Lesson Plan Title : Native Americans - Fact or Fiction

Age Range: Grade 9 through grade 12 (High School)

Overview and Purpose: The American Indians are often portrayed as wearing animal skin capes and headdresses at the first Thanksgiving feast. Is this accurate? In this lesson, students will research those early American Indians and separate fact from fiction.

Objective: The student will be able to correct ten common myths about the early American Indians.

Resources:

Internet access for each student

Activities:

Ask students what they were taught as children about the Indians that attended the Thanksgiving feast. Discuss whether they think that information is factual or not. Have the students research the story of the first Thanksgiving and compare the story that is commonly told against historical accounts. Have them create a chart showing the differences.

Wrap Up:

Extend this activity into a writing lesson by having students create a children's book that replaces the inaccurate parts of the traditional story with historically correct information.