Grade 5 · Social Studies · Unit 1 of 7
First Peoples Before Contact
Stories, land and leadership
What your child practises
First Peoples' origin stories and migration theories, the ice age and the land, how diverse Nations lived, led and traded, and why oral tradition matters. The wording says 'some' and 'many' because each Nation is different. This content needs review with Indigenous partners.
Manitoba Curriculum learning outcome: 5-KI-004, 5-KI-005, 5-KI-006, 5-KL-014, 5-KL-017, 5-KP-046, 5-KE-050, 5-VH-008, 5-VP-014 · First Peoples' stories, cultures, land and leadership before contact
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which Nation traditionally lived on the West Coast and built big cedar houses?
- Inuit
- Haida
- Plains Cree
Show answer
Haida
Hint: Cedar was plentiful there.
Question 2
Oral tradition means…
- only written books
- knowledge passed down by telling and listening
- TV shows
Show answer
knowledge passed down by telling and listening
Hint: Elders and storytellers share history.
Question 3
Which Nation traditionally lived on the Prairies and followed the bison?
- West Coast Haida
- Inuit of the Arctic
- Plains Cree
Show answer
Plains Cree
Hint: Many Plains Nations depended on bison.
Question 4
What are First Peoples?
- people who arrived in 1867
- the original peoples of North America
- only one Nation
Show answer
the original peoples of North America
Hint: They include First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
Question 5
In some communities, women held leadership roles. This is called…
- monarchy only
- dictatorship
- matriarchy or women's leadership
Show answer
matriarchy or women's leadership
Hint: Some societies, such as the Haudenosaunee, honoured women leaders.
Question 6
Which is an example of First Peoples' connection to the land?
- building cities of glass
- ignoring the seasons
- teachings that say people are part of nature
Show answer
teachings that say people are part of nature
Hint: Many teachings link people with animals, plants and water.