English/Language Arts
Among other things, the author Andrea Warren refers to Buffalo Bill as a philanthropist and a conservationist. She also says his family moved to Kansas to become homesteaders. What do these three words mean and what is their relationship to Bill?
Find and study a photo of the cast of the Wild West show. What do you observe? What do you think is the age range of the people you see in that photo? Does it seem unusual to you? What other things do you observe? How are people dressed? How is Bill dressed? Be specific about the details you observe.
Social Studies
Many people during Bill’s time found it objectionable that he hired Native Americans to work in his show and that he paid them fairly. Family members traveling with them could also work in the show and they too were paid. Why was this considered radical? What was the general status and economic situation of tribal members in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century? Did they have the freedom to live where they wanted? If not, how was Bill able to take them to foreign countries?
Bill also created controversy when it came to women. They, too, were paid fairly. He even supported their right to vote and honored Susan B. Anthony when she attended one of his shows. Who was she? What was the typical attitude of men at that time when it came to employing women and giving them the right to vote?
Bill fought in the Indian Wars and became famous for killing Chief Yellow Hair. Report what you can find about this incident. Bill also received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1872. Why?
Explain this sentence: Bill believed in manifest destiny, but he wanted Native Americans to be treated fairly.
STEM
You might be surprised to learn that Bill played a critical role in the development of Yellowstone National Park. In order to visit and explore its wonders, people needed a way to get into the area and they needed places to stay. What was Buffalo Bill’s role in resolving these issues?
Buffalo Bill moved his huge entourage (another word to look up) by railroad. See what you can learn about his famous show train and what made it so special. When he took his show overseas, as he did many times, find out about the ships they sailed on. Were animals taken along? What cities did the show visit and how was it received?
Research Skills
One of the most famous people members of the Wild West show was Annie Oakley. Find out about her. How did she learn to be a trick shooter and what could she do better than any other person? What kind of family did she come from and how long was she with the Wild West show?
For a brief time, Chief Sitting Bull was also part of the show. Why was this so controversial? Write a report about Sitting Bull’s life and death, emphasizing his relationship with Buffalo Bill.
Among other things, the author Andrea Warren refers to Buffalo Bill as a philanthropist and a conservationist. She also says his family moved to Kansas to become homesteaders. What do these three words mean and what is their relationship to Bill?
Find and study a photo of the cast of the Wild West show. What do you observe? What do you think is the age range of the people you see in that photo? Does it seem unusual to you? What other things do you observe? How are people dressed? How is Bill dressed? Be specific about the details you observe.
Social Studies
Many people during Bill’s time found it objectionable that he hired Native Americans to work in his show and that he paid them fairly. Family members traveling with them could also work in the show and they too were paid. Why was this considered radical? What was the general status and economic situation of tribal members in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century? Did they have the freedom to live where they wanted? If not, how was Bill able to take them to foreign countries?
Bill also created controversy when it came to women. They, too, were paid fairly. He even supported their right to vote and honored Susan B. Anthony when she attended one of his shows. Who was she? What was the typical attitude of men at that time when it came to employing women and giving them the right to vote?
Bill fought in the Indian Wars and became famous for killing Chief Yellow Hair. Report what you can find about this incident. Bill also received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1872. Why?
Explain this sentence: Bill believed in manifest destiny, but he wanted Native Americans to be treated fairly.
STEM
You might be surprised to learn that Bill played a critical role in the development of Yellowstone National Park. In order to visit and explore its wonders, people needed a way to get into the area and they needed places to stay. What was Buffalo Bill’s role in resolving these issues?
Buffalo Bill moved his huge entourage (another word to look up) by railroad. See what you can learn about his famous show train and what made it so special. When he took his show overseas, as he did many times, find out about the ships they sailed on. Were animals taken along? What cities did the show visit and how was it received?
Research Skills
One of the most famous people members of the Wild West show was Annie Oakley. Find out about her. How did she learn to be a trick shooter and what could she do better than any other person? What kind of family did she come from and how long was she with the Wild West show?
For a brief time, Chief Sitting Bull was also part of the show. Why was this so controversial? Write a report about Sitting Bull’s life and death, emphasizing his relationship with Buffalo Bill.
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission