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[link unavailable; checked 2026-10-15] Inquiry Design Model (IDM) Blueprint™
American Literature & Native Humor
NDNAEU 2 “Learning & Storytelling”, NDNAEU 4 “Sense of Humor”
Compelling Question
American Indian tribes use humor to teach a lesson about life and how does that relate to American literature?
Standards and Practices
Craft and Structure RL.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view (e.g., first or third person narration, character’s perspective) of the narrator or speaker in a text.
Staging the Question
Why do American Indian authors use humor in writing and oral stories to teach about life? How can that be opposite of western education thought on folklore or writing? Ex-Wolf-Ma’iingan, Big foot, Kitchi-sabe, Spider-Ikitomi, Rabbit-Wapoose, Turtle-Mikinaak
Supporting Question 1
Supporting Question 2
Supporting Question 3
Western education uses a “point of view” to create a story. How does that correlate or differ with American Indian oral or writing of stories?
North Dakota tribes use humor to understand the environment they live in. Are there similarities and or differences between American Indian and western education writing when it comes to humor?
American Indians have six medicines they use for wellness and humor is one of the six. How is humor used in western writing? “Laughter is the best medicine.”
Formative Performance Task
Formative Performance Task
Formative Performance Task
Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the two.
Take a known western fairy tale (Little Red Riding Hood, Goldie Locks, etc) and make it humorous. Use native examples to help guide you.
List 2-3 examples of different types of humor in Native American western culture.
SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASK: Supported Claim (written/spoken) or Demonstration of Process (project-based)
Write a 5 paragraph essay arguing one style is better than the other. (Western vs. Native)
SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASK: Extension
Have students read a western and native fable to elementary students and get their view on which one they liked and why.
Taking Informed Action / Real World Application
Check with the libraries to find out the availability of Native American and western fables and if people are checking them out for pleasure reading.
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Inquiry Design Model (IDM) Blueprint™ [link unavailable; checked 2026-10-15]
