Lesson Key Facts

• Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• Subject(s): Dance, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Native American
• Duration of lesson: Varies
• Author(s): Rachel Marie Kimball and Brenda Beyal

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We invite teachers to explore movement concepts connected to learning about and from the five tribal groups, and more specifically the eight sovereign nations located in Utah. The slide presentation includes everything needed for the lesson. Access the slide presentation to begin your adventure. Proceed through the slides as usual or use the menu buttons on slide 8 to skip to specific parts of the lesson.

• Understand the difference between Native American tribal groups and sovereign nations recognized by the federal government. 
• Appreciate unique attributes of tribal groups and sovereign nations in the Utah area.
• Demonstrate a variety of dance qualities individually and in small groups.

This lesson can be used to meet standards in many grades and subject areas. We will
highlight one grade’s standards to give an example of application.

Grade 2 Dance

• Standard 2.D.CR.2: Explore movement inspired by a variety of stimuli.
• Standard 2.D.P.4: Demonstrate clear pathways and intent when performing locomotor and non-locomotor movements.

Grade 2 Social Studies

• Standard 1 

  (Culture): Students will recognize and describe how people within their community, state, and nation are both similar and different.

  • Objective 1: Examine and identify cultural differences within the community.
    1. Explain the various cultural heritages within their community.
    2. Explain ways people respect and pass on their traditions and customs.
    3. Give examples of how families in the community borrow customs or traditions from other cultures.
  • Objective 2: Recognize and describe the contributions of different cultural groups in Utah and the nation.
    1. Identify various cultural groups within the state and the nation.
    2. Describe contributions of cultural groups to our state and nation.
    3. Explain ways American Indians and immigrants have shaped both Utah's and America's culture (e.g., names of places, food, customs, celebrations).
    4. Compare and contrast elements of two or more cultures within the state and nation (e.g., language, food, clothing, shelter, traditions, and celebrations).

Grade 2 Language Arts

• Standard 2.R.12: Demonstrate understanding of story elements and/or topics by applying information gained from illustrations or text features. (RL & RI)

Revised Social Studies Standards (implemented 2024)

• Standard 2.1.1:  Use primary sources (for example, artifacts and documents such as interviews, photographs, newspapers, speakers, stories, songs) to document the chronology of important events in their personal, family, school, local, or broader community history (including three significant events).
• Standard 2.1.2:  Use primary sources to identify how their community has changed or remained the same over time, and make inferences about the reasons why.
• Standard 2.2.7:  On a map of the world, locate where their families or other families in the community historically came from. With support, curate and share information about the traditional food, cultural customs, recreation, religion, and music of that country and/or region.

• 5 Tribal Groups, 8 Sovereign Nations slide presentation
• Possible Native music to dance with:
  • Many traditional Native American songs and music are reserved for traditional dances and specific settings in Native cultures. To respect and honor the significance of traditional songs and music, we are providing a list of modern music produced by Native American artists.
    • A Breath of Spring
    • Payback Time!!!
    • Prelude to The Storm
    • Mark Rogers, Southern Paiute Singer
    • I Walk With You
    • Mr. Keith Andren, Southern Paiute Singer
    • S. Burch - Mother Earth
    • Aaron White, double cedar flute
    • Native American Flute performer
    • The First Flute Song

This lesson was created thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums.

• Utah's Eight Tribal Nations
• Navajo Nation Website Link
• Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Website Link
• Ute Indian Tribe Website Link
• Ute Mountain Ute White Mesa Website Link
• Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Website Unavailable (Utah Gov Website)
• Skull Valley Band of the Goshute Website Unavailable (Utah Gov Website)
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Website Link
• San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Website Link
• Katie Holliday Beadwork on Etsy

Lesson Overview Image 1:
https://picryl.com/media/paiute-indian-beadwork