Essential Question
How has conflict resulted from the migration and settlement of people as they expanded across the continent, and how were they resolved?
Objective
Explain why the 7th US Cavalry used the tactics they did.
Understand that there are different perspectives of the battle.
Traveling Trunk Items
bullets, moccasins, cavalry coat, beaded knife, cavalry guidon, bison hide piece, Washita Battlefield brochure, arrowheads
Pictures/paintings: 7th officers, Osage scouts, battle map, Chief Black Kettle, Lt Col Custer, Harper’s Weekly images (Med Lodge, Marching to Village, Battle, Captives), Cheyenne warriors, Weld council photo, Gen. Sheridan, Camp Supply, Washita River, Moving Behind painting, Pony Kill ledger art, captives photograph, Cheyenne village photograph, Lange battle painting
Hook
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Place photographs, paintings, and trunk items around the room. Allow the students the opportunity to take a picture walk around to look at everything. (Optional: play one of the Trunk CDs)
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Have the students return to their seat and discuss some of the photographs, paintings, and items they looked at around the room. Explain that these all had a part in the Battle of the Washita.
Explore
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Open PowerPoint, explain that there are many stories in what happened at the Battle of the Washita, some are told from the perspective of the Cheyenne and others of the 7th US Cavalry.
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While completing the PowerPoint, students will have the opportunity to decide what they would do in each situation.
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Students will have the opportunity to explain their decisions and discuss the outcomes for each decision in either small groups or to the whole class.
Homework/Extension:
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Harper’s Weekly wrote articles about major events across the country. The Battle of the Washita appeared on December 19, 1868. The story was written mainly from the perspective of General Phillip Sheridan.
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Have students write an article about the battle from their perspective using the “New Harper’s Weekly” worksheet.
Associated Files
Lesson Six PowerPoint (PPTX, 2096 KB)
Stories From PowerPoint (PDF, 91 KB)
New Harpers Weekly Worksheet - Letter Size (PDF, 85 KB)
New Harpers Weekly Worksheet - Legal Size (PDF, 88 KB)
