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Bison and the Plains Indians Curriculum
Welcome to NMWA’s Bison and the Plains Indians curriculum. One of the museum’s goals is to teach
the historical relationship between people and nature, as expressed through wildlife art. This curriculum was created to bring NMWA’s educational programs into your classroom. Lessons are written for elementary to middle school students. Lessons can be modified for other student levels. The Bison and the Plains Indians curriculum tells the story of the American bison and how it relates to the history of the American West. Lesson 1: Bison, bison: The Basics
The student will study the attributes of the bison, including physical size, habitat, herd size of the past vs. herd size of present day.
Lesson 2: The Role of the Bison
The student will learn about the role of the bison in the lives of the Plains Indians during the past two centuries and the hunting techniques of the Plains Indians.
Lesson 3: The End of the Bison
The student will learn the causes and effects of the decline of the bison. This lesson will cover the affect of the 1800’s westward expansion on the bison and how the bison’s decline affected the Plains Indians and the wildlife that shared bison habitat, specifically the prairie dog and black footed ferret.
Lesson 4: Art and the Preservation of the Bison
The student will learn about the preservation of the bison and the role of artists in raising awareness for the preservation of the bison.