Lesson Plans
Identity through Storytelling
Year: 2021-2022 | Level: 9-12Students will consider the many ways stories are communicated, not just through words, but also through material culture, to consider how identity is created based on the objects and architecture that surround us today and in the past. Archaeologists call these objects “artifacts” when referring to material culture recovered from…
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Impacts of the Atlatl and Proving Their Effectiveness Mathematically
Year: 2021-2022 | Level: 9-12The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the atlatl, an instrument or spear-thrower used by American Indians in North Carolina to aid in hunting, and to examine this instrument from a mathematical perspective. In doing so, students will use prior knowledge of circles to understand the concept…
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Indigenous Culture Through Stories
Year: 2023-2024 | Level: K-5In this lesson, students will learn about two Indigenous cultures by listening to two stories. While they are listening, they will determine the theme of the stories. After listening to the stories, students will compare the characters in the stories by using evidence from the stories. At the end of…
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Indigenous Food Systems as Models for Conservation & Restoration
Year: 2023-2024 | Level: 9-12Globally, Indigenous communities currently, or have historically, relied upon and stewarded biodiverse ecosystems for food procurement. In this lesson, students will explore projects seeking to restore agricultural and wild harvest methods in various parts of the United States. They will learn the historical context of why such practices were prohibited,…
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Indigenous North Carolinians Interactive Resources
Year: 2021-2022 | Level:This set of resources provides students with introductions to Indigenous North Carolinian cultures, including those of the Cherokee, Coharie, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, and Waccamaw-Siouan tribes. The “playlists” feature interactive slides that bring students to resources including recorded performances, a short documentary, and museum sites discussing featured artifacts.
Iroquois Confederacy’s Impact on the United States Constitution
Year: 2023-2024 | Level: 9-12This lesson will focus on Native American government structures, specifically the Iroquois Confederacy, and the influence of those structures on the formation of the government of the United States of America. We will also address reasons why these contributions are not stressed in American education. At the conclusion of the…
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Knowing Our Neighbors: Acknowledging and Honoring Indigenous North Carolinian Histories
Year: 2021-2022 | Level: Community CollegeStudents will research the Indigenous peoples that once occupied the land on which they now live, work, or go to school, ultimately determining which of the eight state-recognized tribes lived in their region using the Ancient North Carolinians website. Focusing specifically on an area / county of North Carolina, students will investigate artifacts from…
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Legacy Unfolded: From Onslow’s Indigenous Beginnings to Today’s Tapestry
Year: 2023-2024 | Level: K-5Students will learn and understand how the story of Onslow County, North Carolina began and how it continues to unfold from exploring the cultures and lifestyle of early Woodland natives to present-day inhabitants. Topics explored will include: Prehistoric Onslow County-Building of the land Early Inhabitants of Onslow County (Woodland Culture)…
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Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices Through Storytelling
Year: 2023-2024 | Level: K-5Students will learn how Indigenous people address healthy lifestyle choices through storytelling by focusing on characters, themes, and personification. Students will use the YouTube version of the Eagle Book Series written by Georgia Perez. The Eagle Book Series allows young readers to see healthy lifestyle choices. The author developed these…
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Malala: Gender Rights Leader and Refugee
Year: 2022-2023 | Level: K-5By Holly Kolarova from Clear Creek Elementary OVERVIEW OF LESSON: Students will review a picture book and an informational text about Malala Yousafzai and identify what factors forced Malala’s family to become refugees. Students will identify UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are relevant to Malala’s situation, including quality education…
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