The listings below provide valuable tools for parents and teachers committed to including American Indian science and culture into the public school curriculum. If you know of a resource that belongs on this page, please email your suggestion to kaymporter@peakpeak.com
Learning from the Dakota– a gift from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community. This fifth grade social studies unit is designed to be used in conjunction with the book Painting the Dakota: Seth Eastman at Fort Snelling, but can be used alone. Lessons include, the Dakota point of view, A Common Sense Approach to Art, the Dakota Language, and the Dakota Family. Sections for teachers discuss incorporating content standards as well as suggestions about selecting culturally appropriate books. The 14 page pdf file is well illustrated and serves as a model for curriculum excellence.
Alaska Native Knowledge Network from the University of Alaska Fairbanks has posted seventeen excellent units on their site. These include Winds and Weather, Snowshoes, Plants of the Tundra, Rabbit Snaring and Birds around the Village. Of special interest is the sixty six page pdf file Culturally Responsive Science Curriculum Handbook. This handbook walks teachers through concrete strategies for bringing traditional knowledge into the classroom, how to devise culturally relevant units that meet state science performance standards, best practices, assessment strategies and curriculum resources. The Appendices provide two sample units complete with activities. This is a great starting place for teachers working to bring cultural curriculum into line with standards set as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Cradleboard Teaching Project contains material for elementary school teachers and learners on American Indians. Their CD, Science through Native Eyes consists of elementary school level units covering the principles of sound, friction and lodge construction integrates science with culture. It is for sale on the site.
Indians in the Curriculum: 20 Handouts for Middle and High School History and Social Studies These handouts written by Kerry Dunne from Marquette University cover conquest, identity, lifeways and rights. Some of these handouts are built around photos in the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records from the Marquette University Library. The handouts deal with scalping, boarding schools, broken treaties and more.
Links to American Indian Educational Resources is a useful list of 43 Internet resources. Sections include Native American K-12 Innovative Projects, Native American Cultural Curriculum Projects/Resources, Native American Mentoring Programs and Resources.
Native American Themes in Books for Children and Teachers contains a list of suggestions about how to incorporate quality books about American Indians into school libraries and classrooms. Cynthia Leitich Smith has composed pages about American Indian authors and illustrators and compiled extensive American Indian bibliographies. These include contemporary fiction, historical fiction and teacher and library resources about Indians. Her site contains so much information, you’ll want to bookmark it.
American Indian Content Standards posted on this site were developed by Indian educators and the Bureau of Indian Affairs by integrating Indian content into the national educational standards. They cover grades 1-12 and are grouped by subject matter. The standards provide many ideas about how to make public school curriculum more inclusive.
Importance of American Indian Culture in Teaching School Science: A Follow-Up Study by Gerry Haukoos, et.al. Published in the Journal of American Indian Education, this study discusses the effect of teacher in-services on culturally relevant science education for American Indian Students.
American Indian/Alaska Native Education: An Overview by Jon Reyhmer presents a historical overview of Indian education and makes recommendations for teaching techniques, culturally relevant curriculm, the teaching of whole mathematics and helping American Indian students at risk. The paper ends with an excellent list of resources, including web sites.
SACNAS: The Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native American Students in Science. The mission of SACNAS is to encourage Chicano/Latino and Native American students to pursue graduate education and obtain the advanced degrees necessary for research careers and science teaching professions at all levels. The site provides information about their organization and the biography project, an online collection of Chicano and American Indian scientists' biographies.
AISES: American Indian Science and Engineering Society has a K through 12 link that lists affiliated programs for K through 12 students and contains information about the National American Indian Science and Engineering fair.
