Grade 6: The Minnesota River and Fur Trade
Program Overview
This trunk program will give students the opportunity to explore the Dakota settlements and the European fur trading activity along the Minnesota River in Scott County. Students will analyze historical maps and artifacts, take part in mock fur trades, present information to the class, and participate in group and class discussions. This program is part of the Scott County Historical Society’s “Collections in the Classroom” initiative, which uses museum artifacts to teach students about local history. It aligns with Minnesota state academic standards in social studies and English language arts.
Program Learning Objective
Students will be able to identify and describe the natural resources and wildlife found in and around the Minnesota River that made it an ideal spot for both Dakota settlements and European fur trading activity. Students will be able to describe the impact of the European fur trade on the Dakota people who lived in the area.
Program Goals
To help students develop their historical thinking skills by analyzing and interpreting primary sources.
To help students gain knowledge about the history of Scott County.
To give students the opportunity to connect with history in an enjoyable, hands-on manner.
To support teachers and to help the Scott County Historical Society further its mission to share Scott County history and cultural heritage.
MINNESOTA STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND BENCHMARKS
This program meets the following Minnesota state academic standards and benchmarks.
Sixth grade: Social Studies
6.3.1.1.1: Create and use various kinds of maps of places in Minnesota.
6.3.3.6.1: Locate, identify and describe major physical features in Minnesota; explain how physical features and the location of resources affect settlement patterns and the growth of cities in different parts of Minnesota.
6.3.4.10.1: Describe how land was used during different time periods in Minnesota history; explain how and why land use has changed over time.
6.4.1.2.1: Pose questions about a topic in Minnesota history, gather a variety of primary and secondary sources related to questions, analyze sources for credibility, identify possible answers, use evidence to draw conclusions, and present supported findings.
6.4.4.16.1: Describe European exploration, competition and trade in the upper Mississippi River region; describe varied interactions between Minnesota’s indigenous peoples and Europeans in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Sixth grade: English Language Arts
6.7.3.3: Write narratives and other creative texts to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well- structured event sequences.
Objective
Students will be able to describe what Scott County towns looked like 125 years ago, including the types of businesses that operated back then, the sorts of jobs people did, and the modes of transportation that were used. Students will be able to draw comparisons between Scott County 125 years ago and Scott County today.
Assessment
Students will demonstrate their understanding of what Scott County was like 125 years ago by collaboratively producing and sharing a presentation on the topic with their classmates (as well as by participating in class and small group discussions). *Note: Teachers will be asked to complete a post-survey to help assess this program.