1. Delve into the history of Native Americans by reading a book like Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. Based on historical events, why might Native Americans hold a critical view of white America?

2. Research the significance of dancing in Native American culture, particularly at powwows and ceremonies. Focus on a specific region, such as the American Northwest, or a particular Native American group like the Pueblo Indians. What role did dancing play in traditional culture, and how is it perceived today?

3. Investigate a prevalent social issue on reservations today, such as alcoholism or unemployment. What do the statistics reveal? What are the identified causes, and what potential solutions have been proposed?

4. Read several poems by Sherman Alexie and compare their language and themes to the short stories in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.

5. Learn about the storytelling traditions in Native American culture. Identify and describe a traditional Native American story, such as one about Coyote.

6. For many years, numerous Native Americans were taken from their homes and sent to boarding schools to be "Americanized." Investigate these schools, their locations, how they operated, and what young Native Americans experienced there.

7. Modern Native American authors include Leslie Marmon Silko, Joy Harjo, James Welch, among others, in addition to Sherman Alexie. Write a biographical essay on another contemporary Native American writer.

8. Many American writers have explored the theme of being an "other" in society. Create an annotated bibliography of young adult books that address the struggle for identity or feeling excluded due to race, religion, gender, etc.

9. Research more about Sherman Alexie and provide a report on one or two of his other books.

10. Compare the role of dreams in traditional Native American society with their role in modern American society. How are dreams perceived differently in these cultures?