The Bison and Native American Tribes Story

Tamara Gonzales

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

The Bison and Native American Tribes Story

Students learn about how settlers nearly exterminated bison and impacted Native American tribes

In this lesson, students will explore the historical impact of settlers on bison and Native American tribes. The lesson will involve a reading, discussion, and activities to help students understand the consequences of these events. This lesson is important for fostering an understanding of history and promoting empathy towards different cultures.

Audience

Second Grade

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Experiential Learning, Project-Based Learning, Blended Learning, Inquiry-Based Learning, Active Learning, Collaborative Learning

Materials

Reading: "The Bison and Native American Tribes Story", Worksheet: Bison and Native Americans, Discussion: Reflecting on History, Activity: Role-Playing Our History, Exit Ticket, Quiz: Bison and Native American Tribes, Answer Key, and Dry erase boards and markers

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

Begin by explaining the objective: understanding the impact of settlers on bison and Native American tribes.
Show a picture of a bison and a Native American tribe.
Ask students what they know about bison and Native American tribes.

Step 2

Reading: The Bison and Native American Tribes Story

10 minutes

Read aloud the provided reading material on how settlers nearly exterminated bison and many Native American tribes.
Ensure students follow along and clarify any difficult words or concepts.

Step 3

Discussion: Reflecting on History

10 minutes

Lead a discussion using prepared questions.
Encourage students to share their thoughts and reflect on what they’ve learned.

Step 4

Activity: Role-Playing Our History

15 minutes

Divide students into small groups.
Assign each group a role (e.g., settlers, Native Americans, bison).
Have each group act out a short scene illustrating interactions between settlers, Native Americans, and bison.
Use dry erase boards and markers to create props or scene elements if needed.

Step 5

Worksheet: Bison and Native Americans

10 minutes

Hand out the worksheet and ask students to complete it individually or in pairs.
Walk around to assist and provide guidance as needed.

Step 6

Exit Ticket and Quiz

5 minutes

Give each student an exit ticket to fill out, including one thing they learned and one question they still have.
Administer a short quiz to assess understanding.

Step 7

Closure

5 minutes

Review key points from the lesson.
Collect exit tickets and quizzes.
Thank students for their participation and explain how understanding history helps us respect and learn from different cultures.

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Discussion

Reflecting on History

Discussion to explore student's reflections on the history of bison and Native American tribes.

Why do you think settlers hunted bison so extensively?

Discuss how settlers viewed bison as a resource and the lack of understanding of the ecological impact.

How did the near extermination of bison affect Native American tribes?

Guide students to think about the loss of a key food source and how it disrupted Native American life.

What can we learn from this part of history?

Encourage students to think about environmental conservation and respect for other cultures.

Worksheet

Bison and Native Americans

This worksheet will help students reinforce what they have learned about the relationship between settlers, bison, and Native American tribes.

Draw a picture of a bison and write one fact you learned about them.

How did Native American tribes use bison in their daily lives?

Why were bison important to Native American tribes?

What happened to the bison population when settlers arrived?

Quiz

Bison and Native American Tribes Quiz

Answer Key

Bison and Native American Tribes Answer Key

Answer key for the quiz on the impact of settlers on bison and Native American tribes.

Why did settlers hunt bison so much?

All of the above
Settlers hunted bison extensively for various reasons, including food, sport, and clearing land.

What was one way the near extermination of bison affected Native American tribes?

They lost a key food source
The loss of bison as a key food source significantly impacted Native American tribes' way of life.

What can we learn from the near extermination of bison?

Importance of respecting nature and other cultures
Learning from history is crucial to respect nature and other cultures.

Reading

The Bison and Native American Tribes Story

This reading will provide students with background information on how settlers nearly exterminated bison and impacted Native American tribes.

Once, the Great Plains were home to millions of bison and Native American tribes who depended on them. Native Americans used bison for food, clothing, and shelter. However, when settlers arrived, they hunted bison extensively for food, sport, and to clear land for farming. This nearly exterminated the bison population and caused great hardship for Native American tribes who lost their main source of food and materials. Understanding this history helps us see the importance of respecting nature and other cultures.