ARCHIVED NDNAEU LESSON

Osage Orange Tree

Middle school (6–8) · ELA · NDNAEU 3

This lesson is preserved from Teachings of Our Elders. Its original standards and instructional content are historical; review alignment, source availability, cultural protocols, and suitability for your learners before use.

[link unavailable; checked 2026-10-15] Inquiry Design Model (IDM) Blueprint™

Osage Orange Tree

NDNAEU 3 “Sharing & Generosity”

Compelling Question	After reading “The Osage Orange Tree” by William Stafford [link unverified; checked 2026-10-15] , can we appreciate the significance that generosity and caring play within a community?
Standards and Practices	Key Ideas and Details 6 RL.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and explain how it is conveyed through particular details.
Staging the Question	How can you show that you care for someone else? Can you describe a time that you helped another person in your community? What community project can be planned to get students involved in volunteering?

Supporting Question 1	Supporting Question 2
How does someone “connect” with another person? In The Mishomis book Nanaboozhoo is connected to several animals. How do those relationships relate to American Indian and western view of pets?	What are specific ways that I can be generous to another person so that he or she can feel part of a group? How can we connect to animals and human beings together in relationship building?
Formative Performance Task	Formative Performance Task
Watch Debbe Poitra’s interview called “Someone Cares for You,” and journal briefly about what it takes to make a true connection with another person. Have a circle discussion with classmates.	Sketch a scene of a student demonstrating sharing or generosity to make another student feel welcome. Have students develop a poster with family illustrating how they show generosity and sharing within family and or community or animals.
Featured Sources	Featured Sources
Video Interview with Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa elder Debbe Poitra https://teachingsofourelders.org/essential-understanding3-debbe-poitra/ [link unavailable; checked 2026-10-15]	The Mishomis Book Eddie Benton [link unverified; checked 2026-10-15] – Benai –Barnes and Noble Ch. 2, 7, 8 Read these chapters to find connection and how Nanaboozhoo learned life lessons from the animals.

SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASK: Supported Claim (written/spoken) or Demonstration of Process (project-based)	Develop a media presentation that provides examples of students displaying sharing and generosity, and present it to the class. Community service volunteer project would be great to video for class assignment.
SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASK: Extension	Research historical examples of how Native Americans exhibited sharing and generosity, and write a paragraph summarizing your findings. 500 word concept essay to include a cover page connecting the relationship of the animal world and the human beings, (American Indians).
Taking Informed Action / Real World Application	Have lunch with another student who oftentimes sits by him or herself. Plan a field trip to the animal shelter on the reservation to see how animals are cared for and what happens to them once there. Prepare questions before visiting the animal shelter.

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