Center for Civic Education
What Basic Ideas Are in the Preamble to the Constitution?
Introduce young historians to the US Constitution with this upper-elementary social studies lesson plan. Beginning with a general discussion about the role of government in society, learners go on to work in small...
City University of New York
African Americans and the Populist Movement
Why did the Populist Party fail to ally itself with African American farmers? To answer this essential question, class members investigate the Populist Era (188-1900) and read an article written by Tom Watson, a Populist leader.
Annenberg Foundation
Egalitarian America
What does a true American represent? Scholars investigate the equal rights era of the 1960s and 1970s in the 20th installment of a 22-part series on American history. Using photographic, magazine, written, and video evidence, groups...
Curated OER
Indian Removal to the Great American Desert
Seventh graders examine American policies to relocate Native Americans. In this Native American history lesson, 7th graders determine why Native Americans were relocated and investigate their response to the policies as they analyze...
Curated OER
Utah's American Indian Tribes Today
Students discover the diverse nature of Utah's peoples and cultures. They determine that Utah's American Indian tribes add to the diversity of cultures in Utah todaythat
Curated OER
American Indian Tribal Sovereignty
Seventh graders examine the relationship among the governments of the sovereign American Indian Nations in Utah, the State of Utah, and the U.S. They list the objectives of the Office of Indian Affairs and examine their purpose.
Curated OER
Eastern Woodland Indians
Fifth graders research the Eastern Woodland Indians in this lesson. They list the tribes and write a description of the physical environment. They list examples of the types of food, clothing, transportation, home/shelter,...
Curated OER
Native American Sovereignty
Students analyze the meaning of Indian Sovereignty. They describe the authority of Indian governments as sovereign nations, and explain the importance of the Marshal Trilogy of Supreme Court cases between 1821-1832. They examine the...
Curated OER
Forced Assimilation
Students identify ways that a society promotes assimilation and examine areas where it still occurs in our present culture. They assess the value of assimilation.
Curated OER
This Land is My Land, That Land is Your Land!
Students explore the Native American migrant experience in the United States. They define and describe reservation and the relationship between the U.S. Government and Native tribes through individual textbook research and class discussion.
Curated OER
American Indian Reservations
Fifth graders examine life on American Indian reservations, and discuss how confinement on the reservations affected American Indians. They visit the Bureau of Indian Affairs website, and develop positive and negative impact charts about...
Curated OER
Systems of Power Against and Within American Indian Communities, 1880-1940
Students explore methods and the struggles of power between the federal policies and Native populations. They discuss the issue of controlling the Native Indian population, driving them from their land, and providing a mandatory...
Curated OER
Montana Reservation Governments
Third graders examine the types of governments on Indian reservations. In groups, they research the responsibilities of local and tribal governments. As a class, they discuss how the state of Montana meets the needs of its citizens...
Curated OER
Changing Opinions
Students compare their preconceptions of Native American movement with their current perceptions. They identify why they have changed. Students conclude with a final reflection addressing how they define the Native American experience in...
Curated OER
NATIVE AMERICANS
Students study the importance of nature to Native Americans and discover the growth stages of Northern beans and mustard seeds.
Curated OER
Kill the Indian to Save the Man: Reservations, Assimilation, and Native American Resistance and Persistence in the West
Young scholars investigate the theory versus the reality of US government reservation policy in the mid to late 19th Century by watching a video. They design a time line that shows how the individual tribes surrendered to the reservation...
Curated OER
Indian Boarding Schools
Students research government-run American Indian boarding schools. For this American Indian history lesson, students analyze primary documents to develop an understanding of the forced acculturation of American Indians through...
Curated OER
The Iroquois Nation
Students explore the culture of the Iroquois in order to write a new version of Cinderella. In this lesson on the traditions and life of the Iroquois, students engage in several activities, 8 different center and conduct research to gain...
Curated OER
Institution vs. Individuals
High schoolers examine and evaluate how the U.S. government dealt with the Native American populations during westward expansion. They complete a class KWL chart, take notes during a teacher-led lecture. Students read about the Battle at...
Curated OER
Chief Sealthe's Speech
Young scholars explain the conflict over land between Native Americans and the United States government. They evaluate Native American values and the results of the U.S. expansion into Native American lands.
Curated OER
Does This Belong to You?
Fourth graders examine legislation that has been passed to protect the rights and religion of Native Americans. In groups, they discuss their feelings on others taking artifacts from Native American sites and what they do if they find...
Curated OER
Sioux Treaty of 1868
Students explore and research the history of Native Americans in North America.
Curated OER
What Is In A Name?
Fourth graders investigate the meaning of names and how they are used to name geographic places. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Special attention is paid to names given within the Native American culture. Students...
Curated OER
Heritage: Survival and the Geography of Utah
Fourth graders are introduced to the hunting and gathering techniques used by the Native American tribes living in the region that is now Utah. They prepare a role-play of hunting and gathering appropriate to specific geographical areas.