By Jamie Lynn K. Fegurgur

Elementary Educator, Daniel L. Perez Elementary School, Guam

About This Lesson

The following lesson plan was developed as part of the Culturally Sustaining Education: The Micronesian Context professional development workshop held 24-26 July 2018. The workshop was held in Guam and made possible by the Center for Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa in partnership with Chaminade University of Honolulu’s Center for Teaching and Learning, the Department of CHamoru Affairs and the Senator Antonio Palomo Guam Museum and Educational Facility, the College of Micronesia, Alik Translation Services, and Guampedia. All lesson plans developed as part of this series were authored by a Guam-based educator with contributions from workshop facilitators.

Subjects

Social Studies, CHamoru

Grade-level

Elementary, 5th Grade

Time required

3 – 4 Weeks, 45 minutes per day

Materials required

  • Pen or Pencil
  • Paper
  • Crayons
  • Markers
  • Poster boards
  • Drawing paper
  • Notebook
  • Computer
  • Internet

Related resources

Description

Through their story, students will learn the importance of oral storytelling and how it plays an important role in Pacific Island cultures.

Objective

  • Compare shelter, families, clothing, celebrations, and customs.

Guam Standard

  • 5.4.8 Explore underlying similarities between the CHamoru culture and others.

Lesson Plan

  1. Anticipatory: Guam’s creation story
  2. Ask students to draw their favorite part of the story and explain why.
  3. Oral Storytelling: Show online article: Pacific Storytelling, Confidence, Courage and Connection
  4. Who Are You? Activity (45 minutes minimum)
    • Students brainstorm to answer the question, “Who Are You?”
    • Students will create a visual poster to represent who they are.
  5. Research Activity (2 – 3 weeks)
    • Prerequisite: Students are familiar with PowerPoint software.
    • Students who are not from Guam will gather information about how their family migrated to Guam from their family members.
    • Students from Guam will find out more about their clan history.
  6. Students will create a PowerPoint presentation of their migration story.
  7. Evaluation and Assessments:
    • Students will present their PowerPoint to the class.
    • Ask students why oral storytelling was important in the development of the CHamoru culture, and other Pacific Island cultures.
    • Explain to students how their story connects to their culture as a means of knowing who they are and where they come from. Show “Isles of Micronesia” video as closing.

Closing

Isles of Micronesia, YouTube video

Questions or Assessment

Why was oral storytelling important in the development of the CHamoru culture and other Pacific Island cultures?