Educational Video 

Students will learn about the animals of the American West and their importance to communities of people. This video focuses on the impact of animals of the American West and how artists of the region have depicted these animals and their significance in various works of art. 

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Standards 

CA NGSS: 3-LS4.D 
CA HSS: 3.1.2 
CA HSS: 3.5.1 
CA HSS: 4.1.3 

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Video Resources 

Video Student Response Sheet: Animals of American West Student Response Sheet  

Pre-Lesson: Students make predictions about what animals live in the West looking at images of landscapes of the West or a map of the West. 

Post Lesson: Complete questions #23, 24 and 25 from the video and student response sheet. 

Extension: Students choose one project from the “Activities to Do” object prompts. Students can design their own saddles and spurs, write poetry, record stories, and create drawings. 

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Teaching Tips for Different Learning Environments  

Whole Class In-Person Learning: Break up the video into two to three lessons: “Tools for Horses” (2:25-8:30), “Where the Bison Roam” (8:30-12:30), “Animals in Art” (12:30-30:00). Teachers can stop the video and class discusses the questions and completes the activities. For “Animals in Art,” teachers can assign students different art works to students to answer the questions, complete the activity and share with class. 

Whole Class Distance Learning: Same as above. For “Animals in Art,” teachers can assign groups different art works, have them watch that part of the video, go to a breakout room and discuss the questions and come back to the class to share. 

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Links to Associated Resources 

• Digital Gallery Tour: Animals of the West Digital Gallery Tour  
• Lesson: Animals of the American West Lesson for grades K-2  
• Lesson: Animals of the American West Lesson for grades 3-5  
• Video: Cowboy Sounds All Around
• Lesson: Vaqueros: The First Cowboys