​rethink.

Lesson Overview:

    This lesson will introduce the class to the history of the removal of the Cherokee Tribe through the Trail of Tears.  The class will examine primary and secondary sources of journals, articles, and books, as well as read a children’s book “The Journal of Jesse Smoke: A Cherokee Boy” to learn about what it was like for Native Americans at this time.  The class will also learn about the geography of the Trail of Tears.  This lesson gives students the opportunity to put themselves in the shoes of a Cherokee Tribe member during this time, and encourages them to think about how it would affect them if something like this were to happen today.

Student Objectives:

Students will be able to work with primary and secondary sources to develop a viewpoint on the Trail of Tears.

Students will be able to write a journal entry from the point of view of a Cherokee Tribe member during the Trail of Tears.

Preparation

Materials:

“The Journal of Jesse Smoke: A Cherokee Boy-The Trail of Tears”

• Paper and pencils for journal entries

• Articles/Resources

  • http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4532- a soldier recalls the trail of tears

  • http://voices.yahoo.com/journal-entry-cherokee-tribe-member-865527.html -historically accurate representation of a journal entry from a Cherokee member

  • “Voices From the Trail of Tears”-book of primary sources from the Trail of Tears

  • http://www.archaeology.ncdcr.gov/tears/trailmap.htm -map of the Trail of Tears

Instruction

1. Introduce the Trail of Tears with a read aloud of some entries from “The Journal of Jesse Smoke: A Cherokee Boy, The Trail of Tears, 1838”

2. Use the basis of the book to discuss the Trail of Tears as a class

• Why it happened?-followed the Indian Removal Act, reluctance of Cherokees, over 4,000 Cherokees died, forcibly removed approximately 17,000 Cherokees to Indian Territory (Oklahoma)

• Show map of trail of tears: http://www.archaeology.ncdcr.gov/tears/trailmap.htm

3. Read primary sources of journals in groups of 3. Have each group create a list of important facts they learned from these sources, and share the lists with the class to create a large class list.

4. Have a discussion about what students think it would be like if this happened to you

• How would you feel? Separation from family, Being forced to leave your home, People you care about dying,

5. Write journal entries as if you are in the shoes of a Cherokee tribe member forcefully getting removed from your home

6. Put everyone’s journal entries together to create a class Trail of Tears journal.

Standards

8.1.4.B:

Distinguish between fact and opinion from multiple points of view, and primary sources as related to historical events.

1.5.4.A:

Write with a clear focus, identifying topic, task, and audience.