This lesson introduces Northeastern Indigenous cultures, pre-contact; including origin stories, resources, social structure, and connection to the environment. How can patterns of cause / effect manifest themselves in the core values of a culture? Which Native core values generalize into other cultures? What is different? Students will read and listen to origin stories, evaluate the cultural perspectives and creatively write their own story.
This lesson introduces students to Indigenous food sovereignty and the concept of food futures, emphasizing the importance of traditional food systems in maintaining cultural identity. Through a focus on seaweed, acorns, and salmon, students will explore how these foods are integral to Indigenous cultures, health, and sustainable practices. The lesson also examines the impact of colonization on Indigenous food systems and the ongoing efforts to restore food sovereignty in communities. In this lesson students will explore connections between health of the land and health of the people and apply this to their own understanding of health and wellness.
This lesson plan for high school students (grades 9–12) introduces and critically explores the concepts of land acknowledgements, land dispossession, and the #LandBack movement, with a focus on Indigenous history in California. Beginning with discussions on what land acknowledgements are and why they matter, students are encouraged to research the Indigenous peoples whose land they occupy and to reflect on the significance of recognizing these communities. Through videos, articles, and class discussions, students gain insight into key concepts like Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the 18 unratified treaties of California, developing a deeper understanding of Native sovereignty and environmental stewardship.
This mock trial learning activity will allow students to question and consider California’s first governor, Peter Hardeman Burnett’s policies and treatment of Native Americans. This activity encourages students to analyze history critically and empathize with those impacted by injustice. This mock trial script is designed to engage students in critical thinking about history while fostering empathy and analytical skills. This activity encourages critical thinking, empathy, and a deeper understanding of history. This lesson plan integrates critical thinking, collaboration, and historical analysis, fostering a deeper understanding of California’s early governance and its consequences. This mock trial can be adapted based on the desired educational or dramatic focus, emphasizing historical facts, ethical dilemmas, and the broader implications of Burnett’s policies.
This lesson analyzes coming-of-age and cultural influences on beliefs about puberty, adolescence and menstruation. By exploring Native American cultural beliefs about coming-of-age including women’s coming-of-age ceremonies students analyze diverse perspectives on health, puberty, and the changing roles and responsibilities of adolescents in their communities.
This lesson asks students to critically analyze and engage with Land Acknowledgements by understanding their connection to ongoing movements for land return and challenging terminologies of western expansion like manifest destiny and “Firsting and Lasting.” Students will explore best practices for writing a land acknowledgement and critical understanding of how word choice and engagement with tribal voices can clarify the role of land acknowledgments personally/ at work/ and with government or other institutions (like school). Students will be asked to interpret words and phrases used in a text including technical, connotative, and figurative meanings and analyze the specific word choice, style, tone, and format used. They will also be asked to compose their own land acknowledgement.
This lesson introduces students to the removal and relocation of California Natives in the 1800’s. Focusing on primary and secondary sources students will discover the background of California’s Trial of Tears, the Nome Cult Walk. Students will read a newspaper article and Forest Service flier, watch a video on the Walk, and listen to four interviews of individual Native people who participate in the commemorative Nome Cult Walk. Students will take notes as they read, listen, and watch and these notes will be used in a final assessment, as students write a short essay on their understanding of the historical circumstance Nome Cult Walk.
This lesson on the Haudenosaunee Confederacy offers students a powerful opportunity to explore the roots of American democracy through the lens of Indigenous governance. Centered on the Great Law of Peace and the political structure of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the lesson emphasizes how Native ideas of unity, consensus, and leadership directly influenced the formation of the U.S. Constitution.
This four-lesson unit offers middle school students an opportunity to explore the rich history and cultural significance of Two-Spirit identities within Indigenous communities. Students will begin by understanding the distinctions between gender, sex, and sexuality, setting the foundation for a deeper exploration of Two-Spirit identities. Lessons describe the history of Two-Spirit people, highlighting their roles and traditions within Native American and Indigenous cultures, and differentiating these identities from Western LGBTQIA+ concepts.
This unit on tribal sovereignty and government introduces students to foundational concepts of Native American self-governance, treaties, federal recognition and tribal constitutions. Students will learn how tribal sovereignty is an inherent right of Native American tribes to govern their lands, manage resources, and uphold their communities. The unit explores the unique relationship Tribes have with the United States government through the creation of treaties.
