Guided Reading Activity:

1. Before reading the passage, ask the students to brainstorm what they know about the cultures of the West in the United States. Write their responses on the board.

2. Distribute copies of the reading passage to the students.

3. Instruct the students to read the passage silently to themselves.

4. After reading, ask the students to identify the main idea of each section (Plains Cultures, Peoples of the Southwest, Cultures of the Far West). Write their responses on the board.

5. Divide the students into small groups and assign each group one section of the passage (Plains Cultures, Peoples of the Southwest, Cultures of the Far West).

6. In their groups, ask the students to discuss and answer the following questions about their assigned section:
   • What were the main characteristics of the culture described in this section?
   • How did the people in this culture adapt to their environment?
   • What were some of the resources they relied on for survival?
   • How did their houses or shelters reflect their environment?

7. After discussing in their groups, ask each group to share their findings with the rest of the class.

8. As a class, discuss the similarities and differences between the cultures described in each section. Ask the students to identify any patterns or themes that emerge.

9. Ask the students to reflect on the initial brainstorming activity and compare their prior knowledge to what they have learned from the reading. Have their perceptions changed? What new information did they learn?

10. Conclude the activity by asking the students to write a short paragraph summarizing what they have learned about the cultures of the West from the reading.