The Cherokees: from Early Exploration to the Trail of Tears

The Cherokees: From Early Exploration to the Trail of Tears

4-5 Grade Band Text Set

Line of Inquiry: In this text set, students in grade 4 will build knowledge about the culture and history of the Cherokee within North Carolina. They will trace Cherokee culture through the Trail of Tears and learn about the cause and effect of the Indian Removal Act and how it affected the Native American culture in North Carolina.

This set includes three informational texts, two literary texts, and a collection of poetry which includes poems about the Cherokee Indians.

Soft Rain: A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears the quantitative measure is below the grade band. However, when taking the content and qualitative measures into consideration it can be placed in the 4-5 text band.

800L If You lived With the Cherokee

By: Peter Roop and Connie Roop

Genre: Nonfiction

This book describes what it was like to grow up in a Cherokee village. From what they wore to what they ate to what games the children played, it gives a full overview of life as a Cherokee. The illustrations complement the text and were done by a Cherokee artist.

650L Soft Rain: A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears

By: Corneila Cornelissen

Genre: Historical Fiction

This story follows 9 year old Soft Rain. The book chronicles her journey from the day that soldiers show up at her home and force her and her mother to leave with them for a new land to her travels on the Trail of Tears. This book is below the 4-5 text band but contains material that is relevant to the content area and more complex than the 2-3 grade band.

910L The Cherokee

By: Liz Sonneborn

Source: Scholastic Book Wizard

Genre: Nonfiction

“An excellent introduction to Native American studies, Indians of the Americas weaves together the people, culture, traditions, crafts, food, history, and struggle for survival of some of the first groups to call America home. Fascinating and comprehensive, each book in the series draws from primary source materials as well as historical archives to address the topics most frequently covered in social studies and American history curricula.” (www.scholastic.com)

700L The Cherokee

By: Andrew Santella

Source: Scholastic Book Wizard

Genre: Nonfiction

“The CherokeeNation's traditions, social life, homes, and family life are explored.” (www.scholastic.com)

N/A The Circle of Thanks: Native American Poems and Songs of Thanksgiving

By: Joseph Bruchac

Source: Scholastic Book Wizard

Genre: Poetry

Poems and songs based on traditional Native American songs and prayers including those of the Cherokee Nation.