Native American Assimilation Boarding School Photograph Analysis Lesson

This lesson will challenge students to use historical detective skills to uncover the dark history behind one of the American governments darker policies: Native American assimilation. Students will learn the policy of assimilation with embedded clips and slides. From there, students watch a Hollywood portrayal of assimilation via TNT's "Into the West" drama. Students will then work collaboratively with over 10 photographs to complete a photograph analysis sheet which will be used to determine the accuracy of the Hollywood portrayal.

Part 1: Background/Context: Students learn about the change in U.S. Government policy from forced removal to forced assimilation, the Dawes Act, and boarding schools. The whole lesson is based around students critically analyzing how primary sources guide Hollywood portrayals of historical events to accurately portray the public about tragic events in history. Students watch a clip showing the negative policies of assimilation boarding schools. Following discussion, students participate in a photograph analysis activity utilizing primary source photographs from Carlisle Industrial Indian School to understand what primary sources may have influenced the Hollywood portrayal of this tragic event.

Part 2: Primary Source Research Collaborative Activity: Students will conduct primary sharing inferences from a group photo analysis activity. Student create a reflection identifying what photographs may have influenced the Hollywood portrayal. Students analyze what elements could also have been included in the Hollywood portrayal.

Included in this lesson is:

-Engaging PowerPoint with embedded clips, discussion questions, and teacher directions (29 slides total)

-Photograph Analysis Sheet with final reflection (Word and PDF version)

-10 primary source documents of boarding schools of the late 1800s

Excellent complimentary lessons and activities available below:

-Assimilation/Boarding School Analysis Activity and Project

-Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Abbreviated Film Analysis

Decline of Native American Culture Source Lesson