4th & 5th Grades Lesson Plan
Black History Month-The Buffalo Soldiers
Wreaths Across America
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Date:
Grade: 4
th
– 5
th
Grades
Lesson: The Buffalo Soldiers, Black History
Month
Remember-Honor-Teach
OBJECTIVES: CCSS ELA-
4. 1. Refer to details and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says explicitly and when
drawing inferences from the text.
5.1. Quote accurately from a text when explaining
what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
STRATEGIES:
Drawing/Coloring
Writing
Think/Pair/Share
Collaboration
Discussion Questions
Small Groups
Large Group
MATERIALS:
Computer/laptop; internet (with access to YouTube); Smart Board; copies
of Reading Comprehension Questions, The Buffalo Soldiers; copies of the
Buffalo Soldiers Coloring Sheets; copies of the Buffalo Soldiers Word
Search Puzzle
Engage: Hook the students
Think/Pair/Share Activity- Pair the students with a partner. Explain the
T/P/S directions. The students will think of their answer, get with their
partner, and share their answer.
Play the YouTube Video: Buffalo Soldier Museum (Texas Country
Reporter) https://youtube.com/watch?v=taFntB8Ytc8&feature=shares
T/P/S Question: What do you plan to do with your minute?
Explore: Students make
sense of a concept through
observations.
*Teachers-You may want to pause this video at 44 seconds and read this
page as an introduction to the book. Play the YouTube Read Aloud: The
Buffalo Soldier, Author-Sherry Garland, Illustrator-Ronald Himler.
https://youtu.be/4qFod3QBkqo
Handout copies of the Reading Comprehension Questions, The Buffalo
Soldiers. Students should complete the questions.
Students should complete the Buffalo Soldier Word Search Puzzle and the
Buffalo Soldier Coloring Sheet.
Explain: Teacher introduces
formal vocabulary and
language to students.
freedmen tenacity calvary
dubbed mess hall reservation
regiment reveille valor
Elaborate: Students apply
what they have learned.
4. 1. Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
5.1. Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says
explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Evaluate: assessment.
Teachers will choose which activities to use as formal assessments.
Enrichment/Service-
Learning Project
Students will brainstorm a way to serve their local community in honor of
the Buffalo Soldiers. See a list of potential projects on the last page.
Wreaths Across America
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Date:
Grade: 4
th
– 5
th
Grades
Lesson: The Buffalo Soldiers, Black History
Month
Remember-Honor-Teach
Name_________________________
Reading Comprehension Questions,
The Buffalo Soldiers
1. Why did the Cheyenne nickname the 10
th
Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers?
2. At the beginning of the story, it is 1865, the Civil War has ended, and the slaves are freed.
What does the main character’s mother say about life after slavery?
3. Why does the main character go to New Orleans?
4. How much money will he earn as a soldier?
5. The Sergeant tells the young men they have to train harder than everyone else, because
“all the nation is watching you”. Why was all of the nation watching these young soldiers?
6. The main character says a “soldier lives, works and dies by the bugle”, what does he mean
by that?
7. Why does the main character want to learn to write and read?
8. What kinds of work do the Buffalo Soldiers perform?
9. What reason does the main character give for the Native Americans leaving the
reservations?
10. Why does the main character say he will stay in the Army another “hitch”?
11. Do you think the main character made a smart decision to join the Army? Why or Why
not?
Wreaths Across America
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Date:
Grade: 4
th
– 5
th
Grades
Lesson: The Buffalo Soldiers, Black History
Month
Remember-Honor-Teach
ANSWER KEY Name_________________________
Reading Comprehension Questions,
The Buffalo Soldiers
1. Why did the Cheyenne nickname the 10
th
Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers? The Cheyenne
nicknamed the 10
th
Calvary Buffalo Soldiers, because of the dark curly hair of the soldiers,
which was like the hair on a buffalo’s head, and because of their tenacity and bravery in
battle.
2. At the beginning of the story, it is 1865, the Civil War has ended, and the slaves are freed.
What does the main character’s mother say about life after slavery? The mother says not
much changed after slavery ended. They still have to work in another man’s fields picking
cotton, and do not make much money.
3. Why does the main character go to New Orleans? The main character goes to New
Orleans because he hears the Army is hiring young, negro men as soldiers.
4. How much money will he earn as a soldier? He will earn 13 dollars a month as a soldier.
5. The Sergeant tells the young men they have to train harder than everyone else, because
“all the nation is watching you”. Why was all of the nation watching these young soldiers? All
of the nation was watching because these were the first African American soldiers enlisted in
the U.S. Army.
