Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

The Search for Identity

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Discover how writers express identity in their writing. Learners explore how issues of identity surface in the literature of minority writers. Scholars watch a video, read and discuss biographies, conduct research, engage in creative...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Families and Schools of the Past"

For Teachers 1st
First graders listen to and discuss historical fiction and bigraphies from the early American time period. They role-play, draw, write stories and dress up to re-create events from these historical characters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"The Life of Crazy Horse" Board Game

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read books and conduct Internet research on the life of Crazy Horse. They then use their findings to design a Crazy Horse-themed board game. Students swap and play each other's games.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparative Folktales

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students analyze Mongolian and Native American folktales and compare the two types. They discuss the importance of storytelling in nomadic cultures and read a story in small groups. Following the story, they answer questions and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Could You Make an Oak Basket?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers listen to an interview with Lucreaty Clark, a White Oak Native American basket maker. They analyze the interview and record their observations on a worksheet. Students consider information that can be gleaned from an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salmon Life Cycles

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students list salmon life cycle stages in order, list three threats that salmon face throughout their lives, and examine important role native fish play in aquatic food chains throughout their life cycles.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Indians Heritage Series: The Inuit's

For Teachers K
Students become aware that people lived in America before Columbus came.  For this Inuit culture lesson, students discuss lives of the Inuits. Students listen to Mama Do You Love Me, A Promise is a Promise and The Polar Bear Son:...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Nations Contributions

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate point of view of a Native and a Missionary by reading articles by each.  In this Native Person versus Missionary lesson, 6th graders look at the contributions of the Atlantic First Nations. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Indians Heritage Series: The Tlingit's

For Teachers K
Students study the Native American culture of the Tlingits and discuss relevant information regarding their way of life. Students create their own musical Tlingit rattles using toilet paper rolls and rice. They make and decorate their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Small World

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore indigenous and Native cultures, and promote appreciation for the contributions from these cultures. They explore the concept of cultural conservation and gain more understanding about the issues that tribes face today. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westmoreland Trail

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the Westward expansion of the U.S. They play the computer game, Oregon Trail III, read primary source documents, conduct Internet research, write diary entries from the pioneer viewpoint, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Political Cartoons

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students draw two political cartoons. They compare the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 to the stand-off that took place at Wounded Knee in l973. They examine the role that Manifest Destiny played in the West.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Challenge to Communicate

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students use Lewis and Clark's journals to identify the forms of non-verbal communication they used. They discover the problems they faced on their journey and how they overcame them. They practice using the non-verbal language of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

No Choice!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate freedom. In this character development and U.S. history lesson, students participate in role playing in which the teacher assigns recess restrictions including whom they play with and what they play. Young...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Does History Stand on the Last Stand?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the Battle of Little Bighorn and its impact on United States and Native American culture through reading current and historic New York Times articles and by creating a research-based exhibit about this historic event.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inference By Analogy

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students infer the use or meaning of items recovered from a North Carolina Native American site based on 17th-century European settlers' accounts and illustration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deforestation, Fragmentation, and the Edge Effect

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students participate in an activity to demonstrate how deforestation, fragmentation, and habitat edges may affect native animal populations. Students accomplish this by playing a game from a provided worksheet and completing a graphing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Corn Cob Toys

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students make toys from corn cobs. They study the many uses for corn, both historically and today. They write a description of the toy/object he or she has made and provide instructions for making it. They write and perform plays,...
Lesson Plan
University of New Mexico

New Mexico Land of Enchantment

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research Native American Cultures surrounding New Mexico. They analyze the history and geography of the state. They play a guessing game that incorporates the indigenous plants and animals of New Mexico. In groups, learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ESOL Family and Parenting

For Teachers Higher Ed
Sstudents discuss disciplinary options when parenting. They compare and contrast what was acceptable in their native country with what is acceptable in America. They list courses that are available to parents. They write one paragraph...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Camp Expedition

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students select an animal to research that lives in the camp environment. Students spend time using books and the Internet to research their animals, including size and appearance. Students create a mural to depict the environment and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Americana Trivia Game

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this American history game, students use the blank game board and the trivia question cards to play a board game that tests knowledge of American history. There are 28 trivia questions and full directions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Old Hickories

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students analyze historical events to develop a historical perspective. In this critical analysis lesson, students read excerpts, primary sources and other materials in order to understand the Native American Removal that occurred during...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build an Anchialine Pond

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore biology by conducting a nature experiment. In this pond examination lesson, students utilize recycled materials, play-doh and water to recreate a pond and its inhabitants. Students identify the different elements within...