Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sing Down The Moon

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read Sing Down The Moon independently and keep a journal where they write their reactions to the book. Students access websites imbedded in this plan and research a variety of other Indian tribes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Expansion in America

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore human settlement in America - from the 1500s to about the turn of the 20th Century. They follow the relationships and changes beginning in the east, then head west to witness the final battles of this era.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagons West: Native Americans

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine interactions between Native Americans and settlers. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, students analyze select passages from Plains Indians by Dana Newmann and The World of Native Americans by Marion...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The American West-Knowledge Test

For Students 4th - 5th
In this American West worksheet, students complete a 24 questions test about the American West. Answers are included beneath questions on worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Symbols of Power in Native American Clothing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create power shirts that were highly important in the culture of many Native Americans.
Article
Other

International Journal of Wilderness: Don Aragon: Wind River Indian Tribes [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive article honing in on concerns for federal wilderness protection by learning from indigenous peoples, specifically the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indians in Fort Washakie, Wyoming.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Wind River Indian Reservation

For Students 9th - 10th
Peruse this brief summary of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming, home to Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indians.
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Treaty With the Cheyenne and Arapaho; October 14, 1865

For Students 9th - 10th
Actual text of the treaty, which removes members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations to a reservation, gives additional land grants in reparation for the Sand Creek Massacre, and promises annual payments to tribal members.
Website
Other

Indian Mythology: Myths and Legends of Arapaho

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of Arapaho legends can be found here. It's best to preview them as there may be elements not suitable for younger children, such as cheating on a spouse.
Lesson Plan
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Events at Sand Creek, 1864

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A great lesson plan about an incident that receives little coverage in most textbooks. This plan lays out the objectives and procedures for learning about and discussing the actions of Col. John...
Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: Wind River Indian Reservation

For Students 9th - 10th
Peruse this brief summary of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming, home to Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indians.
Primary
PBS

The West: Documents on the Sand Creek Massacre

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains the text of documents on the Sand Creek Massacre, including two editorials from the Rocky Mountain News, Congressional testimony by John S. Smith, and a deposition by John M. Chivington
Handout
Curated OER

National Park Service: Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides information on the significance of the Sand Creek Massacre as well as historical information about the massacre. Clicking on "People" on the left margin will give you information about individuals associated with the Sand Creek...
Article
Archaeological Institute of America

Archaeology: Sand Creek Massacre

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains information about pinpointing the exact site of the Sand Creek Massacre.
Website
Other

An Introduction to North America's Native People: Plains Culture Area

For Students 9th - 10th
A wonderful website from Cabrillo College on the Plains Indians can be found here. It gives an in-depth historical overview, profiles of numerous Plains tribes, the significance of the horse, and great information on their culture and...
Article
Other

Terrain.org: Revisiting Sand Creek

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a very detailed look at the events of the Sand Creek Massacre and efforts to find the exact spot where the event occurred.