6. The main character says a “soldier lives, works and dies by the bugle”, what does he mean
by that? The bugler tells the soldiers when to get up in the morning, when to eat, and when to
go to sleep at night.
7. Why does the main character want to learn to write and read? The main character can be
promoted to Sergeant if he knows how to read and write.
8. What kinds of work do the Buffalo Soldiers perform? The Buffalo Soldiers escort supply
wagons, wagon trains of families moving west and the mail. They fight the Native American
warriors when necessary. They help place the telegraph lines, and survey land.
9. What reason does the main character give for the Native Americans leaving the
reservations? The buffalo herds are thinning out because so many Buffalo Runners have
killed the buffalo for their hides and left the meat to rot in the sun.
10. Why does the main character say he will stay in the Army another “hitch”? The main
character does not want to be hungry and he does not want to live in rags.
11. Do you think the main character made a smart decision to join the Army? Why or Why
not? Answers will vary.
Wreaths Across America
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Date:
Grade: 4
th
– 5
th
Grades
Lesson: The Buffalo Soldiers, Black History
Month
Remember-Honor-Teach
Name____________________________
Buffalo Soldiers Word Search Puzzle
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Cavalry
Valor
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Indian Wars
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Buffalo Soldier
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Bugler
Railroads
Stagecoaches
Wreaths Across America
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Date:
Grade: 4
th
– 5
th
Grades
Lesson: The Buffalo Soldiers, Black History
Month
Remember-Honor-Teach
Answer Key Name__________________________
Buffalo Soldiers Word Search Puzzle
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V
A
O
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Cavalry
Valor
Honor
Indian Wars
Courage
Cheyenne
Buffalo Soldier
West
Regiment
Bugler
Railroads
Stagecoaches
Wreaths Across America
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Date:
Grade: 4
th
– 5
th
Grades
Lesson: The Buffalo Soldiers, Black History
Month
Remember-Honor-Teach
Name____________________________
Buffalo Soldiers Stamp Coloring Sheet
Wreaths Across America
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Date:
Grade: 4
th
– 5
th
Grades
Lesson: The Buffalo Soldiers, Black History
Month
Remember-Honor-Teach
Grades K-5 Action Plans
1. Draw pictures or make cards for servicemen and women overseas or veterans at a local VA Hospital
or VA Home. Operation Gratitude sends over 250,000 packages to Servicemen and Women, and
First Responders annually, the link above provides guidelines for participation in their program.
2. Make cards for Senior citizens in your community for the various holidays. Teachers/Parents can
help their children by:
* contacting local nursing homes, senior centers and VA Homes to determine the procedure they
have for community involvement, the numbers of residents, etc.
* setting up a calendar as a reminder to your child letting them know when certain
holidays are coming.
* providing materials: crayons, paper, coloring sheets for younger students
* setting up a time for delivery of the cards to the facility, or help your child mail the cards at the Post
Office.
3. Decorate placemats to be used for Senior citizens during the holidays with a special note or picture!
Many agencies deliver meals to Seniors who have mobility problems and are on a fixed income.
Teachers/Parents can help their children by:
* contacting local agencies that provide meals for Seniors, coordinate with the agency to provide
placemats for an upcoming holiday
* talking with your child’s teacher to see if this could be a classroom project
* provide materials,
4. Donate gently used or new stuffed animals to a local fire department or police station to give to
children in emergencies.
5. During your birthday month, donate cake mix, frosting, candles, and an age-appropriate toy in a
box. Donate items to a local food pantry or school social worker for families in need of a birthday
cake. Let your child decorate the bag/box with a birthday message. Parents can help their children by:
* contacting a local food bank or their child’s school to arrange a drop-off point
* purchasing the items to donate
* taking their child to be a part of the drop-off
6. Collect school supplies, coloring books/crayons or games to donate to local homeless shelters or
local children’s hospitals.
* contacting a local food bank or their children’s hospital to arrange a drop-off point
* purchasing the items to donate
* taking their child to be a part of the drop-off
7. Make a no-sew fleece blanket for a child in need with Project Linus, or a Veteran in need with
Soldiers’ Angels. Parents can help their children by:
* log on to the Project Linus or Soldiers’ Angels to check out the specifications for the blankets,
* help their child purchase materials
* help their child make the blanket if necessary
* take their child to ship or deliver the blanket