Prepare a middle school unit on Alida Bowler using the inquiry format aligned to Nevada State Standards with Bibliography and video resources as well as summative and formative assessment.
Alida Bowler became the first female Indian agency superintendent in history. She was appointed on September 1, 1934. She and her housecats moved into the superintendent’s house at the agency headquarters at the Carson Indian school.
Unit Title:
Alida Bowler: A Trailblazer in Advocacy and Social Work
Grade Level: Middle School
Duration: 2 weeks
Unit Downloads
PowerPoint Presentation
Unit Objectives:
- Understand Alida Bowler’s contributions to social work and advocacy, particularly her role in Nevada
- Analyze the historical context of her work an its impact on Native American communities.
- Develop critical thinking and research skills through inquiry-based learning.
Nevada State Standards Alignment:
- Social Studies: Analyze historical events and figures that shaped Nevada and the United States.
- English Language Arts: Conduct short research projects, gather relevant information from multiple sources, and present findings.
- Science (Optional): Explore the societal impacts of policies on communities.
Inquiry Questions:
- Who was Alida Bowler, and what were her major accomplishments?
- How did her work influence Native American communities in Nevada?
- What challenges did she face as a woman in her field during her time?
Lesson Outline:
Week 1: Introduction and Research
- Day 1: Introduction to Alida Bowler (Biography overview and discussion)
- Day 2: Historical context of her work (Progressive Era and Native American policies).
- Day 3: Group research on her contributions using provided resources.
- Day 4: Inquiry-based activity: Students create timelines of her life and work.
Week 2: Analysis and Presentation
- Day 5: Analyze primary and secondary sources related to her advocacy.
- Day 6: Group discussions on the impact of her work.
- Day 7: Students prepare presentations (written, oral, or multimedia).
- Day 8: Presentations and peer feedback.
Summative Assessment:
- Students will present their findings through a chosen format (e.g., essay, slideshow, video).
- Rubric-based evaluation focusing on research depth, presentation clarity, and connection to inquiry questions.
Formative Assessment:
- Daily journal entries reflecting on learning.
- Group discussions and participation.
- Exit tickets summarizing key takeaways.
Resources:
Books and Articles:
- “Alida Cynthia Bowler: Responsibility of Privilege”, University of Illinois Archives. This article provides insights ito her education and career during the Progressive Era. https://archives.library.illinois.edu/2014/04/11/alida-cynthia-bowler
- “Alida Cynthia Bowler Biography“ – Nevada Women’s History Project. A detailed account of her life and work, especially her advocacy for Native Americans.
- “The Progressive Era and Social Reform” – A general resource to understand the historical context of Bowler’s work.
Primary Sources:
- Letters and documents from Alida Bowler’s time with the American Indian Defense Association and the Children’s Bureau. These may be available through archives like the University of Illinois Library https://www.library.illinois.edu/preservation/digitization-services or the Nevada Women’s History Project https://nevadawomen.org
Videos and Documentaries:
“Stewart Indian School “Home of the Braves” – YouTube.
This is a documentary about the history of the school, and the experiences of students who attended the school. These experiences rangefrom negative to positive, but do not reflect the experiences of allstudents at this or any Indian boarding school. Some historical context is provided to help viewers understand the significance of Stewart Indian School. “Film Descriptor. 59 minutes 46 seconds
Oral histories:
University of Nevada, Reno, Special Collections Department, Stewart Indian School Oral History Project Records. Collection: Identifier: 2017-61. Interviews conducted 2016-2017 and documents the experiences of 15 individuals who either went to school or worked at the Stewart Indian School. The oral histories are in three formats: spiral bound, PDF, and the original audio of the interviews.
Podcast: Women of Diversity Productions: Women of Diversity.org:
Mary Gibson: Librarian and Archivist Activating to Document, Collect and Share.
Podcast: Women of Diversity Productions: Women of Diversity.org:
Native American Advocacy documentaries can provide insights into the policies and challenges Bowler worked on.
- The Birth of a New Era: Unpacking the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934 (THIS VIDEO DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE)
- What Was The Impact Of the Indian Reorganization Act…
Progressive Era Documentaries explore the Progressive Era, as was the historical context of Bowlers work.
- “The Progressive Era” need correct link
- “The Progressive Era: Crash Course US History #27”
Women in Social Work highlight the role of women in social work during the early 20th century and can help students understand Bowler’s contributions
Teacher’s Resources:
- Nevada Women’s History Project: A hub for biographies of influential women in Nevada including Alida Bowler.
- University of Illinois Archives: Offers digitalized materials and articles about her life and career.
- Youtube.com/Smithsonian NMAI-Native knowledge 360 Teacher Professional Development
- Native American History: videos: “Policy Pendulum Swing: Tribal Reorganization, Termination of Tribal Governments in the 1950s”