Lakota Leadership Unit
Proposed Sequence of Instructional Lessons and Learning Experiences
Day 1 – Introduction and Unit Overview
What do you think a leader is? What Lakota values and virtues must you possess to be a leader?
KWL chart and small group discussion about what a leader is and what makes a person a good
leader. Provide an overview of the unit and explain to students that they will keep a daily
reflective journal throughout the unit.
Day 2 – Lakota Leadership Project
Present Lakota Leadership Performance Task. Review Power Point template and rubric with
students. Group students in small groups of 3 or 4. Bring in pictures and short biographies of
Lakota Leaders.
Day 3
Each group selects a Lakota Leader to research, begins locating resources and reading
background information about their selected leader.
Days 4, 5 & 6
Continue research and develop Power Point presentation. Utilize PPT template and presentation
rubric to guide work.
Day 7 & 8
Small group conferences. Review presentation rough drafts. Prepare and submit final Lakota
Leadership Power Point presentations. Rehearse presentations.
Day 9
Small groups share their Lakota Leadership Presentations with the class.
Days 10, 11 & 12 – Lakota Values and Virtues Leadership Posters
Introduce Lakota Value/Virtue Poster project. Students plan and prepare a draft of their posters,
then create their leadership posters. Posters are shared and put on display.
Days 13 & 14 – Family Trees
Show an example of a family tree. Provide students with a family tree template and have them
complete as much of the tree in class as possible, then assign completion of the tree as many
generations as possible as homework. Encourage students to work with their families to complete
the family tree.
Days 15 & 16 – Winter Counts
Share examples of family winter counts. Have students list important aspects from their family
histories that might be included in their own winter count. Students should gather additional
information from their families as homework. Provide students with materials for creating their
winter counts and provide in-class work time for development of their winter counts.
Day 17 – Family Appreciation Project
Introduce Family Appreciation Night Performance Task. Review task criteria and rubric. Share a
family story and ask students to share any family stories that immediately come to mind as
examples. Discuss the Hunka ceremony and call on students to share their own knowledge and
experiences with Hunka ceremonies.
Days 18, 19, 20 & 21
Project development. Development of interview questions. Conducting, recording and editing
interviews. Development of Power Point presentation highlighting the importance of family,
sharing video clips from 3-gemeration interviews, and discussion the importance of Hunka
family and ceremonies. Conference with the teacher, review and revise rough drafts, and
rehearse presentations.
Day 22
Submit final presentation draft of Family Appreciation / Importance of Family presentations.
Rehearse presentations.
Day 23
Plan and prepare for Family Appreciation Night. Send notes home for Family Appreciation
Night.
Day 24 – Traditional Meeting Protocol
Discuss traditional meeting protocol. Role-play a meeting using traditional protocol.
Day 25
Develop metaphors/analogies of what a Lakota leader is.
Day 26 – Personal Leadership Platform
Introduce Leadership Platform performance task. Share examples of leadership platforms.
Provide platform guidelines and discuss the project criteria identified in the rubric. Begin
brainstorming and pre-writing for a personal leadership platform.
Days 27 & 28
Students develop and submit rough drafts of their leadership platforms.
Day 29 – Family Appreciation Night Event
Rehearse traditional introductions and presentations for the event.
Days 30 & 31
Revise and submit final drafts of leadership platforms.
Day 32 – Celebrate
Celebration and meal. Recognition of students and their accomplishments. Invite community
members and elders to share in the celebration and to speak on what it means to be a leader.
Lesson sequence developed by the OLC Lakota Educational Leadership Candidates: Krystal
Brave Eagle, Velma Kills Back, Gloria Lakota, Meghan Ruff, and Asa Wilson.