Unit Plan Template s19

Lesson Plan 2011-2012. Elizabeth M. Collins

Taos Blue Lake

Lesson Author
First and Last Name / Elizabeth M. Collins
School Name / La Cueva High School
Class/Grade Level / 9th Grade Social Studies
Unit of Study / Taos Blue Lake: ACTIVISM and a struggle for Religious Freedom
Lesson Overview
Lesson Title
Taos Blue Lake: A Fight for Religious Freedom
Cultural Proficiency:
Valuing diversity through an in-depth look at the American movement West and the impact on the Native populations living there. Understanding that perspective is EVERYTHING! This unit asks students to stand in the shoes of ranchers, Native Americans, US government officials, and more in an effort to understand the multiple perspectives involved.
Unit Summary:
A look at the conflict between the Taos Nation and the US Forest Service. The notion of land and religious freedom as well as the role of activism in accomplishing a goal.
Subject Area
The notion of ACTIVISM and political change in New Mexico. Conflict and conflict resolution.
21st Century Skill(s)
Approximate Time Needed
Two (block) class periods
From a Unit Plan or Curriculum Area
Targeted Content Standards and Benchmarks
IA (1,2,5); IB (3,4,5,9); IC (2,5); ID (1-8)
21st Century Student Objectives/Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1. Locate Taos Blue Lake on a map of New Mexico.
2. Explain the position of the US Forest Service as regards Blue lake and the surrounding area.
3. Explain the chronology of events between 1903-1971.
4. Explain the position of Taos Pueblo
5. Analyze the cultural foundation of each position.
6. Evaluate the outcome of the conflict with the signing of the Executive Order in January, 1971.
Curriculum-Framing Questions:
Essential Question: / In what ways are land and water at the center of activism? In what ways is religious freedom at the center of activism?
Guiding Questions: / Where is Taos Blue Lake on the map of New Mexico?
What is the history of the conflict between the Pueblo Nation of Taos and the US Forest Service?
What were the interests of the US Forest Service in gaining jurisdiction of Blue Lake and the surrounding area (48,000 acres)?
What were the interests of the people of Taos Pueblo in retaining exclusive use of Blue Lake and the surrounding area?
Assessment Plan:
Assessment Summary:
Quality of contributions to class discussions in discussion of religious freedom, photograph analysis and a discussion that focuses on a review of the timeline/chronology of events. Additionally, students will be assessed based on their primary document analysis
Quality of composition book entries
Lesson Details
Prerequisite Skills
Reading
Journal writing experience
Primary Document Analysis experience
Effective oral communication skills
Instructional Procedures
Step by Step:
1. Ask students to talk about:
a. What does freedom of religion mean to you?
b. Have you ever been persecuted for your religious beliefs? If not, do you know anyone who has?
c. What are some ways that a people can respond to religious persecution?
2. Ask students to look at the definition of activism and discuss the fact that for one group of indigenous people in New Mexico—Taos—their response was to engage in activism to regain their rights to religious freedom.
3. Explain that they will be learning about the case of Taos Blue Lake and how the students’ work will help them to answer the essential question: IN WHAT WAYS ARE LAND AND WATER AT THE CENTER OF ACTIVISM? IN WHAT WAYS IS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AT THE CENTER OF ACTIVISM?
4. Present photographs of the following sites:
a. Taos Pueblo
b. Taos Mountains
c. Taos Blue Lake
d. Map of New Mexico
5. With the presentation of photographs, students will WRITE DOWN THEIR IMPRESSIONS IN COMPOSITION BOOKS. e.g. If you were standing at the river that runs through the community of Taos Pueblo, what might you be thinking?
a. The above component to be graded when composition books are collected.
6. Handout maps to each student. STUDENTS LABEL THE FOLLOWING:
a. Sangre de Cristo Mountains
b. Rio Grande
c. Town of Taos
d. Taos Pueblo
e. Santa Fe
f. Wheeler Peak
g. Taos Blue Lake
7. Distribute: TIMELINE of events: “Chronology of the Fight for Justice” (from Gordon-McCutchan, RC (1995)
a. Why does the author refer to this as a “fight for justice”?
b. What evidence can we gather from the timeline to understand why it is viewed as a fight for justice?
8. COMPARE AND CONTRAST PERSPECTIVES. Students will assume three of the four following personas:
a. US Senator
b. Taos Pueblo resident
c. Member of the Forest Service
d. Non-Taos resident
1. Students will write a journal entry from the perspective of each (3 of 4) THIS WILL BE GRADED WHEN COMPOSITION BOOKS ARE COLLECTED.
9. Distribute handout: Quotes from Taos Pueblo Elders.
10. Distribute handout: 1967 Handbill from Gordon-McCutchan, RC (1995) The Taos Indians and the Battle for Blue Lake. Santa Fe, NM; Red Crane Books, p. 123.
11. Distribute Arthur Greeley’s (associate chief of the Forest Service) list of seven arguments opposing S. 3085.
12. Distribute Newspaper articles:
a. “Indians seek return of lands in New Mexico, citing treaty” (NYTimes, July 3, 1955)
b. “New Mexico’s Taos ask for restoration of shrine area title” (NYTimes, April 25, 1966)
c. “Pueblo Aim: Deed t Shrine” (NYTimes, July 18, 1970)
d. “Bill restoring Pueblo land stalled by foes in Senate” (NYTimes, July 10, 1970)
13. Distribute Primary Document: “Executive Order: Return of Blue Lake lands to Taos People” from documents of United States Indian Policy edited by: Francis Prucha. Lincoln: University of Nebraska press, pp.258-260.
Cumulative Activity: Ask students in final discussion: In what ways did activism play a role in the Taos Blue Lake controversy?
Accommodations for Differentiated Instruction
Special Needs Students / There are a number of students that I am monitoring/checking for understanding, etc.
Nonnative Speakers / I am working with the aunt of a mono-lingual Spanish speaker in one of the NM History classes. Together we are doing pretty well.
Gifted/Talented Students
Materials and Resources Required For Lesson

Technology – Hardware (Click boxes of all equipment needed)

NM History and Taos Blue Lake

Elizabeth M. Collins

Camera
Computer(s)
Digital Camera
DVD Player
Internet Connection / Laser Disk
Printer
Projection System
Scanner
Television / VCR
Video Camera
Video Conferencing Equip.
Other
Technology – Software (Click boxes of all software needed.)
Database/Spreadsheet
Desktop Publishing
E-mail Software
Encyclopedia on CD-ROM / Image Processing
Internet Web Browser
Multimedia / Web Page Development
Word Processing
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

NM History and Taos Blue Lake

Elizabeth M. Collins

Printed Materials / Xerox copies of documents.
Supplies / Students have composition books
Internet Resources
Other Resources