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Native History Magazine - Lesson Plan Resources for Educators

EDITOR'S NOTE: Where possible, the desription of Lesson Plan links will include age and/or grade-level identifiers as well as type of lesson-plan resource. Teachers and educators are welcome to contribute specific lesson plans for possible inclusion in our articles section, as well as suggested links for this section. Use your browser "find" system to target specific words.
Indian LIFE (A Learning Game)
(Multi-Tribal - Elementary Level)
A unique game designed to help the students learn the basics of Indian values -- That the well being of the tribe is more important than that of the individual. Conservation of natural resources, and protection of the earth is important. Male and female children have distinct roles and learn different skills. In Indian LIFE, players try to become skilled hunters and gatherers, store up food, and learn the culture of their tribe. The game is geared toward grades 5-6 social studies students. Originally designed for California students, the game should adapt to any geographical area or tribal focus. Objectives for students include being able to answer the following questions:
  1. What kind of foods did the people of a particular tribe eat?
  2. What skills did the young people learn?
  3. What knowledge was passed down from older to younger people?
  4. What activities took up much of the people's time?


Indigenous Peoples in Carribean Prehistory
(Carribean - Elementary Level)
This page takes a while to load; but, you will find four lesson plans here, each with objectives, materials and resource items. Topics include:
  1. A Story-Based Lesson on Indigenous People (K-3)
  2. A Geography-Based Lesson on Prehistory (1-3)
  3. Nutrition and the Foods of Pre-Columbian Indigenous Peoples (2-4)
  4. Exploring the Environment of the First Peoples in the Virgin Islands (2-6)
  5. Caribbean Ethnic Diversity and Interaction in Prehistory (4-6)
  6. The Tainos (4-6)
  7. Culture and Ethnicity: Keys to Understanding the Peoples of Past and Present (4)
  8. Legacy from the Indigenous Cultures (4-6)
Intrigue of the Past: North Carolina's First Peoples
(North Carolina Multi-Tribe History - Elementary and Intermedicate Level)
Multiple Lesson plans can be found at this site. From introductory page, click on the main menu button to reach the "Introduction for Educators." In addition to pre-Columbian peoples, the lesson plans include information on current tribes in North Carolina: Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Indians of Person County, Lumbee, Meherrin, and Waccamaw-Siouan. Lessons are geared toward the 4th through 8th grades. Materials will vary according to the lesson plan chosen. Site is hosted by the University of North Carolina.

Ms. Sarafik's Page
(Navajo - Elementary Level)
Very basic information on the Navajo people and the "Long Walk" The site is meant to be viewed by students at the elementary level. Appears geared to grades 3-4; although the author did not specify the age or grade-level group. Uses the book "Sing Down the Moon." There will be questions to answer, but they must be printed out first which will provide teachers with a method for grading.

Native American Interdisciplinary Overview)
(Social Studies - Elementary Level)
The objective of this lesson plan to help students learn about another race of People, their culture, lifestyle and the many different and important contributions made to society that benefit all people.The lesson plan is specifically geared to grades 2-4. The materials needed will vary according to the activities chosen, but would include films or videos, library and coloring books, resource people, museums and art galleries, clay, greenware, ceramics, paints, beads, wire, yarn, weaving needles, cardboard or wooden looms, food stuffs and ingredients, pots, pans and utensils, measuring cups and spoons, silver, turquoise stones, tools for silversmithing, leathers and string for leather tooling, doll faces, paper cups, tissue or paper towel tubes, glue, scissors, pencils, writing and construction paper, crayons and markers.Lesson hosted by the Columbia Education Center website.

Negotiating Treaties
(History - High School Level)
This lesson plan includes overview, purpose and activities. The materials needed include a blank U.S. map, a map of the United States and trails west, map of Indian tribes and linguistic families, and access to a library for research on Native American tribes. Specificily targets the 11th grade Lesson hosted by the Columbia Education Center website.

Project Willow
(Washoe - Elementary Level)
Project Willow is a hands-on science curriculum that represents a radical departure from the traditional "hands-off" textbook approach to elementary science education.
This curriculum was designed to introduce fourth graders to basic environmental science concepts from the perspective of the Washoe Indians. It traces Washoe encounters with the local environment in both traditional and modern times. Topics include:
  1. Surviving the Night: Students learn how the ancient Washoe survived outdoors.
  2. Myth Versus Reality: Students learn that many common perceptions of the American Indian are based on stereotypes and myths.
  3. Listening to Elders: In this simulation, students learn the importance of listening to elders when it came to gathering wild plants for food. (2-4)
  4. Competing for Food: Students learn how the Washoe competed for food with several different animals.
  5. A Washoe Rabbit Drive: In this outdoor activity, students learn how the Washoe collaborated to harvest rabbit for food.
  6. Food Chains and Food Webs: Students learn that animals are interdependent within their common habitat.
  7. Weh Hai Ge Ge A (Washoe Traditions): Students learn about legends and the importance of a traditional food source.
  8. Home Range and Carrying Capacity: Students learn that the land can support only a limited number of animals and plants.
  9. Investigatiing Energy Flow: Students learn how the energy from food is transmitted from organism to organism.
  10. Washoe Today--A culture in Transition: Students learn that Washoe language, arts and traditions are being rediscovered.
  11. The Washoe in a Changing Land: Students compare willow sites and catalogue animal and plant species in the sites.
The Trial of Standing Bear
(Ponca - Intermediate Level)
This lesson plan is geared toward students in grade 8 and covers history, social studies and science components. The trial of Standing Bear was the first time Native Americans were "legally" recognized as having the rights of citizens under the constitution. (Although citizenship was not actually granted until the 1920s.) Students are asked to research the case with the overall objective of understanding the effects of Indian removal on the people themselves and the consequences of the European concept of Manifest Destiny. Other objectives include student awareness of:
  1. The purpose and economic incentives associated with westward expansion including accounts of the removal of Indians and the Cherokees "Trail of Tears."
  2. The character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction, in terms of the development of federal Indian policy and the Plains wars with American Indians and the relationship to agricultural development.
  3. Between fact and opinion in historical narratives and stories
  4. The different historical points of view on historical events and the context in which the historical statements were made.
  5. President Andrew Jackson's defiance of a Supreme Court decition when he continued with his Indian removal policy.


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