Treaty Impact Exploration

Grade: 7th Grade

Duration: 45 Minutes

Class Size: 30 Students

Unit: Walla Walla Treaty Insights (Lesson 3 of 3)

Curriculum Integration:

• Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
• Since Time Immemorial Curriculum (Washington State-specific Indigenous history)
• Gibbs Smith Education's Washington Journey Curriculum
• Alignment with Washington State History

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Analyze immediate and long-term consequences of the Walla Walla Treaties on tribal communities. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.3)
• Evaluate examples of treaty violations and tribal responses through historical evidence. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1; RH.6-8.9)
• Construct a reflective response on how the Walla Walla Treaty’s outcomes influence contemporary tribal relations in Washington State. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.1; W.7.2)
• Engage collaboratively in discussions respecting multiple perspectives. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1, SL.7.3)

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Standards Alignment

Standard Code	Description
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1	Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.3	Identify key steps in a text’s description of a historical event.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.9	Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in multiple primary and secondary sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.1	Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.2	Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1	Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.3	Analyze the ideas expressed in diverse media and formats.

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Materials Needed

• Printed copies of primary and secondary source excerpts about the Walla Walla Treaties and their consequences (including tribal voices)
• Chart paper and markers
• Student notebooks or journal
• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Graphic organizer for cause-effect analysis (template provided)
• Reflection prompt handouts

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Lesson Outline

1. Introduction & Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Prompt: “What do you remember about the Walla Walla Treaties from our previous lessons?”
• Students share briefly with a partner; selected pairs share with class.
• Teacher previews objectives and explains today’s focus: understanding the consequences of the treaties and their long-lasting impact.

Engagement note: Encourage students to listen carefully for examples of both immediate and long-term impacts as they read.

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2. Source Analysis & Group Investigation (15 minutes)

• Divide class into 6 groups of 5 students. Each group receives a different source text excerpt, including:
  • Tribal oral histories (Since Time Immemorial curriculum materials)
  • Government documents referencing treaty violations
  • Accounts of tribal responses (legal, cultural, and social)
  • Newspaper excerpts from the era
  • Contemporary tribal leader statements on treaty legacy
• Using a provided Cause-Effect Graphic Organizer, groups identify:
  • Immediate consequences (within 5 years)
  • Long-term consequences (over decades)
  • Identify any treaty violations
  • Summarize tribal responses or resistance
• Teacher circulates, guiding students to cite evidence to support their points (reinforcing CCSS RH.6-8.1).

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3. Collaborative Discussion (10 minutes)

• Regroup for a Socratic Circle discussion:
  • Each group presents their findings (2-3 minutes each).
  • Class discusses overlap and conflicts in accounts, reflecting on how different perspectives shape understanding.
• Teacher facilitates by asking probing questions:
  • “Why might some treaty violations have been ignored by the government?”
  • “How did tribal responses shape future legal decisions like the Boldt Decision?”
  • “Which consequences seem most impactful even today?”

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4. Reflective Writing (10 minutes)

• Students respond individually to a prompt in their journals:

  “Reflect on how the consequences of the Walla Walla Treaties continue to affect relationships between tribes and the government today. How can learning about these historic events help us understand current tribal issues in Washington State?”

• Encourage connecting historical facts to contemporary issues, using evidence from sources.

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5. Closing & Assessment (5 minutes)

• Volunteers share reflections with class.
• Teacher summarizes key points and previews upcoming unit focus on the Boldt Decision CBA (CBA = Common Benchmarks Assessment), tying historical consequences to modern legal actions.
• Distribute a quick exit ticket asking:
  • “Name one immediate consequence and one long-term consequence of the Walla Walla Treaties.”
  • “What is one way tribes responded to treaty violations?”

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Differentiation

• For students needing more support:

  • Provide simplified source excerpts.
  • Allow drawing instead of writing in reflection.
  • Partner stronger readers/writers with those needing assistance.

• For advanced students:

  • Challenge to research an additional treaty or analyze treaty language itself for bias.
  • Extend reflection to propose ways to build stronger tribal-government partnerships based on treaty lessons.

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Assessment & Evaluation

• Formative: Participation in group work and discussions, completion of graphic organizer, exit ticket responses.
• Summative: Reflective writing piece evaluated using a rubric for clarity, evidence use, and connection to contemporary issues (rubric provided separately).

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Extensions & Cross-Curricular Connections

• ELA: Further develop argumentative writing skills by crafting a letter or speech from a tribal leader’s perspective advocating for treaty adherence.
• Civics: Explore the Boldt Decision as a follow-up, integrating legal reasoning concepts and local government structure.
• Art: Visual timeline project illustrating treaty consequences over time, integrating historical and cultural art motifs.

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Teacher’s Notes

• Emphasize respectful listening and multiple perspectives throughout discussion to honor tribal sovereignty and viewpoints.
• Use storytelling or personal narratives from tribal members—key to Since Time Immemorial curriculum—to promote empathy and deeper understanding.
• Highlight the connection between this lesson and previous ones on treaty formation and negotiation for coherence.

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This research-based, discussion-oriented lesson fits perfectly in Week 7 of your semester pacing guide for Washington History, wrapping up the Walla Walla Treaty Insights unit and priming students for deeper dives into legal and cultural impacts through the Boldt Decision CBA.