AN EARTH SCIENCE LESSON PLAN TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS IN GEOLOGY: COMPARISON OF DAKOTA HISTORY AND GEOLOGIC FEATURES

Our goal is to encourage participation of Native American High School students in Geology. This project involved the development of a lesson plan that sought to correlate Dakota history with the geologic history of selected sites near the Coteau Des Prairie, eastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota. In addition to learning geologic principles, students will also see the relationship of geologic features and resources to the development of Dakota culture.

The Coteau Des Prairie is a geographic upland (300 m of relief) of glacial origin and a watershed for three major river systems (Minnesota River, James River, Big Sioux River). During the late Pleistocene it was a divide between the southeast flowing Des Moines lobe from the south-southwest flowing James lobe. For centuries Dakota people engaged in numerous activities on and around the Coteau Des Prairie.

Research for this project involved both analysis of geology and transcription of spoken history. A lesson plan was developed for 3 separate locations. For each site explanations of legends, myths, geology, geography, and history were provided. Additionally, student projects designed to encourage observation and interpretation are outlined. This lesson plan will help Native American students identify their history with geological features and landforms.

Research for this study was funded by a grant from the N.S.F.-R.E.U. Program (NSF-EAR 0353621).