Grade 3

Nicole Mann, First Native Woman in Space

This lesson introduces students to Nicole Mann (Wailaki) a Round Valley Indian Tribal member from Northern California and the first Native American woman to travel to space. Through a guided Google Slides presentation, students learn about Nicole’s background, education, training, and accomplishments as a U.S. Marine Corps pilot, mechanical engineer, and NASA astronaut. The lesson highlights her bravery, determination, and the cultural pride she brings to her role.

Northern Howl, A Story of the Pup - Grade 3

HSS 3.2.1, RL.3.2, RL.3.3

This lesson exposes students to story-telling traditions of American Indian nations in the northwest California region, which strengthens student reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. This lesson features a short story written and illustrated by Teh-sa’a:n-xwe Cooper when he was 8 years old. The Northern Howl: A Story of the Pup is the first book of a three-books series.

Wintu Tribe of Northern California

HSS 3.2.2

This lesson is about the Wintu Tribe of Northern California, in Shasta County. Students will learn about the Wintus’ use of natural resources in everyday life, practice relaxation techniques to increase focus and apply their own creativity in assembling natural materials/found objects to create a miniature home.

What's in a Name? Native Place Names and Perspectives

W.3.1, W.4.1, W.5.1, ELA Grade 3 : Production and Distribution of Writing

This ELA reading and writing lesson supports students to critically think about how people and places are named from a Native American perspective. Students will begin by thinking about their own name and then they will have the opportunity to read 3 articles by Native people from Hoopa (Humboldt County) and Point Arena (Mendocino County).

Condor Returns

This interdisciplinary lesson explores the near extinction and ongoing recovery of the California Condor, highlighting the critical role played by the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Program in northwestern California.

Carmelita as a young girl, sitting on a rock.

Carmelita Evans DeLucchi: Preserving Wel-mel-ti Culture and Traditions Through Oral History

HSS 2.1, HSS 2.5, RF.2.4, SL.2.1, SL.2.6, L.2.1, L.2.3, L.2.6, SL.2.2, SL.2.3, RL.2.1, RL.2.2, RL.2.3, RL.2.4, RL.2.5, RL.2.6, RL.2.7, RL.2.9, RL.2.10, RI.2.1, RI.2.2, RI.2.3, RI.2.4, RI.2.5, RI.2.6, RI.2.7, RI.2.9, RI.2.10, L.2.4

Students will learn about Carmelita Evans DeLucchi, who was one of the last Northern Washoes born and raised in the “Old Indian Camp” on the hill above the town of Loyalton. Through a biography written by her granddaughter, students will learn a little about Carmelita’s life across “two worlds” – the traditional lifeways of her Wel-mel-ti family, and the settler-constructed town life of the 1930s and beyond. Carmelita survived a challenging start and early loss and recalled many happy memories of childhood. She embodied her culture’s values throughout college, her career, raising a family, and her return to Loyalton as her final resting place.