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People of the Plains: Native Americans in Kansas - Trunk Manual

Teaching Manual

Sample contents of trunk

This trunk is designed to be a comprehensive unit used in grades 1 through 3. The information deals with Indians in Kansas, primarily Plains Indians but some information is provided on emigrant tribes. The trunk includes many visual aids such as historic photographs and reproductions.  Worksheets, photographs, and other materials needed to teach the lessons are not included in this online version of the manual.

 

Introductory Lesson

Six tribes are explored using tribal comparison cards that place each tribe at a point in history and discuss shelter, food, and location.  (This is a reading based activity.)

Housing

  • Lesson 2 : The Tipi - Use photos, a sample of tanned hide, and sequencing cards to learn about the tipi. Then make a tipi model out of paper.

Clothing and Crafts

  • Lesson 5: Preparing Buffalo Hides - Explore the many uses of the buffalo with a matching activity, parfleche, moccasin, fur pouch, scraper, drum, shield, tanned hide and rawhide. Then use a sequencing activity to learn how rawhide and tanned hide are prepared.

  • Lesson 6: Clothing - Clothing for everyday is different than clothing for special occasions. Use historic photos and magnetic dolls to explore types of clothing worn by some Native Americans.

  • Lesson 7: Decorating a Buffalo Robe - Designs important to Native Americans of the plains are explored with hide samples and a paint kit. Students use a worksheet to create their own designs.

  • Lesson 8: Quillwork - Read a book, examine porcupine quills and a medicine wheel made with quills, and then color your own starburst design.

  • Lesson 9: Beadwork - Examine a beaded rosette and then design and make your own beaded design using colored macaroni.

Food

  • Lesson 10: The Many Uses of Corn - Learn that corn was first grown by Native Americans as you look at historic photographs, examine a bison scapula, and read a book.

  • Lesson 11: Hunting - Read about two different methods that Native Americans used to hunt bison then reenact driving the bison on foot. Write a story and draw a picture about your experience.

  • Lesson 12: Plants as Food - Use a photo to discuss harvesting wild plants, use celery to see how plants use water, and plant seeds to grow your own food.

  • Lesson 13: Food Preservation and Storage - Using historic photographs, a parfleche and a pumpkin mat, explore how drying food can help preserve it and make it easier to store and transport. Compare the weight difference between fresh food and dried food.

Spiritualism

  • Lwsson 14: Religion: Circles of Power - Learn about the importance of the circle to Native Americans. Explore its relationship to the seasons and their lives using a medicine wheel, drum and historic photographs.

  • Lesson 15: Ceremonies: The Green Corn Dance - Use books and historic photographs to explore the importance of ceremonies to Native Americans and compare the Green Corn Ceremony to contemporary ceremonies in your community.

  • Lesson 17: Games - Learn a Native American game. Then make a game of your own.

  • Lesson 18: Powwows - Use a video and photographs to learn about the contemporary powwow.

Buffalo

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