This Lesson is the center piece of the Unit. Students will learn about an American hero, Velma Johnston, aka Wild Horse Annie. They will be inspired with her personal story of being hospitalized as a young child with polio; feeling trapped in a body cast for six months; and enduring the aftermath of the physical facial changes which triggered bullying from her peers at school.  Students will also learn about the fateful day Velma witnessed a truck load of wild horses on their way to a slaughter house. Lastly, students will feel emboldened with how Velma valiantly navigated all channels of government (with the help of school children) to pass laws for positive, productive change. Lastly, this Lesson functions as a starting point to launch the Unit and all 7 sequential activities.
 
Contents in order of use: 
1. Lesson Pre-assessment
2. Lesson Saving OUR Nation's Wild Horses & Burros
3. Lesson Wild Horse Annie template book
4. Lesson Teacher Parent Information to Help Facilitate Accurate Knowledge Building 
5. Lesson Post-assessment
6. Lesson Rating 
 
Subject domains: 
Reading (Informational Text): Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text (6th-8th); analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes); and determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meaning (6th-8th).  
Writing (Text Types and Purposes): Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through effective selection, organization, and analysis of content (6th-8th).  
Speaking and Listening: (Comprehension and Collaboration): Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6th-8th topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly. 
History Social Science Framework (Key Ideas and Details): Identify key steps in a text's description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered); understand the functions of government and the people who are part of each level and branch http://www.Kids.gov; discuss the importance of rules and laws; act as an informed, actively engaged citizen (6th-8th). 
Note: This Lesson will circle back to Activity 7: Take Action (Digital brigade)!  
 
Skills: 
Students will learn about an American Hero, Velma Johnston, aka Wild Horse Annie. 
Students will learn about the channels of government.  
Students will learn how Velma Johnston navigated the channels of government in order to evoke positive, productive change.  
Students will learn biographical information about Velma Johnston.  
Students will learn about the historical mistreatment of OUR nation's wild horses.  
Students will learn map reading skills.  
Students will learn about USA geography and key landmark features of Nevada, i.e., the Truckee River.  
Students will learn what it means to 'fight the good fight' by taking heed of how Velma Johnston galvanized school children in a 'pencil brigade' (writing letters to their representatives) for positive, productive change.  
Students will learn that in order for change to occur, one must act and TAKE ACTION; as a result, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed.  
Note: This Lesson will circle back to Activity 7 which will encourage students to TAKE ACTION once again, but this time, through a 'digital brigade'.  
It's important to note that special interest groups, such as the livestock industry, have created loop-holes in the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act which pull protections away from wild horses and burros in favor of greedy livestock ranchers.  As a result, brutal and deadly roundups continue today at a devastaing rate and if we don't stop this from occurring, we will lose the genetic diversity of OUR nation's wild horses and burros.