Emily Cook and Aubrielle Bailey

Purpose/Rationale:
The purpose of this lesson is to educate students on the historical event of the Trail of
Tears. This lesson is designed to get students to think about the hardships the Native Americans
faced during their journey, as well as how they felt, was it fair, and more questions that arise
when studying this hard period in time. This lesson has been created for students to experience
it as a simulation so they are able to understand what it might have felt like to be a Native
American during their journey, and to comprehend the way of living during this time in history. At
the end of the lesson students will be able to express their feelings of the simulation and how
they thought if it was fair or not. This is important to be aware of during the lesson, for it sets up
the discussion about the truth (facts and information) of the Trail of Tears after completing the
lesson and activity.
Objective:
The students will experience a simulation of the trail of tears so that they will be able to
understand what it was like for the Indians during this time period. At the end of the simulation,
the students will and be able to apply their experience to that of the Indians during the trail of
tears. The students will be able to discuss what the Indians actually went through, decide
whether the Indians were treated fairly or unfairly, and give their opinion/feelings on the
historical event in the perspective of an Indian during that time period.

Standard:
History Literacy Content Standard 4: The student will analyze the significant events and
historic personalities contributing to the development of the state Oklahoma.
5. Describe the migrations and settlements by Native Americans including the Trail of Tears.
Assessment:
The task for this lesson is to have students participate in the simulation of the Trail of
Tears, and for them to be able to understand the living styles the Native Americans had to adapt
to during their journey on the Trail of Tears. At the end of the lesson students will be expected to
share their feelings they had during the lesson. Students will also be expected to recall and
apply information they learned during the lesson of the Trail of Tears. To assess students
understanding of the Trail of Tears, we will use an informal formative assessment when carrying
out the lesson. We will be observing students behaviors, expressions, attitudes, and more when
doing the simulation and how they respond to the treatment they are receiving. We will also
assess students understanding of the Trail of Tears after the lesson is over during the
discussion portion. We will be looking for students pre and post feelings once they know what
they have experienced and after they have more information on the Trail of Tears.

Accommodations:
We will have extra teachers in the room to help out the students who are struggling or very
upset.
For the students who have a hard time understanding social cues, we will pull them aside before
the lesson starts and make them aware of what is going to happen.

Materials:
The Social Studies book The American Story (used during fake lesson)
An extra room to take the students to when they are relocated
Basket for shoes, jackets, etc..
Worksheet ?? (for while in the relocation room)
Procedure:
Warm Up/Anticipatory Set:
The CTs in both of the classrooms will be starting the lesson. They will engage the students in a
basic, by the book lesson of the Trail of Tears. During this time, Aubrielle and Emily will be out of
the room preparing to come in and randomly pull out a group of students.
Activity/Transitions:
We will transition into moving the students out of the room and leading them through
unexpected paths around and out of the building (this is their journey).
During the journey we will ask for students shoes, coats, etc(Ryan will be going around with a
basket collecting these items)
We will then lead the students to a designated (smaller) room in the building where both classes
will meet together.
As students are being placed into the designated room they will be given a task they must
perform for a grade (not really a grade though).
Students can work together as a team to complete this task, but only with the materials that they
brought with them or that they still have with them after the journey.
Once all of the students are in the classroom, the students will be told to stop their task.
Ask the students questions about the activity (raise your hand if you liked this activity. Raise
your hand if this activity made you mad. What about it made you mad?)
At this point all materials (coats, shoes, etc.) will be returned to the students.
Wrap Up/Closing:
We will have the students line up and walk back to one of the classrooms.
First, we will start this part of the lesson by explaining to students that our behavior and attitude
towards them was an act and that they are not in trouble, nor are we mad at them.
When we get back to a classroom we will discuss how we took on the role as the non-Native
American people, and acted accordingly so they could somewhat feel what it was like to be a
Native American person during the time of the Trail of Tears.
Students will be gathered at the carpet to discuss what happened during the lesson.
Students will be able to share their feelings, and thoughts about what happened during the
lesson and why they think we (the teachers) might have acted as we did.
A discussion will be led to close the activity by explaining to students the importance of the Trail
of Tears, and how that affected the lives of the Native American people forever.
Teachers Notes: