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Buffalo-Ta Tanka
Students study the buffalo. They watch a video and read a story about the buffalo and what it meant to Native American Indian tribes. They practice naming the parts of buffalo in Lakota.
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An Indian Village: Tepees
Students examine tipis. In this Native American culture lesson plan, students discuss tipis and their construction as they make them out of cardboard.
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Tapokadooa: How the Dawes Act Affected Northern Paiute Children's Lives
Students investigate the Dawes Act and understand its effects on the Paiute Indians. In this Paiute lesson, students recognize that many Native Americans lost their land and money after the Dawes Act. Students dissect a worksheet for...
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Breathing New Life into Old Traditions
Students investigate the role of ceremonies and other traditions of Native American cultures. They research various Native American nations and create posters that visually depict their research.
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Lewis and Clark: Prized Possession
Students create a Sacagawea-inspired wampum belt. In this Native-American lesson, students study Sacagawea and her influence on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Students learn about wampum and prized possessions and work in groups to...
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Do You Dare to Dream?
Third graders discover the meaning behind dream catchers. In this themes and symbols in art lesson, 3rd graders discuss the meaning of Native American dream catchers. Students use paper plates, beads, and feathers to make the dream catcher.
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Children of Clay
Fourth graders identify and interpret the Pueblo Native American culture and history and comprehend their folklore and songs. They also create their own piece of pottery with clay and write a myth about the piece of pottery they made....
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The Dream Catcher
Students create a dream catcher. In this visual arts lesson, students read the book Dream Catcher and create a dream catcher by using a willow branch, leather string, feathers, and beads.
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Where Does History Stand on the Last Stand?
Students examine the Battle of Little Bighorn and its impact on United States and Native American culture through reading current and historic New York Times articles and by creating a research-based exhibit about this historic event.
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Artistic Symbols
Students compare and contrast symbols used in African and Plains Indian art. In this visual arts activity, students compare symbols of 2 cultural groups found in their art. Students write a description of what items might have been left...
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Governance
Students explore government by researching Native American history. In this First Nations culture lesson, students define the Aboriginal action of speaking in a circle as a group. Students discuss their likes and dislikes with the class...
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Weather/Climate
Pupils examine traditional Native American weather/climate knowledge. They keep a weather journal and research cloud cover.
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Common Visions, Common Voices
Students analyze common recurring motifs and themes found in literature and artwork from various cultures. They research and report of the "trickster" motif found in Native american, Mayan, and Ethiopian cultures.
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Native American Song and Dance
Students examine the importance of the drum and drumming in the cultural context of the Native American. Musical insturments and native dance is employed to support the focus of the lesson.
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Native Americans at Rose Bay
Pupils examine the Timken Native Americans of the 1400s and their culture of hunter-gatherers. They study the necessary vocabulary using a number of activities.
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Artfully Speaking
Second graders speak in front of small groups using their My Favorite Artwork form.
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Exploring the Unknown with Lewis and Clark: Forts and Native Americans
Fourth graders research the expedition of Lewis and Clark and the forts they lived in during their journey and the Native Americans they encountered. In pairs they conduct Internet research, complete a WebQuest, and write a research...
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Myth and Truth: The First Thanksgiving
Encourage learners to think critically about common myths regarding the Wampanoag Indians in Colonial America. They discover that behind every myth are many possible explanations—and that learning more about American history helps them...
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Talking Rocks
Artists imitate the symbols used by tribes of the Southwest or use their own word pictures that communicate something about themselves. This lesson is a perfect blend of visual art and social studies. Students create a beautiful piece of...
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Mini Masks: Ceramics
Masks have been used for many reasons throughout human history. They are also great subjects for art projects! Included here are instructions, background information, and all the supplies needed to create mini masks in your class.
Channel Islands Film
Who Owns the Bones
A study of the history of the Channel Islands, located off the coast of southern California, continues as class members conduct a mock trial to determine which group of stakeholders should have the right to claim the remains of Juan...
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"Bursting" Stereotypes
Students comprehend the meaning of the word steretype, work in groups to come up with stereotype statements, discuss whether the statements are fair, and write what they learned from the activity. Balloons are used as a conduit in this...
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Encouraging Answers
What is the celebration of Columbus Day really about? Older learners use inquiry-based methods to find out who Columbus really was and what motivated his journeys. They take on the roles of town officials who must consider whether or not...
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The Railroads and Settlement of the Great Plains
Enhance your American literature unit with this resource, in which readers access the Nebraska Studies website and read about "Railroads and Settlement." They search for a photograph of some aspect of the railroad from the Prairie...