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Pushmataha: Choctaw Warrior, Diplomat, and Chief lesson plan
Karla Smith, Biloxi, Mississippi
OVERVIEW
Leaders of today, as well as in the past, assume many roles in their
quest for leadership. Choctaw Chief Pushmataha, who led the Six Town Division
of the Choctaw Confederacy, was trained in traditional roles to assume
his leadership position among the Choctaw tribe. He served during a time
of great difficulty for his people. He faced many challenges in a rapidly
changing world. The decisions he made as a leader helped to create his
public image as well as his place in history.
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS
Mississippi Studies Framework: Competencies 1, 3 and 4
TEACHING LEVELS
Grades 7 through 12
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
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Newspapers
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Paper
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Pen, pencil, colored pencils
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Scissors
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Glue
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Construction paper
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Computer
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Mississippi History Now article, “Pushmataha: Choctaw Warrior,
Diplomat, and Chief”
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Copy of the Treaty of Doak’s Stand
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OBJECTIVES
Students will:
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describe Pushmataha’s accomplishments as a warrior, diplomat, and
chief.
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demonstrate an understanding of the lives of the Choctaw tribe,
under Pushmataha’s leadership, through the creation of a newspaper
appropriate to that time.
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OPENING THE LESSON
Explain to the students that leaders of today as well as the past portray
many roles in carrying out their responsibilities. These leaders also
assume many roles in order to demonstrate their worthiness as leaders
while they climb the ladder of success. Newspapers are one form of media
that can help leaders create their image as a leader. Ask students to
suggest ways in which newspapers can help create a leader’s image or tarnish
a leader’s image. Ask the students what type of articles or news items
in a newspaper might be used to address the actions of leaders (editorials,
news articles, political cartoons, letters to the editor). Tell the students
that they will learn how to write a news article and create other items
found in a newspaper over the next several days. Tell the students that
their newspapers will focus on the Choctaw Indians and the rise to power
of their leader Pushmataha.
DEVELOPING THE LESSON
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Bring in current newspapers and distribute them to the students.
Have the students describe what types of articles and information
are found in the newspaper. Draw their attention to political cartoons,
letters to the editor, the obituaries, and classified ads. Explain
to the students the basic information covered in a news article
(Who, What, Where, When, How, Why).
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Distribute a copy of a news article to each student. Allow the
students to work with partners in order to examine the news article.
Ask the students to answer the questions that most news articles
should cover. Allow volunteers to share their answers with the class.
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Explain to the students that they will be working in groups to
publish a historical newspaper. Tell students what articles or items
must be in their newspapers.
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Suggestions:
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Obituary for Pushmataha
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Want Ad for a Choctaw Chief
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News Article on the Treaty of Doak’s Stand
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Political Cartoon on “Messenger of Death,” or white occupation
of Choctaw land in Arkansas
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Letters to the Editor -- Choctaw land in Arkansas, Effect
of trade with fur traders on the Choctaws, Content of the
Treaty of Doak’s Stand, Pushmataha’s decision to send children
to a missionary school
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Instruct the groups to pick an editor who will oversee the project,
but emphasize that everyone will be involved in the research. The
group members should divide the work fairly. The students might
create their newspapers on the computer or at least type the articles
and glue them to construction paper. Tell the students to create
a name for their newspaper. Example: Choctaw Times, Choctaw
Chronicle, Choctaw Herald.
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Tell the students to read the Mississippi History Now article,
“Pushmataha: Warrior, Diplomat, and Chief,” before they began publication.
They may complete this portion of the assignment in their groups.
As they read the article, have them record the events of Pushmataha’s
life on a chart in their notes. Instruct them to classify the events
according to the roles Pushmataha portrayed. You may want to place
the sample chart shown below on the board, as a guide for the students.
This activity can also be completed as homework the day prior to
starting publication. If this is completed as homework the previous
day, the students can share their answers during “Opening the Lesson.”
The teacher can ask students what events might have been newsworthy
about Pushmataha’s life.
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CONCLUDING THE LESSON
Have the students share their newspapers with the class. Have the students
exchange newspapers and determine whether the news articles contain all
the necessary elements (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How). In the exchange,
students can also determine whether political cartoons convey the intended
message.
ASSESSMENT
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Class participation
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Group participation
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Charts
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Newspapers
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EXTENDING THE LESSON
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Recreate the meeting between President Andrew Jackson and American Indian chiefs concerning the Treaty of Doak’s Stand and the land
in Arkansas. Act out the event in front of the class.
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Create a memorial that might have been held by the Choctaws in
Mississippi after hearing of Pushmataha’s death.
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Stage or plan the funeral of Pushmataha at the Congressional Cemetery
and write a eulogy that might have been delivered.
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Research current leaders of the Choctaw tribe and compare them
with Pushmataha.
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