Junior high students taking the elective American studies quinmester course, "The American Indian", will study Indian culture and history, and United States government policy toward Indians. It is hoped that students will learn to appreciate the contributions that Indians made to this nation and will avoid the kind of stereotyping that frequently seems to occur. In the four units which outline the course the students will examine and analyze: 1) the culture of American Indians, placing emphasis on five main cultural areas, ways of living, and main cultural groups; 2) Indian aid to early Americans, and Indian contributions that are part of American culture today; 3) problems of American Indians today, such as poverty and prejudice, historical policies of the Federal government toward Indians, conflicting values between Indians and white men, and psychological ills of reservation life; and, 4) the future of American Indians current Indian movement, federal policy today, and assimilation vs. separatism. Related documents are: SO 002 708 through SO 002 718, SO 002 768 through SO 002 792, and, SO 002 949 through SO 002 970. (Author/SJM)