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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.
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American Literature: An Oblique Introduction
Eleventh graders research journals and periodicals of different accounts of Columbus and Latin America. They examine indigenous civilizations and design their own curriculum based on the information they have gathered.
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European Explorers of North and South America
Sixth graders explore the connection between the geography of America and the migration of the Native Americans to the American continents to the future conquering of the continents by the Europeans. They discuss the causes and effects...
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Gran Quivira: A Blending of Cultures in a Pueblo Indian Village
Students examine the changing life ways of the inhabitants of a Pueblo Indian village from the 7th century to the arrival of the Spanish in the early 17th century. They explain the influence of Spanish missionaries on the lives the...
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East Asian Architecture
Seventh graders compare architecture in East Asia to North American, European, Russian/Eurasian, North African/Southwest Asian and South American architecture. They search the internet for current and historic images of East Asian...
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Southeast Asian Architecture
Seventh graders search online for current and historic images of Southeast Asian architecture. They compare architecture in Southeast Asia to North American, European, Russian/Eurasian, North African/Southwest Asian and South American...
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New York on the Pacific Coast
Students explore the interaction and consequences of contact among different ethnic groups. Students examine a timeline and the important historical
events in American History. They discuss immigration and migration.
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Pablita Velarde: A Biography
Students listen to Pablita Velarde: Painting Her People, a story by Marcella J. Rich. They discuss the book and why they think the author wrote it. They make a concept map of their ideas using Kidspiration software.
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The Colonization of the United States
Bring the Age of Exploration into the 21st century with this ancestry activity! Learners get a chance to explore the complex genealogy of the Spanish settlers through watching two video clips (approximately five minutes each) featuring...
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Pablita Indian Legends
Scholars are introduced to the characteristics of a legend. They read and discuss Old Father Story Teller by Pablita Velarde. Then, in groups, they write and illustrate a poem based on one of the legends from the book. This lesson plan...
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Talking Rocks
Third graders consider the differences between pictographs and petroglyphs. They create symbols from a story about their worlds. They make pottery art.
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Indigenous Cultures Change Over Time
Fourth graders research and take notes while viewing a video on the Navajo Indians. In this Indigenous people lesson, 4th graders use the notes they've taken to compare and contrast the Navaho tribe to other Indigenous tribes. Students...
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Miners of the Prairie: The Days of Shaft Mining in Northern Illinois
Students explore the life and times of a coal miner in Illinois through the analysis of primary source documents and images.
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Navajo Yei
Students explore geometry in Navajo culture. In this geometry lesson, students search for different geometrical shapes in Navajo art. Students then create their own rug or jewelry design using geometrical shapes.
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What is Culture?
Learners discuss "culture." In groups, they discuss and share things about their culture, recording everything they discuss on butcher paper to be hung around the room. They choose a way to share something about their own family...
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Who Dropped What into the Melting Pot?
Young scholars show the movement of people to the United States from other countries on maps. They study the geographic cultural roots of foods that contribute to the melting pot of food in America. They research where an ingredient...
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Mission Nuestra Señora de la Concepción and the Spanish Mission in the New World
Students explore Spanish missions. In this research skills lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the architecture, purposes, and functionality of Spanish missions.
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Pueblo Pottery
Students are introduced to the characteristics of pueblo pottery and create their own piece of pueblo inspired pottery. After a brief lecture into the history and methods creating pueblo pottery, students use provided materials to create...
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Lesson Design Archaeology- U.S. Map
Students examine the U.S. map and identify cultural areas. In this archaeology lesson, students locate cultural areas on the U.S. map and fill in the proper locations.
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Solar Energy - Dehydration
Sixth graders explore process of drying food using solar energy. They cook and/or dry food such as pumpkins, watermelon, corn, and deer meat, explain how solar energy changes foods, and compare and contrast solar energy with other forms...
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Cooking With Your Three Sisters
Students make food based on recipes they got from their ancestors and make the original recipes and healthier versions. For this food lesson plan, students bring their recipes to class and see if their classmates can tell the difference.
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African Architecture
Seventh graders investigate cultural influences on architecture in Africa south of the Sahara. They compare the architecture to that in North America, Europe, Russia, and North Africa, Asia, and South America.
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Archaeology at Woods Canyon Pueblo
Eighth graders research information about the archaeology at Woods Canyon Pueblo, identifying different terminology. Students make a hypothesis about why the ancient Pueblo people chose to live. Students conducts research to support...
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'Water, Water Everywhere...'
Fourth graders explore how the Utah pioneers used irrigation to make the desert 'blossom as a rose'. They use geographical tools to analyze political and physical features of Utah, the United States, China, and Asia.