State of Affairs Between the Native Americans and the European Settlers

Did Western settlers receiving free land from the Homestead Act realize it wasn't really free at all? Scholars investigate the impact Western expansion had on Native American culture in the mid-1800s. They use documents, timelines, and...

Introduce your middle schoolers to the lives of past Native Americans. First, learners work together to put photographs in a sequence. Then, using their sequence, they create stories to share with the whole class. No matter how old your...

Students analyze the different roles assumed by various Native American tribes during the American Revolution. They examine the issues involved for Native Americans in choosing the British or the American side of the conflict, such as...

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this colonial America lesson, students examine the relationships between Native American women and European women who encountered one another in the new colonies.

Stereotype or archetype? Myth or fact? Middle schoolers apply critical thinking skills to assess the validity of the images and story details in picture books portraying Native American history. The study begins with an examination of...

Thanksgiving—is it a national celebration or the National Day of Mourning? That depends on the point of view. Young historians analyze a speech written by Wamsutta James that presents a Native American view of Thanksgiving. The lesson...

Practice grade-level reading comprehension with this lesson, in which middle schoolers read different examples of Native American literature. They discover different cultures while examining their own, and answer questions related to the...

Students examine the relationships between Native Americans and the Europeans who settled America. In this cultural diversity instructional activity, students analyze primary documents and respond to essay questions regarding the...

As part of a study of the Corps of Discovery expedition, class groups research the different Native American tribes Lewis and Clark encountered on their journey and share their findings with the class.

What is American Roots music? Examine the relationship between music, culture, and history as it relates to America. Middle schoolers will discuss how one can use music to survive culturally. They will also discover the role of music in...