Lesson Plans
People of the Sacred Land Lesson Plans
Key Message: Colorado is the traditional territory and traditional homelands of at least 48 nations including the Arapaho,Cheyenne, and Ute.They are the original stewards of this land. Their way of life was forever changed when they discovered Europeans had come to their land. After that point, they were subjected to a series of targeted campaigns aimed at exterminating Indigenous People, including a US Military effort to kill buffalo, a deadly proclamation issued by the governor which led to a devastating massacre, broken treaties between the U.S. Government and Indigenous Peoples, and federally operated schools which forced assimilation. Despite these efforts, Indigenous People survived and their voices and stories are important. The U.S. Government, and by extension, the school system, has a responsibility to amplify Indigenous Voices to get the story... and what lies ahead... right.
Grade Level: 4-5
Table of Contents:
- Lesson 1: Staging the Question
- Lesson 2: History Runs Deep
- Lesson 3: Storytelling
- Lesson 4: Reciprocity with the Land
- Lesson 5: Treaties
- Lesson 6: Gold and Westward Expasion
- Lesson 7: Buffalo Near Extinction
- Lesson 8: Reservations
- Lesson 9: A Massacre
- Lesson 10: Boarding Schools
- Lesson 11: Reclamation
- Lesson 12: Decolonization
- Lesson 13: Our Promise
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COGA Lesson Plans
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Build A Topographic Map
Brief Description: Illustrate the concepts of a topographic map through incremental and vizualization
Author: Inspiration Taken From USGS Education Resources
Grade Level: Lower Level High School
Duration: 2 class periods
Forced From Home
Brief Description: The Forced From Home Simulation immerses students in the experiences of individuals and families displaced by conflict, environmental disaster, or economic collapse. Through role-play and guided reflection, students gain empathy and insight into the difficult decisions faced by refugees and migrants worldwide.
Author: Dr. Jennifer Fluri
Grade Level: High School
Duration: 50 minutes
Adapted from Doctors without Borders Forced from Home Interactive Exhibition
Designing an Inclusive City
Brief Description: Using practical tools, students imagine and create an inclusive city.
Author: Dr. Jennifer Fluri
Grade Level: High School
Duration: 50 minutes
International Trade Game
Brief Description: The International Trade Game is an interactive simulation that helps students understand global trade dynamics, economic inequality, and development challenges.
Author: Dr. Jennifer Fluri
Grade Level: High School and Middle School
Duration: 1 hour
Where is Your Dream Team?: National Football League (NFL) Expansion Project
Brief Description: Students will propose an economic, spatial and culturally feasible location for an NFL expansion team.
Author: Hayes Hart-Thompson
Grade Level: Upper-Level High School
Duration: Multi-Class Period Project