Lesson Plan “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
By Joel Latman
Rationale: “White Man Speak With Fork Tongue”, and “The Only Good
Indian Is A Dead Indian” are two quotations, which appeared
during the 1870 - 1890 period of United States History. These
remarks attributed to both Native Americans and Whites
describe difficult and tumultuous relationships.
Accommodation, attempted acculturation, and forced
assimilation with eventually yield to a policy of genocide
employed the United States government against Native
Americans. This three day instructional unit will provide
students with opportunities to conduct research, organize ideas,
visually describe audacious hardships Native Americans
suffered, and evaluate whether or not the United States
government’s actions were justified.
Objectives:
1. To have 11th grade United States History students learn where
each of the following Native
American tribes lived:
A. Cherokee
B. Lakota
C. Navaho
D. Nez Perce
E. Sioux
2. To locate on a map sites where each of he following events
occurred:
A. Cherokee Removal and “The Trail of Tears”
B. The Battle known as “The First Scrap For Custer”
C. The “Long Walk” of the Navaho
D. “Chief Joseph’s War”
E. The Massacre at Wounded Knee
3. Students are to demonstrate their understanding of each of the
sociological terms:
A. Accommodation
B. Acculturation
C. Assimilation
D. Genocide
E. Holocaust
4. Students are to demonstrate and practice their technological
knowledge by employing I-Photo to locate images to illustrate
their group’s respective event involve Native Americans and
representations of the U.S. government, notably the United
States military. States will create a visual presentation of
hardships faced by Native Americans. They will utilize their
creativity and organizational skills by constructing a self to text
portrait based upon the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by
Simon and Garfunkel.
Instructional Time Line:
1. This activity will involve three class periods of eighty-one
minutes each.
2. Day 1
A. Students will be divided into five groups - five students per
group.
B. Each group will each be given copies of a reading for each
respective Native American event:
a. Cherokee Removal
b. Sand Creek Massacre
c. Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce
d. Letter from Lieut. George Pettis
(Long Walk Navaho)
e. Massacre at Wounded Knee
C. Student groups are to read and take notes for their
respective reading.
3. Day 2
A. Students are to listen to the lyrics of the song
“Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
B. Students will be given a copy of the lyrics. They will
engage in a opened discussion concerning how the
lyrics portray hardships.
C. Students will utilize the Internet, “Library of Congress -
American Memory Project” and other such sources to
locate images depicting their respective Native
American group.
D. Students will arrange these images in a sequence that
correspond to both the music and lyrics of the song
“Bridge Over Troubled Water”. I-Photo will synchronize
pictures and lyrics.
4. Day 3
A. Each group will present their “Musical Montage”
demonstrating significant difficulties their respective
tribe encountered during their relationship with
White men.
B. Students will complete a concurrent circle (Venn
Diagram) activity indicating similarities and differences
concerning problems each group encountered.
Evaluatiive Activity:
During the period 1870-1890 many American considered
Native Americans “savages.” Using the information
derived from the previous three days use documented
evidence to refute or support this statement.
Sources: Reading:
The Gilder Lehrman Insti#6 5EA5C6
Chief Joseph and the Nez#65F466
Sand Creek M
Letter from Lieutenant G#65EBD4
The Massacre at Wounded 5EC25
6SIMON AND GARFUNKEL - BR#65ECE5
Simon And Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water Lyrics
Songwriters: N/A
Complimentary "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Ringtone
When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on Silver Girl,
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind