This lesson focuses on the assignments for the unit on Colonial Literature. It features a list of reading assignments, thought questions, a mini-research project assignment, and links to websites on Native American Culture and Native...

Educated white men weren't the only ones contributing to a truly American literature. Read about the literature written by Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Irish Americans. All added to the melting pot of...

A Native American Pima legend on how the saguaro and palo verde cacti came into existence. With links to other Native American legends, artwork, photographs, articles, and more.

This unit explores the documented perceptions of Native Americans, religious faiths, physical challenges of new lands and how the combination of immigrants and Native Americans shaped the New World. Click on "Activities" for related...

This is a collection of three video lessons from N. Scott Momaday about Kiowa Native American stories, storytelling, and their oral traditions.

A Smithsonian Institution museum dedicated to the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of the native Americans of the Western Hemisphere.

Background information about the literary traditions of the pre-Colonial and Colonial period. Includes information about Native American oral traditions and Native American cultures. Follow the links to the Early American era and to...

This Crow legend tells about the beginning of creation when the "Old Man" made the world for the Crow people. Links to other legends are provided.

This is a phenomenal resource. It allows the user to create a reading list of quality children's literature based of choices such as reading level, type of book, genre, ethnicity, gender, etc. In addition, one can determine if a book won...

A series of 16 Instructional Units on American Literature with texts, videos, instructor guides, and more. Topics include: Native Voices, Exploring Borderlands, Utopian Promise, Spirit of Nationalism, Masculine Heroes, Gothic...

Explore the novel "High Elk's Treasure," by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, with the help of this study guide, useful for all stages of the reading process. Complete with pre-reading material, including author biography, novel introduction,...

List of "Must read," multicultural literature for the adolescent reader. The books are categorized by the culture that they represent and by reading level. An excellent resource for teachers and students alike.

Very scholarly article that looks at the role literature helps teach us about the diversity of our culture. The author looks at various aspects of literature and then gives teacher resources and a helpful bibliography.

This lesson plan gives students a chance to explore the art and literature of Indians, Africans, Mayans, and Native Americans. Provides plenty of links to photo examples, and lesson plan extension ideas.

This Washington State University site provides a wonderful source for all the literary movements that have taken place in American Literature from 1620-1920. Click on the movement (listed on the left)you are interested in (Naturalism,...

The Milwaukee Public Museum provides this introduction to the Native American oral tradition and oral literature of the Great Lakes region. Describes common themes and characters, including trickster characters and windingo (ice...

This brief biography of James Fenimore Cooper highlights his life as an author who was able to incorporate politics, wilderness and Native Americans into fictitious novels. Click on "James Fenimore Cooper Activities" for related materials.

This is an online photocopy of the original text of the children's book Indian History for Young Folks by Francis S. Drake (c1884), the history of the Native Americans.

Truly American literature based on American legend, native scenes, and American culture began to find a place in the 1820s. Read about three of the American writers that introduced American literature to a reading public.

This site features a guide to Jean Craighead George's book "Julie and the Wolves." This project is designed specifically for advanced English Language learners to learn about the Eskimos and Native American population.

This unit features authors of Antebellum America and how they portray the American identity through their literature. Click on the tabs to explore the various resources available to enhance this unit.

Essay tracing the stereotypes and commonly held beliefs about Indians and how they have been written about and portrayed in film and literature. Section for guiding student discussion and scholarly debate.

James Baldwin is presented in this biography as a great African American contributor to the literary world during the civil rights movement. See "James Baldwin Activities" for more information.

Joseph Bruchac gives a detailed description of his life and also discusses his involvement as a writer of Native American literature. Bruchac discusses his time as a volunteer teacher in West Africa, his memories of growing up with his...