1. American Indians
The Legend of the Bluebonnet
By Tomie DePaola
ISBN: 0-698-11359-4
Teacher: Virginia Downey Grade: 2
Unit Topic: American Indians
History Essential Questions:
What are some contributions of American Indians?
In what ways were the American Indians of Virginia alike and different from the Lakota?
Where is the region of the Lakota Indians located on a United States map and what is the climate
and plant life like?
How are the climates, land, and plant life of these regions similar and different?
Standards of Learning:
History SOL: The student will:
2.2 Compare the lives and contributions of American Indians, with emphasis on the Powhatan of
the Eastern Woodlands, Lakota of the Plains, and Pueblo people of the Southwest.
English SOL: The student will:
2.8 Read and demonstrate comprehension of fiction by asking and answering questions about
what is read.
2.10 Write stories and generate ideas before writing.
Lesson Objectives:
Content: The student will:
1. Complete a graphic organizer detailing the climate, plant life, and land of the Lakota
Indian region.
2. The student will complete a Venn Diagram to compare the Lakota Indians with the
Virginia (Powhatan) Indians.
Process: The student will:
1. The student will write an original legend/story using their knowledge of the Lakota
Indians.
2. Read and demonstrate comprehension through teacher directed read aloud and thinking
activities.
3. Develop vocabulary.
Materials:
Trade Book: DePaola, Tomie. The Legend of the Bluebonnet, New York: The Putnam & Grosset
Group, 1996. ISBN: 0-698-11359-4
Handout #1 – Vocabulary Worksheet
Handout #2 –Graphic Organizer
Poster Size Venn Diagram (teacher made on chart paper)
Handout #3 – Venn Diagram
Handout #4 – Indian Legend Planning Worksheet
Handout #5 – Story Paper

2. Chart paper
Evaluation/Assessment: The student will:
1. Be observed participating during the read aloud of The Legend of the Bluebonnet.
2. Be evaluated on the correct use of the vocabulary words on the vocabulary worksheet.
3. Be evaluated on his/her responses on the graphic organizer.
4. Be assessed on their knowledge of the Lakota Indians when writing their original Indian
legend.
Lesson Procedure:
Day 1
Background Knowledge and Purpose Setting: The teacher will:
1. Have read a variety of non-fiction trade books about the Lakota Indians prior to the
lesson.
2. Show students a map of the United States and show them where the Lakota Indians
would have lived.
3. Ask students to name states they know that are now in the region where the Lakota
Indians once lived.
4. Explain what a legend is and that American Indians were known for their story-telling.
5. Explain to students that The Legend of the Bluebonnet is a legend created to tell how the
Bluebonnet flower came to grow in the plains region.
Before Reading: The teacher will:
1. Define a legend as a story that has been handed down through history. Explain American
Indians were well known for the legends they created, especially about nature.
2. Show the front cover and introduce the story The Legend of the Bluebonnet. Allow
students to share predictions.
3. Go over the vocabulary words.
4. Have the students complete the Vocabulary Worksheet (Handout #1).
During Reading: The teacher will:
1. Read aloud The Legend of the Bluebonnet, allowing time for students to observe the
illustrations.
2. Ask students to discuss the information about the Lakota they can glean from the story.
3. Record student observations on chart paper.
After Reading: The teacher will:
1. Discuss how the story got its title. Ask students to infer, explain why this might have
been a good title.
2. Discuss and record the climate, land, and plant life students observed in the story.
3. Go over the Graphic Organizer (Handout #2), reviewing the story.
4. Have the student complete the Handout #2.
Day 2
1. Review material from Powhatan Indian Unit (this should already have been taught).
2. Ask students to compare what they know from learning about the Powhatan Indians, with
what they have learned about the Lakota Indians.
3. Record the students’ responses on class Venn Diagram. Review.

3. 4. Have the students explain the similarities and differences between the Powhatan Indians
and the Lakota Indians through completing the individual Venn Diagram (Handout #3).
Closure: The student will:
1. Receive the list of legend topics from the teacher.
2. Select a topic and create their original Native American legend. (Handout #4.)
3. Complete the final story on the Story Paper. (Handout #5.)
Extension/ Differentiation: The student could:
1. Listen to the story aloud The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush.
2. Complete a compare and contrast chart for the two stories.

4. Handout # 1
Vocabulary Worksheet
Name: ___________________________
Directions: Match each word in the word box to the definitions below.
Write the word beside the definition.
sacrifice drought possession
plentiful famine cease
warrior distant
1. Someone who goes to war, a fighter: _________________
2. To stop: _____________________
3. Lots of something, plenty: __________________
4. When there is not enough water, very dry: _____________
5. Far away: ________________
6. Not enough food to eat, very hungry: _________________
7. Things you own, your belongings: ____________________
8. To surrender or give up for the sake of something else: _________

5. Handout #2
Graphic Organizer
Name: ____________________________
Directions: Use what you have learned about the Lakota Indians to complete the graphic organizer.
Lakota Indians
Plant Life Climate Land

6. Handout #3
Venn Diagram
Name: ___________________________________
Directions: Compare the lives of the Lakota Indians and the Powhatan Indians.

7. Handout #4
The Legend of the Bluebonnet
Name: __________________________
Directions: Choose one of the topics below to write your original Indian Legend.
o Why The Moon Shines
o Why the Skunk Has A Stripe
o How the Rainbow Got Its Colors
In the space below, plan the story you are going to write. Remember to write complete
sentences and use correct capitalization and punctuation.
Beginning
Middle
End

8. Handout #5
Story Paper
Name: ___________________________
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