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Plains Indians

For Teachers 1st
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...
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Why Do We Have Thanksgiving?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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...
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POWWOW

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Young scholars 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...
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To Dig or Not to Dig: The Stadium Showdown

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine an ethical public dilemma. In this cultural resource instructional activity, students role play to examine their personal beliefs regarding the protection of cultural resources. They evaluate possible actions they can...
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MAPPING THE BLACK ATLANTIC

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars 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...
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People of the Plains- Spiritualism

For Teachers 4th
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...
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Totem Transformations

For Teachers 6th - 12th
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...
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The Witch of Goingsnake

For Teachers 8th - 10th
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 lesson plan, students read a native American proverb and determine...
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Weather/Climate

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine traditional Native American weather/climate knowledge. They keep a weather journal and research cloud cover.
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Pictograph Stone Carving

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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.
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Prairie Voices: Where People Come From

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
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,...
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Indians in Georgia: How Do We Know What We Know?

For Teachers K - 12th
Students discover archaeology by investigating the history of Native Americans in Georgia.  In this U.S. history lesson, students participate in a mock archaeological excavation in their classroom by recovering artifacts and...
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Looking at Ritual and Ceremony

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore Edward Curtis' photos of a Native American ritual and practice documenting their own religious rituals. In this photography analysis instructional activity, students analyze an Native American ritual in Curtis' photo....
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The Three Sisters

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore companion planting. In this lesson, 3rd graders listen to the Native American story The Three Sisters about crop planting. Students determine the important roles within companion planting.
Unit Plan
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Legends of the Fifth

For Teachers 5th
Students explore the the legends and myths of the Orient, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas in this six lessons unit. Different cultures and belief systems of the inhabitants of these areas are examined through storytelling techniques.
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Ceremony

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students complete multiple lessons to identify the human rights and social justice for Native Americans. In this human rights lesson, students complete fifty one days of activities to a lesson titled "Ceremony" about the Native...
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The History of Maple Syrup

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore the process of harvesting maple syrup. In this science and history lesson, students make their own maple syrup and create a picture book that shows the Native American and American pioneer methods of making the syrup.
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Competing For Food

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars examine the hunting and gathering aspects of the Washoe culture. They are assigned roles, and participate in a simulation of surviving through the seasons by competing for food with other people and tribes.
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You Gotta Know the Territory

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine the relationship between Native Americans and those who settled the Iowa territory. In this Iowa history lesson plan, students investigate the process for settling the territory and how intercultural relationships...
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Dreamcatchers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the use of feathers within the Native American culture. students bring feathered items from home and discuss the use of feathers. Using a digital camera, students take turns photographing items brought to class. Students...
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Sharing our Talents: Art from the Heart

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine the concept of giving. In this gifts and talents lesson plan, students read a story about giving one's talents in Native American culture. Students analyze their own special gifts or talents and paint a picture of an...
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Masks

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners create weather masks. In this social studies activity, students discover the history behind the weather masks used by Native American cultures and then create their own.
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If These Objects Could Talk

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine American Indian artifacts through historical, cultural and artistic lenses. They explore the philosophy behind the Smithsonian Institute's new museum to honor American Indian history and traditions.
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Teaching Lewis and Clark: Tribal Cultures and Homelands

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the attributes of the tribes that inhabited the Columbia River Basin. In this Lewis and Clark instructional activity, students participate in a classroom simulation that requires them to participate in a seasonal round,...