Curated OER
The Buffalo War: A Clash of Cultures
Learners view a documentary on the different values and meaning placed on the buffalo. Examining various cultures, they link the attitudes to the treatment of the animal in the wild. They develop solutions to the conflict raised by the...
Curated OER
At Home on the Prairie
Learners discover the importance of the bison within the prairie ecosystem and Native American culture, and explain the importance of habitat and place to living organisms.
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...
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
Indians in Georgia: How Do We Know What We Know?
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 drawings...
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Westward Expansion and the Frontier
Students explore U.S. history by researching a historic map. For this westward expansion lesson, students discuss the mystery of the western U.S. in the early 1800's and the impact expansion had on Native Americans and agriculture....
Curated OER
Buffalo Hunt True and False
For this American West worksheet, students read the 10 clues about buffaloes and the American West. Students answer true or false for the related statements.
Curated OER
The Sioux War
In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions pertaining to the Native American experience. A short answer question is included as well.
Curated OER
Folktales: "The Storytelling Stone"
Students create a folktale after finding out the importance of folktales in different cultures. In this folktales lesson, students determine the definition of a folktale and read a "The Storytelling Stone." Students then discuss the...
Curated OER
A Bison Web
High schoolers view a documentary on the treatment of the buffalo. In groups, they create a website using ideas and solutions they developed. They must include graphics or animation and a multi-level webpage. They share their pages...
Curated OER
Place Names
Students investigate the meaning of various Native American names. For this Native American language lesson, students locate state names that come from Native American descriptions and mark them on a map. Students then suggest a name for...
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The Story of Sitting Bull
Students complete activities with the book The Story of Sitting Bull by Jeffrey A. Rucker. In this literature instructional activity, students review new vocabulary and practice finding capital letters. They read the story, answer...
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At Home On The Range
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...
Curated OER
Buffalo Hide
Students research the traditional Lakota tipi (teepee) and compare types of homes used in the past with those used today. They design and construct an accurate model of a tipi.
Curated OER
Buffalo
Students complete a journal entry for the uses of the buffalo by the "Salish with Flathead" and Pend d'Oreille Indians. They understand that people depended on the buffalo for their survival.
Curated OER
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush: Native American Life
Students read," The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" by Tomie dePaola and discuss the way legends are passed down orally. They then create their own legend and illustrate it on a simulated "Buffalo Skin" made from brown paper.
Curated OER
Buffalo Crosstick
In this American West worksheet, students read the 7 clues and write the words related to buffaloes and the American west into the puzzle.
Curated OER
Tribal Diversity within the Indigenous Peoples of the North American Continent
Students, after brainstorming what they already know about Indians, explore and analyze the tribal diversity within the Indigenous Peoples of North America. They recognize that American Indians have their own unique language origins,...
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Early Explorers
Fifth graders examine how the environment and climate affected Pre-Colombian settlements. For this civilization lesson, 5th graders view pictures of different Native American tribes in different places and discuss how different groups...
Curated OER
Nobody Really Won
Pupils watch a video on "Custer's Last Stand" written with the perspective of the soldier. They listen to the story of "Red Hawk's Last Account" to become aware of the Native American's perspective. In groups, students create their own...
Curated OER
The Role of the Bison
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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Westward Expansion
Students examine how the events that took place during the time of the Westward Expansion affected the pioneers and Native Americans through the seven lessons of this unit. Enhancements in transportation over time are also a part of the...
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Worksheet #4 Questions - The Great Plains
In this historical quiz activity, students test their knowledge about the Great Plains and the Plains Indians in these ten fill in the blank questions.
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The White Man's Opinion of the Plains Indians
In this plains Indians worksheet, students read a passage about the plains Indians and the "white man," then complete 3 related activities.