Curated OER
Ponce de Leon
Fifth graders explain that the discoveries of Ponce de Leon were important, both in and of themselves and to the destinies of Europeans and Native Americans. They write an essay highlighting two of his important discoveries.
Curated OER
A to Z Observations
Eighth graders examine the cultural conflicts that occurred when Europeans moved into the land the Native Americans lived on that would become West Virginia. In this West Virginia history instructional activity, 8th graders visit the...
Curated OER
Pack your Parfleche!
Imagine you are a Plains Indian, a nomad getting ready to follow a herd of buffalo. Now imagine what you would have to pack for your trip. Little ones examine images of a traditional parfleche (packing box), and then create packing lists...
Curated OER
Oregon Trail Art
Pupils describe events that happened on the Oregon Trail and in the daily lives of Native Americans by writing a narrative essay of a family traveling through Nebraska based on Thomas Hart Benton's paintings.
Curated OER
Picture Writing
Fourth graders create symbols. In this visual arts instructional activity, 4th graders study cave drawings, Native American pictographs, and Aboriginal Drawings prior to creating their own communication without using words.
Curated OER
Create your own Parfleche!
What is a parfleche? It is a box used by the Plains Indians to carry goods as they traveled. First, the class will discuss the uses of these highly ornate boxes and the nature of the Plains Indians' nomadic lifestyle. Then, the class...
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...
National Park Service
Leave it to Beavers
Many people know cats mark their territories by rubbing the back of their necks to leave a scent, but not many people know beavers also leave a scent to mark their territories. During the first activity of two, scholars use their noses...
Curated OER
Journey to America
Fifth graders carefully analyze the artwork, Les Emigrants, and explore the reasons that people emigrated to the United States, and what life was like for new arrivals. They discuss what things immigrants were able to bring with them and...
Center for History Education
Transforming the West: Did the Reality Match the Expectations for Kansas Homesteaders?
They expected good soil and hearty crops ... but they found buffalo chips and grasshopper plagues. Using an advertisement encouraging famers to go west, budding historians examine primary sources including letters, photographs, and...
Curated OER
"Families and Schools of the Past"
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.
Curated OER
Fertilizers, Pesticides and Human Health- American Lessons
Students explore migration and why people move. They explore the movement of native populations. Students explore the economy as an factor in migration. They discuss the exploitation of the migrant worker.
Curated OER
Elder's Cloud Observations
Students study cloud types and Native language terms for clouds and cloud types. In this cloud types lesson, students listen to a Native American speaker discuss clouds and the words used to describe clouds. Students complete a worksheet...
Curated OER
The Trail of Tears
Students investigate the terms of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. They research the implications of the Indian Removal Act for Native American people. Students demonstrate an understand the impact of Manifest Destiny had on Native...
Curated OER
Oh, Give Them a Home!
Fourth graders study the habitat of the American bison and its role in the life of the Native Americans. They investigate how the bison effect the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Curated OER
Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan: Sioux Treaty of 1868
Students study the Sioux and their lives in the Black Hills before 1868. They engage in a wide variety of cross-curricular activities which give them a good understanding of the Sioux culture.
Curated OER
Wattle and Daub Using Natural Resources to Survive
Seventh graders create list of materials that family of four would need to live and survive in the forest, identify four natural resources used by Cherokee Indians to build shelter, create poster that depicts Cherokee hamlet in summer or...
Curated OER
A Day in the Life of a San Francisco Native Animal
Students write from an animal's perspective. In this writing lesson students explore the landscape of San Francisco prior to the arrival of the explorers. Students research animals indigenous to the area.
Curated OER
"We, the People": New Voices in the Constitutional Debates
Students study the goals set out for the Constitution. They examine the resolutions arrived at to resolve three major conflicts which arose during the writing of the Constitution. They discuss or write down a one-sentence summary of...
Curated OER
Colonization and American Indian Perspectives
Young scholars investigate the colonization of the United States by researching Thanksgiving. In this U.S. history lesson, students discuss the concept of Thanksgiving, who created it and what it was intended to do. Young...
Curated OER
Australia
Students discover information about the Aboriginal people of Australia. In this global studies lesson plan, students listen to mini-lectures regarding the history of Australia and the Aboriginal people. Students compare American Indians...
Curated OER
Northwest Coast Indian Raven Mask Lesson Plan
Students create raven masks. In this Northwest Coast Native American lesson, students design and create Kwakiutl-style hats that feature the shapes, animals, and colors used by the Northwest Native Americans.
Curated OER
Adapting to Seasonal Changes in the Environment
Fourth graders discuss how plants and animals, including humans, adapt to climate and seasonal changes. They research the Colville people, and create dioramas that represent life during different seasons for Colville people.
Curated OER
Governance - Grade 8
Eighth graders participate in talking circles. For this self-governance lesson, 8th graders examine human rights from the perspective of Native Americans. Students discuss the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as...