November is Native American Heritage Month
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by exploring Native American history and culture in your classroom. Discover teaching ideas, lesson plans, printables, and more with these Native American Heritage Month Activities for elementary students, middle school students, and high school students!
What is the History of Native American Heritage Month?
This month-long celebration started off as just one day set aside to acknowledge and recognize American Indians with the first American Indian Day being declared in May 1916 by the governor of New York. In 1990, following campaigns to have the holiday extended, November was officially designated National American Indian Heritage Month. The holiday has also been known as National Native American Heritage Month and National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.
3 Native American Heritage Month Activities for Elementary Students
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month in your classroom by incorporating these engaging Native American Heritage Month activities for elementary students. These activities allow elementary students to explore indigenous history, culture, and current events.
1. Incorporate Native American Music into Lessons
Engage your elementary students in a unique way by integrating Native American music into your social studies or music lessons. The Smithsonian's American Indian Music video collection provides a rich resource of both traditional and contemporary music.
2. Educate About Influential Native American Figures
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, teach your students about significant historical Native American figures. Additionally, inspire them to learn about contemporary Native American individuals who are making a difference in today's world.
3. Explore Historical Events through the Lens of Native Americans
Ensure your elementary students understand the authentic history of Native Americans by examining historical events from a Native American perspective. For younger students, 'Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story' offers a way to explore the Thanksgiving story from a Native American point of view. For older students, consider assigning a more comprehensive research project.
Native American Heritage Month Activities & Printables
Explore Native American Heritage Month teaching resources for all ages, including Native American Heritage Month activities for elementary students. Here, we’ve curated our top picks for different grade levels to help students learn about Native American history, culture, music, and art. Alternatively, browse our entire collection of Native American Heritage printables.
These activities can be used in your music, drama, art, social studies, and language arts lessons throughout the year — not just in November!
Native American Heritage Month Activities for Elementary Students
- Native American Crafts: The Three Sisters (Kindergarten)
- Harvest Lesson Plan (Kindergarten)
- Create Your Own Tipi Pattern (Grades K-1)
- How To Make Corn Husk Dolls (Grades K-2)
- Native American Geography Lesson (Grades K-2)
- Learn About Pocahontas (Grades K-3) (Grades K-3)
- Make Nasamp - A Wampanoag Recipe (Grades K-5)
- Native American Heritage Month Choice Board for Elementary Grades (Grades 2-5)
- The Trail of Tears Reading Activities (Grades 2-5)
- Make Your Own Native American Musical Instruments (Grades 2-5)
- American Indian Art and Technology Quiz (Grades 3-5)
- Native American Symbols and Meanings (Grades 3-8)
- Indigenous Peoples Geography Scavenger Hunts (Grades 3-8)
Native American Heritage Month Activities for Middle School
- Native American Heritage Month Reading Comprehension Worksheets
- Native American Heritage Month Choice Board for Middle School
- Indigenous Peoples Geography Scavenger Hunt
- Important Indigenous Americans: Profiles, Resources & Tips
- The Navajo Code Talkers
Native American Heritage Month Activities for High School
Thanksgiving Activities
Teach students about the story of Thanksgiving from the perspective of indigenous people, the contributions of Native American communities, and much more with this collection of Thanksgiving printables and lesson plans.- History of Thanksgiving Videos and Activities (All grades)
- Native American Thanksgiving Lesson Plan for Kindergarten
- Native American Thanksgiving Story: Activities for First Grade
- Native American Thanksgiving Crafts: Animals of Keepunumuk (Grades K-2)
- Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message (Grades K-3)
- A Not-So Traditional Thanksgiving (Grades 6-8)
- The Real Thanksgiving: Project for High School (Grades 9-12)
- More Thanksgiving Resources
References
These encyclopedia-style references explore Native musical instruments, styles of music originating from different Native tribes, and contemporary Native American music. Use the information to complement your middle school lessons on Native American music.Native American Arts & Crafts Activities
Let students get creative while learning about Native American culture and art with these arts and crafts activities for elementary grades.- Native American Crafts: The Three Sisters (Kindergarten)
- Create Your Own Tipi Pattern (Grades K-1)
- Design a Totem Pole (Grades K-1)
- How To Make Corn Husk Dolls (Grades K-2)
- Make a God's Eye (Grades 2-5)
- Make a "Wooden" Mask (Grades 2-5)
- Make a Button Blanket (Grades 2-5)
Language Arts Activities
Build students' reading and writing skills with these reading warm-ups, folktales, and songs relating to Native American history and culture.- Native American Thanksgiving Lesson Plan for Kindergarten
- Native American Thanksgiving Story: Activities for First Grade
- Folktales of the Northwest Reading Activities (Grades 2-5)
- Nonfiction Reading Warm-Up: Sacagawea Biography (Grades 3-4)
- Native American Report (Grades 3-5)
- Native American Life — Vocabulary Activity (Grades 5-8)
- Sign of the Beaver — Literature Guide (Grades 5-8)
- Native American Song: 0 Hal'Lwe (Grades 5-12)
- More Native American Language Arts Activities
Native American Music Resources
Music holds much influence over Native American culture. Give your students a glimpse into this with printables and activities that explore Native American songs, music styles, instruments, pronunciation, and much more!- Make Your Own Native American Musical Instruments (Grades 2-5)
- Native American Song: 0 Hal'Lwe (Grades 5-12)
- Regional Music Styles of Native American Tribes (Grades 5-12)
- Native American Pronunciation Guide (Grades 5-12)
- Native American Music and the Flute — Lesson Plan (Grades 9-12)
- Teaching Native American Music — Teaching Guide
- More Native American Music Resources
