DOI

10.62812/OKCE4087

Document Type

Curriculum Resource

Publication Version

Submitted For Peer Review

Publication Date

Summer 8-4-2025

Keywords

Ecological and historical importance of buffalo, buffalo Jerky, place- based learning, culturally responsive instruction

Description

In this culturally responsive science lesson, students explore the ecological and historical importance of buffalo through story and hands-on learning. Using Paul Goble’s Return of the Buffaloes, learners’ journey into Lakota legend to discover how buffalo sustained communities and symbolized connection to land and spirit. Through guided reading, students uncover how buffalo supported Indigenous survival—providing food, shelter, clothing, and tools—while developing an appreciation for traditional knowledge systems and biodiversity. Students then deepen their understanding of food science by making buffalo jerky, connecting past and present preservation methods. As they mix ingredients, shape meat into strips, and observe dehydration techniques, students compare traditional practices with modern tools, reinforcing lessons in adaptation, conservation, and respectful use of natural resources. Together, storytelling and hands-on inquiry create a dynamic, land-based learning experience that honors Indigenous history, science standards, and the stewardship of living systems.

Pages

5

Type

Lesson Plan

Format

PDF

Language

English

Publisher

Open Prairie

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.