
environment in which they live such as deserts, mountains, wetlands, and plains;

(4) Geography. The student understands how humans adapt to variations in the physical environment.
The student is expected to:
(B) identify and compare how people in different communities adapt to or modify the physical
environment in which they live such as deserts, mountains, wetlands, and plains;


B. Materials
Venn diagram, posters, books on tribes, accurate illustrations of tribesmen,

C. Key Vocabulary
Comanche, Tonkawa, wikiup, teepee, allies, hunter-gatherer, sedentary,
nomatic, lances, buffalo, chiefdom, democratic society, shield, totem pole,

D. Procedures/Activities
1. Anticipatory Set:
Engage students prior knowledge by making a list of everything they know about Native
Americans. This list will be revisited after the lesson that that students can later
reflect on their previous notions of Native Peoples.
2. Modeling &/or Teacher Input
Walk students through a lesson on different the tribes of Texas. Particular focus will
be on lifestyle, diet, weapons, dwelling and social relationships.
Pick two tribes to compare and contrast. Comanche and Tonkawa tribes are conducive
to this because they are very different, but have some similarities.
Model how to insert traits on the Venn diagram by entering them on a Venn on the
board.
3. GUIDED Practice
Practice as a class coming up with more similarities and differences together and
put them on the Venn diagram in the appropriate spaces.
4. Independent Practice
Students will work together in small groups as the teacher monitors and checks
progress. Students will complete the Venn diagrams.
5. Review
Review Venn diagrams as a class, discuss similarities and differences in the two groups.
Point out that not all Native American tribes are the same.
6. Conclude
To conclude, and take step further, students will write a short piece on what I effect
they think the location of these tribes had to do with their differences.

7. Expand
Expand the compare and contrast to three groups, including the Caddo.