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Indigenous American Learning Resources

Welcome to our curated collection of resources for teaching kids about the rich heritage, diverse cultures, and important contributions of Indigenous peoples of the North American continent.

Our goal is to support educators in providing more inclusive and accurate representation in their classrooms while inspiring young learners to explore and appreciate the depth of Native American history, traditions, and stories.

indigenous-american-teaching-resources

Native Land   Which Indigenous land are you on? Use this interactive map to see which Native territories have inhabited different regions of the Americas, based on historical and Indigenous sources.

Download the Teacher's Guide for detailed instructions on using the map and an introductory lesson.

National Indian Education Association  PK-12 resources include:

  • exploring the various types of Native American dolls from the perspective of various Native American doll makers. Students make their own cornhusk dolls.
  • learning about the significance of Lacrosse and Snow Snake to Haudenosaunee people, and making their own sticks for outdoor fun.
  • learning about the Choctaw Code Talkers and their influence on secret communications during WWI. Students create their own secret code.
  • identifying the importance of music within a culture, and recognizing the significance of the shaker and drum in the Native culture.
  • celebrating Joy Harjo (Muscogee Creek), the first Native American chosen to be the US Poet Laureate.
  • learning the history and significance of fry bread for the Navajo Nation. Also included is a recipe for fry bread.

 

Explore the important story of American Indians in Issue 15, A Native Story, as told in their own words. From Indian boarding schools to powwows and horses, kids will learn all about this amazing group of people and discover some of the harder truths about American history.

 

Use coupon code GLOBETROTTINKID for 10% off.

 

Lessons of Our Land  The nonprofit Indian Land Tenure Foundation (LTF) developed free lesson plans for grades PK-12. The more than 200 lessons include histories, languages and cultures that center Native American issues and values while emphasizing the fundamental relationship between all people and the land.

  • Mother Earth (Pre-K) Students learn about their connection to the land through storytelling and other activities.
  • Buffalo Dreams (K-2) Through text, song, and images, students explore names for buffalo, their traditional uses and legacy to Indian peoples of Montana.
  • Comparing Tribal Origin Stories (3-5) Students learn about origin stories of tribes and how to demonstrate respect for others’ beliefs.
  • Challenges to Land and Water Rights (6-8) Students read about and discuss internal and external challenges facing tribes as they struggle for land and water rights.
  • Losing the Land (9-12) Students analyze a primary document to determine the intention of federal policy and explore its impact on a particular tribe.

Tribal Nations Maps - a Native American-owned company selling maps, posters, flags, puzzles and more.

Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) provides educators and students with new perspectives on Native American history and cultures.

Most Americans have only been exposed to part of the story, as told from a single perspective through the lenses of popular media and textbooks. NK360° provides educational materials, virtual student programs, and teacher training that incorporate Native narratives, more comprehensive histories, and accurate information to enlighten and inform teaching and learning about Native America.

NK360° challenges common assumptions about Native peoples and offers a view that includes not only the past but also the vibrancy of Native peoples and cultures today.

  • The "First Thanksgiving" How Can We Tell a Better Story?  This inquiry resource provides evidence to help teachers and students dispel the myth of the "First Thanksgiving." Examine historical details, circumstances, choices, and events that include Wampanoag perspectives. Grades: 3-5
  • Taíno: Native Heritage and Identity in the Caribbean  Learn about the living legacy of the Taíno! There is a growing movement of Taíno peoples celebrating their Native heritage. This movement challenges the belief that Native peoples in the Caribbean became extinct. Grades 4-12

Across the Americas there are many different Native cultures, each with unique musical traditions. The National Museum of the American Indian and other branches of the Smithsonian include music and sound-related objects from many of these cultures in their collections.