Louisiana’s first inhabitants

International School of Louisiana - Uptown
3rd Grade, Visual Art & Social Studies
Ms. Nobile / Ms. Anne-Sophie, Ms. Caitlin, Mr. Laurent, Mr. Juan, Ms. Carbajo, Ms. Anne, and Ms. Guzman

Third grade’s second social studies unit of the year is all about Louisiana’s first inhabitants and their contributions to Louisiana’s uniqueness. Students explore how the geography of Louisiana influenced the settlement of Louisiana’s Native Americans and how aspects of Native American culture are still present today.

Each third grade class studied a different Native American tribe; they focused on the Atakapas, Chitimacha, and Caddo nations. Students learned about where they lived and how they survived, which varied based on the region they settled in. The teachers and teaching artist were sure to emphasize that Native people still live in Louisiana and continue to contribute to Louisiana’s unique culture. 

In our arts integrated classes, students completed a study in portraiture.  Students learned about facial mapping and learned new vocabulary for the parts of the face in their target languages of Spanish and French (i.e. eyelash / pestaña / cil and cheeks / mejillas / joue)!

At the end of each class, students share their work in progress, and their classmates can ask questions and offer compliments. On this day, classroom teacher Ms. Anne-Sophie shared her portrait with the class, and students were very excited to celebrate her work!