Is losing cultural traditions the cost of social progress, or should people make stronger efforts to preserve these traditions? High schoolers watch a short film about the native Yup'ik people in Alaska and how they handle the shifts in...

Discover the cultural practices and unique value systems of a group of native peoples from Canada called the Kwakwaka'wakw. Your young historians will discuss how conceptions of wealth can vary and how these native...

Fifth graders identify seven different constellations and explain a myth that accompanies it. As a class, they listen to myths associated with the Greek and Native American cultures. To end the lesson, they write their own myth related...

Students are introduced to the geography of the Columbia River basin and its history. Using the internet, they research the relationships between the Native Americans and the Hudson Bay Company. They also discuss the effects on the...

Students examine Native American dolls. They discover the connections between the dolls and the Native American culture and customs. They also use maps to locate the position of different tribes.

What is oral tradition, and what unique tool did the Native Americans of the Northern Great Plains use to help them remember their complex histories? Through pictograph analysis, discussion, research, and an engaging hands-on activity,...

Students examine Aboriginal people of the Americas. In this history lesson, students make connections between their own lives and those of Aboriginal people. Students engage in a 'talking circle' and use storytelling as a mode of...

The devastating changes happening to the Native American inhabitants of an island off the coast of Louisiana are the topic of an informational lesson. After scholars break into groups to explore particular topics, they come back together...

Young scholars examine non-native species and the problems they have caused in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. They create a "Wanted" poster for one of the species. They describe the effects of non-native species on the schoolyard...

High schoolers explore works by English photographer Charles R. Savage. In this visual arts instructional activity, students investigate photography by Savage as they discuss the use of perspective, space, color, and texture.

Young scholars participate in a game show to share the information they have uncovered about the US expansion policy and how it affected Native Americans.

Students explore Aboriginal culture by participating in an art activity. In this First Nation history lesson, students utilize the Internet to research images and designs from Native American culture. Students create images on quilting...

Seventh graders consider different cultural viewpoints. In this Kansas history lesson plan, 7th graders examine the depletion of buffalo as a contention point between Native American and European settlers. Students read diary entries to...

Students discover the lifestyles of a Florida Panther by investigating its habitat.  In this wild animal lesson, students utilize the Internet to research the habits of a Panther and what their habitat is.  Students create an...

Is there value in preserving indigenous languages that are almost extinct? That's the question posed to viewers of a short film about the attempt of one Native American woman who is creating a dictionary for Wakchumni, the language of...

"Waiting to Move," a photo essay by Ciril Jazbec, brings into sharp focus the threats posed by climate change. Class members examine images of Shishmaref Island and the Native Alaskan Inupiate coastal villages that are impacted by rising...

Elementary schoolers evaluate the legend of Norristown Mountain by looking at facts about the Osage Indians and the legend itself. They do an exploration of Arkansas' Native American groups which includes a look at their legends,...

What did abolitionists have in common with those working for women's rights? How has the Native American struggle for voting rights differed from the struggles of other groups? Class members examine the 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th...

High schoolers examine the archeology of the Mississippi River Valley. Using the internet, they expand their research to include how the Native Americans in California used plants to meet their needs. They also research a Native...

Young, native Spanish speakers learn about the four elements: earth, fire, air, and water. As a group, discuss the different senses you might use with each element. This is a teacher-centered lesson, but consider having individual...

Young scholars are introduced to the lesson by showing them leaves from common deciduous trees, such as oak, tulip, hickory, and maple. They describe the different parts of a leaf. Students are asked the following questions: How are...

Students use an object to tell an interesting story from their lives. They write and present a short story about an interesting episode from their life and gather objects in a story bag, which illustrates their story to the class.

Students explore the natural environment and people's views, in particular the Native Americans. In this environment lesson students discover the many uses of wood as it pertains to our natural resources.

Students explore various tree species. In this tree species lesson plan, students collect leaves on nature walks and use Internet sources to identify the trees that the leaves belong to. Students graph their data as well.