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Kindergarten Curriculum

Welcome to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Kindergarten Tribal History Curriculum.

Location & Contact:

Curriculum Specialist - Cheyanne Heidt

Phone: 503-879-2144
Email: Cheyanne.Heidt@grandronde.org
Curriculum Specialist: Cheyanne Heidt

The process of creating the curriculum was a tribal wide effort. Several departments including the tribe’s education department, tribal library, natural resources, cultural resources department and many other tribal staff were involved.

The curriculum comprises numerous topics that span social studies, math, science and language arts; and each lesson aligns with the Common Core State Standards. Each lesson is designed to stand alone and includes activities such as matching, main idea identification, illustration creation, and connections to students’ personal lives. Lessons were created by keeping diverse student learning styles in mind.

Teachers can easily adapt lessons to fit the needs of their classrooms and student learning styles. We encourage teachers to preview each lesson and adjust it so that it fits the students they are serving, while keeping the content intact.

If there is a need or desire to modify any piece of the curriculum, please reach out to our Curriculum Specialist Cheyanne Heidt, cheyanne.heidt@grandronde.org, for assistance with this task.

We would like to thank you for taking the time to learn and teach about the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. This curriculum began as a pilot project in the fall of 2013 that was brought about by the need in Oregon schools for historically accurate and culturally relevant curriculum about Oregon Native Americans and as a response to countless requests from Oregon teachers for classroom ready materials on Native Americans.

Kindergarten ELA

Kindergarten ELA Literacy Unit

Although the state standards do not place an emphasis on learning about Native American history and culture at this age, it is never too early for students to begin exploring the cultures of themselves and others.

In these lessons, students will have the opportunity to hear Native American stories telling of creation and common Native American figures. Students will use these stories to practice their skills of main idea and detail identification, as well as use them to create connections between their own lives and cultures.

The lesson plans below include both PDF and presentation documents to be used in the classroom.

Questions: Contact our Curriculum Specialist at cheyanne.heidt@grandronde.org.

ELA Literacy - Lesson 2
Lesson Plan Basket Coloring Page
ELA Literacy - Lesson 3
Lesson Plan Crater Lake

Kindergarten Math

CTGR Kindergarten Math Unit

In the math lesson below, students will explore a traditional Grand Ronde story and apply the knowledge of counting between 1-20 (regardless of configuration) to elements from the story.

The goal of this lesson is to begin the work of creating a comprehensive Native American curriculum that spreads Native American culture and history across multiple subjects, rather than specifically Social Studies. The lesson plans below include both PDF and presentation documents to be used in the classroom.

Questions: Contact our Curriculum Specialist at cheyanne.heidt@grandronde.org.

Math Lesson: How Many Bones
Lesson Plan Worksheet Exit Ticket

Kindergarten Science

CTGR Kindergarten Science Unit

In the science lessons below, students will explore the flora and fauna that exists on the Grand Ronde Reservation and nearby culturally significant lands. The lessons place an emphasis on being “stewards of the land” and how the students can form relationships with the natural earth around them.

The goal of these lessons is to begin the work of creating a comprehensive Native American curriculum that spreads Native American culture and history across multiple subjects, rather than specifically Social Studies. The lesson plans below include both PDF and presentation documents to be used in the classroom.

Questions: Contact our Curriculum Specialist at cheyanne.heidt@grandronde.org.

Kindergarten Social Studies

CTGR Kindergarten Social Studies Unit

In conjunction with 4th Grade Common Core Standards and Oregon Senate Bill 13, these three Social Studies lessons aim to help students explore the Native American culture, both past and present, and create connections between other cultures and their own.

These lessons are designed to be taught together in a unit or as stand-alone lessons to be incorporated into a standing Social Studies curriculum. The lesson plans below include both PDF and presentation documents to be used in the classroom.

Questions: Contact our Curriculum Specialist at cheyanne.heidt@grandronde.org.

Additional Resources

See more resources created in support of the General CTGR Curriculum.