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The Buffalo: A Way of Life for the Plains Indians

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders complete a KWL chart on the Plains Indians. After watching a video, they state the difference between legends and facts about the importance of the buffalo to Native Americans. They also practice their note-taking skills...
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The Plains Native Americans

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students read The Buffalo Woman by Paul Goble and explore several aspects of Plains Indians cultures. They view historical photos of items from Plains cultures, reference maps and complete worksheets in small groups.
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Whose Buffalo?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine how the Plains Indians vied with white commercial buffalo hunters for the millions of Great Plains buffalo. They create an illustrated broadside supporting the interests of either the Indians or the commercial...
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Whose Buffalo?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine how the Plains Indians vied with white commercial buffalo hunters for the millions of Great Plains buffalo. They create an illustrated broadside supporting the interests of either the Indians or the commercial...
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Plains Indians Pictographs

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore methods of written communication. In this Plains Indian instructional activity, students create pictographs representing everyday modern life after observing the pictographs used by the Plains Indians. Pictograph stories...
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The Depletion of the Buffalo

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders consider different cultural viewpoints. In this Kansas history lesson, 7th graders examine the depletion of buffalo as a contention point between Native American and European settlers. Students read diary entries to gain...
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The Importance of Buffalo Culture to Blackfeet Indians

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine importance of buffalo in culture of Blackfeet Indians, and explore types of technology used by Indians to kill large numbers of buffalo. Students research transition of Blackfeet from subsistence economy to capitalist...
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At Home On The Range

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore the history and domestication of the Bovidae family and their importance to our prairie ecosystem. Using a map of the United States, students located the American Great Plains. They complete worksheets and discuss...
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Buffalo-Hide Parfleche

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners research historic and contemporary information about the cultures of Native American Plains Indians such as Sioux or Blackfoot. They investigate patterns used on parfleches or rawhide. They choose a pattern to duplicate. They...
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The Role of the Bison

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students explore the role of the bison in the lives of the Plains Indians during the past two centuries and the hunting techniques of the Plains Indians.
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The Iron Horse vs. the Buffalo: Indian-Settler Conflict on the Great Plains

For Teachers 10th
The Iron Horse encroached upon the land while conflicts escalated between Native Americans and the settlers. Sophomores study the print, American Progress then discuss how American progress affected Native Americans. They will study the...
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Buffalo Hide

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners study about the Native American practice of writing stories on buffalo skins. They study about pictographs and use symbols to write their own stories using "buffalo hides" they have created.
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Extraordinary Women in the Great Plains

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders write what they predict were the roles women played in the Great Plains. Using the internet, they research and identify the roles they did play and use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast their predictions to the...
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A Look at Life of the Plains Indians through artists like George Catlin

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students identify and interpret the life of the Indians on the Plains during the 1800's through artworks of George Catlin and others during this time period. Students examine life of the Pawnee Indians and interpret conditions that...
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Early Explorers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine how the environment and climate affected Pre-Colombian settlements. In this civilization lesson, 5th graders view pictures of different Native American tribes in different places and discuss how different groups...
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The Buffalo Jump

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the disappearance of buffalo. They conduct research into the uses of buffalo by the Native Americans. There are resource links included in this activity. They answer specific questions to help guide the...
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The Mandan Buffalo Dance and You

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars create short oral presentations describing how Native American tribes use dance, poetry, music, art and other expressions to make a dedication to a physical concept or thing.
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People for the Land: Native Americans in Iowa

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students identify Iowa's American Indian cultures and complete a research project for the topic. In this Iowa's American Indian activity, students research read the background information about tribes in Iowa and complete a research...
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The Blackfeet of Glacier National Park

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research an aspect of the Blackfeet tribe in Glacier National Park. They work together to create a presentation that is representative of their culture. They share their presentation with the class.
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Introduction to Native Americans Thematic Unit

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students consider different cultural viewpoints. For this Native American history lesson, students examine artifacts and then conduct research on selected Native American tribes.
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Lesson 6: Native Americans in the West

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars recall their knowledge of Native American people who lived in the West and reflect on how their perspectives differed from pioneers and argonauts of the 19th century.
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Prairies

For Teachers 2nd
students make booklets about each of the following: reptiles, birds, plants, animals and buffalo. Each was information and contained the facts covered in class. they research one specific area in which they were especially interested....
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Native American Symbol Stories

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners investigate Native American history by creating traditional style vests.  In this language arts lesson, students analyze the symbols from different tribes and define them in English.  Learners create a story with these...
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Native American Culture

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the links between culture and geography. In this Native American cultures lesson plan, students research the cultural traditions of selected Native American groups. Students compare and contrast their findings.