Curated OER
Navajo Sand Paintings
Research the use of sand paintings in the Navajo tribe. Your students work together to design their own sand painting. They share their creation with the class describing what the symbols mean.
Curated OER
Blueberries
The blueberry is the star of the show. Young farmers take a close look at the blueberry in order to begin to understand the production of small fruits. They describe the factors that affect a blueberry crop, how blueberries are grown,...
Curated OER
Osage, Legend, and Arkansas History
Elementary schoolers evaluate the legend of Norristown Mountain by looking at facts about the Osage Indians and the legend itself. They do an exploration of Arkansas' Native American groups which includes a look at their legends,...
Curated OER
In the Wake of Columbus
Students explore how the population decreased in native cultures.
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Elders' Stories
Very young learners study the ways that oral traditions play such a huge part in the culture of Native Americans. They see how Elders pass along stories to the younger generations. If possible, a tribal Elder comes into the class to...
Global Oneness Project
Recording a Dying Langauge
Is there value in preserving indigenous languages that are almost extinct? That's the question posed to viewers of a short film about the attempt of one Native American woman who is creating a dictionary for Wakchumni, the language of...
Curated OER
The Civil Rights Movement
Students compare and contrast African-American, Asian-American, Chicano and Native-American movements with the civil rights movement and are exposed to the sociopolitical and economic factors involved in the rise of social movements.
Curated OER
Storytelling of the Four Tribes of Nevada
Learners work in groups to identify the major characters and events found in a Nevada Native American folklore story. Each of the groups takes on the role of a different tribe, and they are given a story from that tribe's oral history....
Curated OER
Eloquent Words
Logan’s Lament, a speech delivered by Mingo Chief Logan in 1774, provides pupils with an opportunity to not only study the historical events surrounding the battle between Native Americans and the Europeans for the West Virginia...
Curated OER
The New England Fishing Industry:Sea Changes in a Community
Explore New England's economic and cultural past and possible issues New Englanders will face in the future. Middle and high schoolers research the fishing industry and the need for regulation. They analyze the topography of New England...
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Relationships to Places
Young historians take a look at how the Indian tribes of California promoted a mindful relationship between people and the land. They begin to understand how the Indians were champions of conservation, and at preserving the natural...
Curated OER
Ready-Set-Go-Whoa!
The Apaches: People of the Southwest offers readers a chance to employ the “Ready-Set-Go-Whoa!” strategy (an adaptation of the KWL) to test what they know and summarize what they learn as they read Jennifer Fleischner’s nonfiction...
Curated OER
Designing Clay
Maria and Juliana are two of the most famous Pueblo pottery makers of the modern era. The class will learn about pueblo pottery design and the ways that Maria and Julian use traditional designs in a new and innovative way. They will...
Curated OER
Plains Indians
First graders create a KWL chart on Native Americans and listen to a speaker from a local Indian Reservation. As a class, they are read part of a Native American story in which they pick their own Native American name and identify their...
Curated OER
Why Do We Have Thanksgiving?
Students investigate the change in the Thanksgiving holiday over time. They research the Native Americans and Pilgrims to find out how their relationship affected the holiday. They create a PowerPoint presentation using digital cameras...
Curated OER
POWWOW
Students investigate the significance of the Powwow to the Native Americans. They write a story about a special tradition or custom from their own family, play Native American children's games, prepare Indian fry bread, and participate...
Curated OER
To Dig or Not to Dig: The Stadium Showdown
Learners examine an ethical public dilemma. In this cultural resource activity, students role play to examine their personal beliefs regarding the protection of cultural resources. They evaluate possible actions they can take to protect...
Curated OER
MAPPING THE BLACK ATLANTIC
Students examine the geographic characteristics of Western and Central Africa, the impact of geography on settlement patterns, cultural traits, and trade. They compare political, social, economic, and religious systems of...
Curated OER
People of the Plains- Spiritualism
Fourth graders study cultural characteristics regarding Native American beliefs. They discuss spiritualism as it relates to respect. (respect for all things, living and dead; connection with the land, etc.) They provide examples they...
Curated OER
Totem Transformations
Students are introduced in the Humanities class, as they explore the origins of Totems in Native American folklore. In the computer lab, students read Totem stories and explore the meaning and symbolism behind the myths using various Web...
Curated OER
The Witch of Goingsnake
Students identify figurative language in a proverb and write an interpretation of the proverb prior to reading The Witch of Goingsnake. In this The Witch of Goingsnake instructional activity, students read a native American proverb and...
Curated OER
Weather/Climate
Students examine traditional Native American weather/climate knowledge. They keep a weather journal and research cloud cover.
Curated OER
Pictograph Stone Carving
Students examine pictures of pictograph writing by Native American tribes, and discuss why this method of communication was used. They create their own messages with symbols and drawings on pieces of Styrofoam to simulate rock carvings.
Curated OER
Prairie Voices: Where People Come From
Students examine the human experience. In this migration lesson, students determine reasons for migration, discover the traits of cultural groups, and explore how groups of people come to share their experiences despite language,...