Plains Indian Cultures: Yesterday and Today
Celebrate Plains Indian art, language, and traditions
Join our educators journeying from past to present, as they share the vibrant cultures of Plains Indian tribes. This virtual field trip will focus on how northern Plains Indian people’s resiliency and grit have endured and flourished in the face of adversity throughout their history. Students 4th grade and above will learn about the traditions and cultures of these tribes’ past and how many of these endure and are celebrated today through art, powwow, family, language, and other important components of their cultures. This virtual field trip is interdisciplinary, meeting Common Core Standards, as well as national standards in social studies, history, and art.
This lesson is a good follow-up to our Plains Indians and the Buffalo lesson.
Suggested pre-lesson activity
Additional resources
- Plains Indian Culture Yesterday and Today Sway Presentation
- Land of Many Gifts Content Curriculum
- Buffalo and the People Content Curriculum
- Honor and Celebration Content Curriculum
- Adversity and Renewal Content Curriculum
- K-12 Plains Indian Resources at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West
- Pre Activity for Plains Indian Cultures
- Other Student and Teacher Resources
- Clues for the Classroom – Social Studies
YouTube videos
Length: 60 minutes (50 of instruction & 5–10 for questions)
- Define culture and its importance to communities
- Provide opportunities for students to enrich their understanding of the Plains Indian cultures, both past and present
- Demonstrate Plains Indians' ability to incorporate new technologies and methods while maintaining traditions
