Goals, Rationale, and Background Information
Transportation was one area that was transformed with the arrival of the horse. Before the horse Native Americans used large dogs as pack animals to move their belongings (Stiriling 1965 ). These dogs either carried small packs that were tied to their backs or a travois was used (Josephy 1961). A travois is an A-shaped frame that cam be dragged with a load attached. Therefore, before the horse the Indians had three options while traveling, possess few belongings, leave their belongings behind, or move slowly and carefully and let the dogs drag them for them (Webb, 1931).
The Indians got their first horses from the Spanish. When the Spanish explorers Coronado and DeSoto came into America they brought horses with them. In 1680 the Pueblo Indians revolted against the Spanish and drove the Spanish out of their land and back down into Old Mexico. The Spanish were forced to leave so quickly that they left many of their horses behind. The Pueblo Indians took these horses and began to use them. The Indians began to raise large herds of horses, which in turn led them to the selling and trading to other Indians such as the Kiowa and the Comanche. The Pueblo Indians also assisted the other tribes in how to raise and ride horses.
When the horse came along, there was a major shift in how the Indians lived. Webb estimates that a single horse and travois could move more goods than twelve dogs could pack (Webb 1931). Horses became extremely valuable commodities and eventually ownership of horses began to link to wealth. "Horses provided a universal medium of exchange in trade" (Masich 1997). Similar to that of using US dollars in exchange for goods or services, the Indians used horses. The horse became a status symbol to the nomadic tribes who continued to walk and use dogs (Josephy 1961).
This lesson will assist students in identifying the reasons why the horse was an important introduction to Plains Indian life. It will also provide students with the opportunity to understand how the horse brought about changes in lifestyle and impacted the Plains Indians in positive ways.
Purpose and Objectives
Students will decide which factors was a result of having the horse as transportation or not having the horse as a source of transportation. They will make a compare and contrast chart demonstrating the benefits of the horse to the Plains Indians.
Structure and Outline
Materials:
book:
The Gift of the Sacred Dog
, by Paul deGobel, chart paper, sentence strips, picture of a horse, markers tape, and book
Timing:
60 minutes
Structure:
whole class discussion and shared reading, small group work constructing chart and writing
Children Will
:
Listen to a story depicting how the horse changed the lives of the Plains Indians. Write sentences, and create chart.
Teacher Will:
facilitate, read story, and help when needed.
Procedure
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1. Read story to class pausing and recording important details in story of how the horseaffected the lives of the Plains Indians.
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2. Have students retell details of story and make comparisons to what life was like before the horse to life after the horse orally.
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3. Instruct students to work together in small groups and write their before and after horse sentences on the sentence strips and tape them on the correct side of the chart.
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4. Have students share charts and discuss peers conclusions.
Assessment and Monitoring
Look for students ability to use long term memory as they recall what they have learned about the way the horse had changed the lives of the Plains Indians. Evaluate students ability to vocalize differences in lifestyles and ability to understand why they change occurred. Watch as students work together to discuss and complete their charts.
Reflections, Extensions, and Emergent Curriculum
It is important for students to understand that the Natives did not always have the horse as a means of transportation. This activity is designed to allow students to understand the complexities in how ones life could change with such a simple addition, and how people adapted their lives to having a horse. Another extension to this activity could be the possibility of comparing life as it would be with wagons that the horses could carry.