American Cultural Studies Lesson Plan

Native American Imagery and Sports Mascots

Subject/Grade level: American Cultural Studies. Grades 10, 11 and 12

Unit topic (if applicable): Native Americans
Lesson goals: Students will critically examine contemporary and historical portrayals of American Indians as sports
mascots and consider the ways these mascots portray Indians and the impact this has had. Is using representations of
American Indian peoples as sports mascots a way to honor them? What are the arguments in favor and against changing
this? What are those arguments based on? What is my position? Why?
Lesson title or topic: Native Americans as mascots
Estimated length of lesson: 90 minutes

TEKS Standards: WGS.7D, WGS.16B, WGS.16C, WGS.17C, WGS.17D, WGS.18C, WGS.21A, WGS.22C, WGS.23B, US.25,
US.26. TEKS include history and geography standards involving culture and cultural difference.

Learning Objective(s): Students will:

1. Examine current representations of American Indians today.
2. Continue participating in critical discussions about their knowledge of Native Americans in history and today.
3. Continue examining their assumptions about Native peoples.
4. Describe American Indian sports logos, mascots, and paraphernalia used in the past and currently.
5. Listen to and analyze different positions on this issue.

Academic Language: Students will have some knowledge of the history of Native Americans from other classes prior to
this lesson. Essential vocabulary includes; stereotype, imagery, symbol and appropriation.

Grouping: Lecture, discussion will be done with whole class. In-class assignment, assessment can be completed
individually or in small groups.

Materials: Online warmup activity. Interactive PowerPoint lecture, with imbedded YouTube video. In-class assignment
online including video and assessment/reflection questions.

Resources: Images taken from team, league and school district websites. Team information gotten from team, league,
conference websites, NCAA, www.tolerence.org and www.mascotdb.com/lists/native-american-related-mascots.
Technology tools needed are; PowerPoint presentation, projector, student issued laptops, online notebook, online
assignment which includes online video.

Instructional Procedures (including differentiation and targeted support)

o Warm-up activity inquiring about mascots in general and Native American mascots specifically.
o Interactive lecture involving discussion and debate of Native Americans and Native American imagery used as
sports mascots.
o In-class assignment includes video highlighting case of Illinois mascot with opponents and proponents regarding
use of mascot. Students will use lecture discussion points and video to answer assessment/reflection questions.
Accommodations/Modifications/Enrichment:

Differentiation

- Differentiation achieved through use of PowerPoint and discussion to introduce subject of Native
American mascots and imagery. In-class assignment can also be done individually or in small groups to help
understanding ideas.

English Language Learners

- Learning: use prior knowledge from previous lessons about Native Americans to understand meanings
in English
- Listening: Learn new language, expressions, and basic academic vocabulary heard during lecture,
discussion and interactions.
- Speaking: Speak using grade level content vocabulary in context to discussion of Native American
stereotypes and imagery.
- Reading: Use visuals and context included in PowerPoint, with support from peers to read grade-
appropriate content, develop vocabulary, and background knowledge needed to comprehend challenging
language introduced during lecture and discussion.
- Writing: Written in-class assignment requires using newly acquired basic vocabulary and understanding
of content to answer assessment/reflection questions.