| Elementary |
The First People in Your State
Conduct research on the first people who lived in your state, and then answer what life was like for them.
Free Lessons
Download a free hands-on activity and start teaching in minutes.
| Elementary |
Making Communities Better — Billy Frank Jr.
Create a human monument honoring Billy Frank Jr., who fought to protect tribal rights and the environment.
| Elementary |
Documenting Famous Floridians — Osceola
Get a taste of being a director by planning a documentary trailer about Osceola.
| Elementary |
Chief Seattle’s Treaty Oration
Analyze a quote by Chief Seattle about his experience in the early 1800s in western Washington.
| Secondary |
Indigenous Peoples of North America
How did Indigenous groups use the environment in the past? Explore three Indigenous cultural regions in North America. Then, analyze artifacts from different regions.
| Secondary |
Tecumseh, the Shooting Star
Tecumseh was one of the greatest Native American leaders. Who was Tecumseh, and how did he contribute to the legacy of Indigenous resistance in America?
| Secondary |
The American Indian Quest for Civil Rights
Learn about the history of policies towards American Indians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Additionally, learn about the changes that occurred in the second half of the 20th century that led to a revival in American Indian culture and self-government.
| Secondary |
The Struggle for Civil Rights — Native Americans
Read to learn about the Native American struggle for civil rights in the 1960s. Then examine primary sources to gather more information.
Biographies
Learn about five Native Americans. Consider assigning a group to read each and share what they’ve learned.
-
Deb Haaland (1962—)
-
Pocahontas (1596—1617)
-
Sacagawea (1788—1812)
-
Sitting Bull (about 1831—1890)
-
Tisquantum (Squanto) (about 1580—1622)
Outside Resources
See these collections for additional teaching ideas for Native American Heritage Month.
Indian Country Today— Do You Prefer ‘Native American’ or ‘American Indian’?
The nomenclature for Indigenous peoples of the Americas is complex. This article shares the perspectives of six Indigenous people from different tribes. Consider reading them with students and then researching other articles that share various viewpoints. Students can then write an argument using evidence from their research as to which term(s) they think should be used by the class.
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction— Teaching K-3 Thanksgiving
These tribally developed curriculum resources provide complete lesson guides. This lesson focuses on building a more accurate representation of Thanksgiving for grades K-3. The site includes dozens of other lessons.
The Autry Museum of the American West— California Indians
The Autry’s website allows users to search for and view items in its collections. Users can search the collection by looking for the names of different groups of California Indians. The entry for each artifact includes an image and description of the item, including the resources used to make it.
The Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian—American Indian Artifacts
The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian website allows users to search for and view items in its collections. The entry for each artifact includes an image and description of the article, including the resources used to make it.