Curated OER
Native Americans
Students read informational texts to become experts on Native American culture groups from different regions and times. Students work in small groups and at activitiy center in this unit in which they practice speaking skills.
Healthy Native Youth
Chapter 1: Circle of Life
Volition, or will-power, is the focus of a lesson that brings forth the Native symbol, the Circle of Life, to instill the importance of responsible decision-making. Scholars take part in six activities that empower them to reflect on...
Berkshire Museum
The Three Life-Giving Sisters: Plant Cultivation and Mohican Innovation
Children gain first-hand experience with Native American agriculture while investigating the life cycle of plants with this engaging experiment. Focusing on what the natives called the Three Sisters - corn, beans, and squash - young...
Curated OER
Navajo Code Talkers
An engaging lesson focuses on the contributions of the Navajo people during World War II. Learners read the book Navajo Code Talkers by Andrew Santella, answer a series of comprehension questions about the text, and write a letter...
Curated OER
Native American Necklaces
First graders make an "ABB" pattern from macaroni they dyed in a previous lesson. They follow the pattern as they string the macaroni to make a necklace. This lesson is a nice math/social studies tie in.
Curated OER
Alaska's Native Population: Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts
Students explore the unique population of Alaska. In this Native people of Alaska lesson plan, students discover the three groups of people who live in Alaska. Students describe the similiarities and differences between the three groups....
Curated OER
The Importance of Plants to Native Cultures in the Past and Present
Eighth graders investigate the founding and history of Sluice Boxes State Park. They use both primary and secondary resources to collect data. The focus is upon the use of native plants to make medicines. They write reports about several...
Curated OER
Nomadic and Sedentary Tribes in Kansas
Seventh graders compare and contrast sedentary and nomadic tribe life. In this Native American culture lesson, 7th graders research primary documents about the Osage and Kiowa tribes. Students create a series of illustrations to be...
Curated OER
A Native American Legend
Students compare the Native American version of Cinderella to the more popular version they know. They compare legends with fairy tales and explore character traits and discuss the meaning of good character. They write a fairy tale of...
Curated OER
Great Basin Tribes- Use of Land for Sustenance
Students explore four Native American tribes from Nevada. In this Native American history lesson, students identify and generate important corresponding attributes of the Southern Paiute, Northern Paiute, Washoe, and Western Shoshone...
Curated OER
Hispanic Arts: Visual Arts, Dance and Music
Students observe global cultures by listening to music and watching videos. In this Latin American dance lesson, students define merengue, salsa and other dances from the Hispanic culture while listening to Latin rhythm music. Students...
Curated OER
Creating a Thunderstorm
First graders contrast sounds and make a thunderstorm rhythm. In this rhythm instructional activity, 1st graders listen to Native American music and make an original rhythm with their hands and feet. Students discuss Native...
Curated OER
Other Native American Groups
Fourth graders identify the three Native American groups highlighted in this lesson. In this Native American lesson plan, 4th graders answer comprehension questions, and classify the adaptations of the groups in a worksheet.
Curated OER
American Indian Civil Rights
Students examine social justice issues regarding American Indians. In this civil rights instructional activity, students investigate the Red Power Movement of the 1960's and 1970's. Students then roleplay interviewing Native...
Curated OER
Who Were the First Americans?
Second graders explore Native Americans through a PowerPoint presentation.
Curated OER
What Should a House Do?
Students complete a unit of lessons on the similarities and differences between Native American homes and European settlement houses. They explore websites, read stories, design a dream house, and construct wigwam models.
Channel Islands Film
Sa Hi Pa Ca (Once Upon a Time): Lesson Plan 2
What tools do archaeologists and anthropologist use to learned about what life was like in the past. After watching West of The West's documentary Once Upon a Time that details how scientists use artifacts to establish a...
Curated OER
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Lesson Plan
Indigenous Land Guardianship, Settler Colonialism, Racial Capitalism. While the terms may be new to some, they feature in a lesson plan designed for Indigenous Peoples' Day. Young scholars investigate four concepts: Land...
K20 LEARN
The Conflict at the Washita River: The Indian Wars in Indian Territory
"Battle" or "Massacre"? Words matter, especially when labeling historical events. That's the big idea in a lesson about the 1868 conflict at the Washita River. After examining two images of the event, groups read and discuss articles...
Curated OER
American Rhythms
Students combine elements of music with poetry. In this creative writing lesson, students examine poems from a variety of authors with varying writing styles. Students explore the different elements of poetry, including tone,...
Curated OER
Whose Rite Is It?
The class explores and debates, from multiple perspectives, a petition to allow Hopi Indians to take golden eagle hatchlings from a federal wildlife sanctuary for use in a religious ceremony. Pupils defend their personal views on the...
Curated OER
Sitting Bull: Chief of the Lakota Nation
Learners view the "Sitting Bull" video, complete vocabulary work, and discuss the video as a class.
Curated OER
Rock Speaks
Young scholars create primitive forms and caricatures to represent meaningful figures and/or events in their own lives, present their own works to the class, and attempt to interpret the relevant meaning from other students' work.
Curated OER
Native Americans During the 19th and 20th Centuries
Learners explore major events in Native American history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In this American history lesson, students listen to lectures, examine photographs, and analyze music regarding Native American history...