Diamond 9 Activity: Why did Custer lose at the Little Bighorn?

This outstanding resource is designed to help students evaluate how far Custer was responsible for the defeat of the US Army at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The key theory underpinning this strategy is that when we rank items, either statements, objects or images, we are required to make explicit the over- arching relationships by which we organize our knowledge and connect our learning. It can used as a starter or plenary and is suitable for middle to upper ability students as a stretch and challenge task. If you would like something aimed at middle to lower ability students, then please check out my card sort of this topic in my TES shop. This task is primarily designed to help students prioritize the different factors in preparation for an extended answer or essay.

The resource nine diamond shaped cards which include a range of factors to explain why Custer lost the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Once students have cut the cards out they are set three tasks including:

1. Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them.
2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons.
3. Make a smaller diamond shape using what you think are the four most important reasons why Custer lost at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their thinking skills and arguments for writing their essay.

The aims and objectives for this lesson are:

Theme: What role did the US Army play in the defeat of the Plains Indians?
Know: What happened during the Battle of the Little Bighorn?
Understand: What roles were played by Custer and Crazy Horse in the defeat of the US Army?
Evaluate: How far was Custer responsible for the defeat of the US Army at the Little Bighorn?

WILF: What Am I looking For?
Identify & describe: What happened during the Battle of the Little Bighorn?
Explain: What roles were played by Custer and Crazy Horse in the defeat of the US Army?
Analyze: How far was Custer responsible for the defeat of the US Army at the Little Bighorn?

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Kind Regards

Roy