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Honoring Our Soldiers

Elementary
1-2 Class Periods

Students will learn how Native American communities support their soldiers and veterans through culture and ceremonies. While watching segments of The Warrior Tradition, students will take notes on the different ways that Native Americans celebrate soldiers.

Program Segments

  • Comanche Indians Veterans Association Celebration and Powwow (approximately 6 minutes)
  • Image of Native Americans and Stereotypes (approximately 18 ½ minutes)
  • Returning Home (approximately 8 minutes)
  • Conclusion (approximately 6 ½ minutes) – for extension activity only
Comanche Indians Veterans Association Celebration and Powwow
The Warrior TraditionComanche Indian Veterans Association Celebration
6:08
Published:

Join the Comanche Indian Veterans Association for a celebration and Powwow.

Honoring Our Soldiers
1 / 4 Videos
Comanche Indian Veterans Association Celebration
The Warrior Tradition
Comanche Indian Veterans Association Celebration
Image of Native Americans and Stereotypes
The Warrior Tradition
Image of Native Americans and Stereotypes
Returning Home
The Warrior Tradition
Returning Home
Conclusion
The Warrior Tradition
Conclusion

Objectives

Students will be able to:
  • Explain how culture and tradition support Native American soldiers and veterans.

Instructional Resources

Procedures

1-2 CLASS PERIODS (break up where necessary)
  1. Teacher will begin by asking:
    • How many of you have attended a party or celebration?
    • What were the parties for?
  1. On a smartboard, whiteboard or poster paper the teacher can sort the parties/celebrations by categories. See types of celebrations examples below:
    TypesWhat are we celebrating?
    IndividualBirthday, graduation
    PartnersWedding, anniversary
    FamiliesReunion
    ReligiousChristmas, Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan)
    CulturalPowwows, culture/pride parade
  1. The teacher will explain:
“We will be using the Honoring Our Soldiers Questions Sheet while watching The Warrior Tradition segments. I will pause after each segment to give you time to write your answers. At the end of all the segments you will be required to write a summary statement about how Native American communities support their soldiers and veterans through their culture and ceremonies. Also include in your summary ways that we can support veterans in our community.”

Assessment Tasks

  • Students will participate in the celebrations class discussion.
  • Students will turn in a completed Honoring Our Soldiers Questions Sheet.

Extension Activities (optional)

  • Ask students to choose one of their own celebrations and write a paragraph reflecting on how that tradition has impacted their own life.
  • Have students research a local Native American organization and find what celebrations/traditions they participate in. Students could interview a member of the organization to ask them how traditions and ceremonies have been impactful in their life.
  • Have students investigate what tribal nations are in their state or region. Do they hold special celebrations for their veterans? Possibly attend one as a class.
  • Play The Warrior Tradition Conclusion segment, and prompt students to answer: “How is the image or role of warrior evolving from the “Warrior” back in the 1800s?” The teacher should show a photo of Geronimo, Dakota Access Pipeline standoff, and Native American soldiers.


National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies – Thematic Strands

  1. Culture
  2. Individuals, Groups & Institutions
  3. Global Connections
Download Honoring Our Soldiers Lesson Plan