In traditional Ute culture, the flute was used for healing ceremonies, or sometimes for courting. A man would play a song to win the heart of a woman. According to tradition, only she could hear the music being played for her.This lesson utilizes a true story of Aldean Ketchum, flute player and storyteller. Aldean is a member of the White Mesa Ute tribe. The White Mesa Utes, located in White Mesa, Utah, are members of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe. The Ute Mountain Ute tribal headquarters are located about 90 miles east, in Towoac, Colorado.Student will learn more about Native American flutes and create a bio poem. 

Aldean Ketchum is a White Mesa Ute tribal member. He grew up in southern Utah. He is a storyteller and flute player. He share a story about a hawk. The Ute people have a close association with nature and a respect for all living things. They share the earth with animals, and they look to them for guidance. The Utes honor the hawk in ceremonies, and they use hawk feathers in their regalia. Students will learn more about the White Mesa Ute tribe, birds of prey (raptors) and engage in strategies before, during and after reading the story. 

This lesson enhances vocabulary acquisition and learning about how the Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun by reading the story, "Cottontail Shoots the Sun," a traditional tale shared by the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. It also helps students become familiar with cultural storytelling and its importance in Native cultures. Students will have a brief introduction to the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, its location, and partnership with the University of Utah. Then students will particpate in the group reading of the book and a STEM lesson learning about observable patterns in the sky. 

This tale's main character is Coyote. Many Native peoples use Coyote stories as a means of teaching morals and lessons. This story is a humorous story where Mouse is the trickster and Coyote is the object of his trickery. "Coyote and Mouse" is a humorous trickster tale of the Shoshone. The is a lesson grossology or scatology? This is a lesson on animal SCAT! 

The Ute Mountain Ute people are one of three Ute tribes living in southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado. The Ute Mountain Ute tribal headquarters are located at Towaoc, Colorado.Stories with morals, like “Coyote and Bobcat,” were often used by the Ute Mountain Ute people to teach their children about proper behavior and the consequences of their own actions. Coyote tales are only told during the winter time.

Caring for the Earth is an important part of responsible decision-making and global citizenship. Our Father Sky and Mother Earth provide for our most basic needs. We need to protect and care for our environment. Through this lesson, students will strengthen thier social and emotional learning skills by reading a Navajo legend - "Father Sky and Mother Earth." Student will explore how they can be good stewards of the Earth and Sky in protecting our natural resources. 

"The Greedy Porcupine" is a Northwestern Band of Shoshone tribe tale. According to Shoshone culture, this tale teaches a valuable lesson that everyone should be proud of who he or she is, not envious of others. Everyone should also be grateful for what they have and avoid complaining. Everyone is given special gifts and talents, which should be used appropriately. If talents are misused, they could be taken away.After reading the story students willb identify characters and the lesson or moral of the story. The students will create a  character map to aid in comprehension of the story and provide the basis for the discussion in character education, tying in with the moral of the story.

Our earth has so many different intersting facts about land formations and the impact of those landforms on our communities. Students will practice identifying different landforms and focus on one landform through a Native American story - "The Legend of the Sleeping Ute: A Ute Mountain Ute Tale"The Ute Mountain Ute people are one of three Ute tribes living in southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado. The Ute Mountain Ute tribal headquarters are located at Towaoc, Colorado.

Homepage for the Northern Ute Tribe, with links to current information regarding, and affecting, tribal life.

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola. Little Gopher follows his destiny, as revealed in a Dream-Vision, of becoming an artist for his people and eventually is able to bring the colors of the sunset down to the earth.

Students will list three or more types of evidence of prehistoric cultures that encouraged archaeologists to investigate the marshes around the Great Salt Lake. Students will also explain why it is important not to disturb archaeological remains.

"Coyote and the Rock" is a Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation tale. Many Native American tribes have "Coyote Stories." Coyote stories are traditionally only told in the winter season. Coyote stories are meant to entertain or instruct, or both. After reading the story students will create a "living picture" called a Tableau. A tableau is a representation of a dramatic scene by a person or group, posing silently without moving. In art, tableaus can be seen in the theater when a stage picute shows silent, still, costumed actor in poses creating a scene. Tableaus allows teachers to engage students with multiple learning styles. It can serve as an assessment tool when students "show what they know" as a frozen picture.  Tableau can support literacy when used to comprehend text and analyze literary elements such as character, plot, them, conflict and resolution. Tableaus also supports cooperative learning environments.