Kaycie Nelson & Makayla Coffey

T&L 330
Sovereignty Lesson Plan
October 15, 2015
History EALR 4: The student understands and applies knowledge of historical thinking,
chronology, eras, turning points, major ideas, individuals, and themes in local, Washington
State, tribal, United States, and world history in order to evaluate how history shapes the
present and future.
Component: 4.2 Understands and analyzes causal factors that have shaped major events in
history.
4.2.2 Understands how contributions made by various cultural groups have shaped the history
of the community and world.
Objectives: SWBAT relate how various cultural groups have shaped history.
SWBAT analyze factors that have shaped major events in history.
SWBAT describe who the Nez Perce tribe are.
Introduction: Colonization Unit
Explain to the students that in order to understand the results of colonization in
America that we as historians cannot look at only one perspective, a.k.a the settlers, but
that the perspective of the Native Americans must also be explored.
Explain what Tribal Sovereignty means to the Native Americans. Tribal
Sovereignty to the Native Americans means the right to their own lifestyle, religion,
practices, and how they interact with nature.
Main Activity: Sacred Space Activity
*Play Nez Perce Songs*
Introduce the activity that in order for students to understand how the Native
Americans felt having people coming into their lands, that they will be making their own
sacred space.
We will introduce what a sacred space could be, like a place where they feel
happy, comfortable, or safe. Then give the students the worksheet and have them create
their sacred space.
After students have made theirs then give the students time to share what they
made with their table groups.
After they have had adequate time to share, take one students work and show it
to the whole class. Exclaim over it and say how wonderful and nice it is. Then tell the
kids that you want part of it, and ask if you can have it. Then shock the kids by ripping
the part you want out. The students should be shocked and horrified over what you did.
Ask the students why they are so angry and why they think what you did was
wrong.
Explain that it how they felt was the way the Native Americans felt when people
came in and took over their lands.
*Play Youtube Video*

Conclusion:

The teacher will wrap up the lesson by asking the class questions like
What did you learn about colonization?
How did the Native Americans feel when people took away their
lands?
How did your sacred space relate to those of the Native
Americans?
What did you learn about the Nez Perce Tribe?

Resources:
*Tribal Songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TO6f5vxjMw
*Youtube Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OZrQf-BLIE