Inquiry Box: Northern Florida's Early Native People
Suitable for: all ages but geared to 4th - 6th grade
Presentation: designed for 4th grade but adaptable to all ages
Participants will:
- Investigate the lives of Florida's early native peoples from the hunting-and-gathering Paleoindians to the farming Apalachee and Timucuan peoples.
- Learn about their culture, community, clothing, games, houses, tools, food and trade items.
- Find out how life changed in Florida after the arrival of European explorers.
- Hold and explore replicas and ancient artifacts.
The Florida's Northern Early Native People Inquiry Box (2 large royal blue suitcases) contains books (both fiction and no fiction), a video, word cards, laminated teaching aids and a teacher's guide (including a suggested approach sheet). This Inquiry Box features 14 shared boxes, each designed to be explored by 1-3 students.
Each shared box contains:
- Celt
- Chunky stone
- Owl totem replica
- Food packet (corn kernel, pumpkin seeds, dried bean, jerky, seashell, sunflower seed, peach pit, fish bones, acorns, shark tooth, and peas)
- Trade bag (bell, glass beads, jewelry, mica, potsherd, quartzite, seashells, shark tooth, and string)
- 2 pieces of terra cotta clay
- Packet with fibers for cord making
This Inquiry Box was designed using the Sunshine State Standards and is intended to enhance FCAT preparation.
Suggested Links
The Timucua - Florida Center for Instructional Technology
The Apalachees of Northwest Florida - Florida Center for Instructional Technology
Timucua Kids Page - E. Dale Joyner Nature Preserve at Pelotes Island
Native American Tribes of Florida
Timucua Indian Language (Timucuan)
Apalachee people, Calusa & Timucua
Teacher's Guide to Florida's Native People
This teacher's guide may be used for Inquiry Box presentations, Inquiry Box loans and museum visits. The guide contains information on Florida's Indian people, information on associated subjects and related fields of study, vocabulary and suggested activities. All activities are designed to integrate social studies, language arts, math and science in a unified learning experience. Permission is granted to reproduce the information and activities for student and teacher use. All guides are in PDF format.

