| Math Goal 7: |
The learner will compute with rational
numbers. |
| Objective: |
The Trail of Tears was a devastating program
of removal. Students will examine statistics and compare the survival rates
of different groups. |
| Time: |
20 minutes |
| Materials: |
Tsali biography in Session
3: Supplementary Readings of this workshop |
|
Trail of
Tears statistics information sheet, one copy per student |
|
The Math
of Removal activity sheet, one copy per student |
|
The Math
of Removal answer sheet |
| Process: |
1. Introduce the lesson by talking about
the Trail of Tears and how it dramatically changed the population of western
North Carolina. Introduce Tsali and talk about his story. |
|
2. Distribute the statistics sheet to
students and have them compare the survival rates for the thirteen groups.
Why do they believe some had fewer casualties than others? |
|
3. Give students time to complete the
sheets. Then, discuss the results—were there any major differences between
the groups? |
|
4. Wrap up the lesson by discussing how
math is essential to conducting historical research and understanding the
real meaning of statistics. |