Long before Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, the continent of North America was inhabited by the indigenous people, Native Americans. There were more than 560 Native American tribes in the United States alone, including the Navajo, Cherokee, and Sioux tribes. Hundreds of years later, the influence of Native American culture on today’s society remains incredible! Did you know that the sequoia tree was named after a Cherokee leader named Sequoyah who helped his people develop an alphabet? Or that a lot of U.S. states, like Arizona, Missouri, and Kentucky, were named using Ameri-Indian words? Use the following lessons from Evan-Moor on Teachers Pay Teachers to present an engaging view of Native American history!
Free Native American lesson and activity link below.
History Pockets: Native Americans, Grades 1–3
If you’re looking for short activities that highlight Native American history, Evan-Moor’s History Pockets will fit perfectly in your lesson planning! Each individual pocket is pulled from the complete book, History Pockets: Native Americans (grades 1–3). The first pocket, Introduction to Native Americans, provides information and fun activities on a variety of American Indian tribes! It includes a map of tribes across North America, a picture dictionary activity, and a cover sheet!
Find this unit on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
History Pockets: Navajo Tribe, Grades 1–3
Similar history pockets also highlight individual tribes so students can engage in a more in-depth learning experience. The seventh history pocket includes a lesson on the Navajo tribe, which lived in the Southwest United States. The pocket, in addition to having a fact sheet and new vocabulary, also includes two fun activities where students can design and create their very own Navajo-style necklace and rug!
Buy this pocket on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
Build a comprehensive Native American unit and purchase the entire Native American history pocket book History Pockets: Native Americans (grades 1–3).
Native American Day Activities, Grades K-1
For younger students (grades K–1), celebrate Native American Day (the fourth Friday of September) with traditional Native American art projects like sand painting, invented by the Pueblo tribe and developed by the Navajo! Or play the stick dice game, a popular Native American game that also incorporates basic math skills.
These activities and other projects like it are available on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
“The Three Sisters” Legend, Grade 3
Expand your students’ knowledge of Native American beliefs and mythology with “The Three Sisters” legend. The legend tells of Corn, Bean, and Squash, the three sisters of the field that always grow together and, at night, dance together as human girls! This unit (recommended for 3rd grade) includes the one-page story, reading comprehension questions, and five activity pages that fine-tune skills like identifying antonyms and synonyms, spellings of “long e” and adding “ed” and reading for information! A teacher answer key is also included.
Find this unit here, or purchase the entire activity book for grade 3, Read and Understand: Stories and Activities, grade 3.
“The Little People” Legend, Grades 2–3
The fable of “The Little People” is another great legend for 2nd and 3rd graders! This unit includes the two-page fable about a boy that learns not to judge others, followed by reading comprehension questions, matching vocabulary, and practice with synonyms and suffixes (answer key included).
Purchase this unit here. For more folktales and fables for grades 2 and 3, check out the whole book, Read and Understand: Folktales and Fables, grades 2–3.
Native American Tribes of the Far North, Grades 3–5
Spend some time focusing on the Native American tribes of the far northern United States with this informative unit for grades 1–3. In this unit, students will learn about the different tribes and practice traditional Native American activities, like making dream catchers and bear claw necklaces. The unit also includes instructions for an indigenous game called “shinny” and a story-telling activity.
Download this FREE Bear Claw Necklace and Native American Tribes of the Far North unit here.
You can find a complete thematic book on Native American history here.
Nature Weaving Activity, Grades 1–6
Practice the tradition of nature weaving on Native American Day using this Evan-Moor unit! The unit provides a short background on Native American Day before diving into instructions about how to weave using natural materials. Students will love this fun and easy project and will learn to appreciate Native American art and culture.
Find this individual unit here. You can also purchase the whole book of Holiday Art Projects, grades 1–6.
Native American Reading and Activity, Grades 1–6
Celebrate Native American Day by learning about Native American reading culture. This unit features background information on Native American Day, book recommendations about Native American history (fiction and nonfiction), and a make-your-own book project.
Find this individual unit here.
Tops & Bottoms Writing and Art Project, Grades K–2
To incorporate writing into your Native American history lessons, use the Tops & Bottoms: Native American Girl/Boy writing form unit! This fun unit provides a writing space and an art component, so students can write what they’ve learned about Native American life! This activity can be used for creative writing, story starters, or fact reporting; it also looks great as a bulletin board decoration!
- To purchase the Tops & Bottoms: Native American Boy, click here.
- To purchase the Tops & Bottoms: Native American Girl unit, click here.
- To find other great holiday Tops & Bottoms writing forms, purchase the whole activity book, Writing Forms: Tops & Bottoms, grades K–2.
Whether you’re celebrating Native American Day or Native American History Month (November!), there are so many ways you can make social studies fun and engaging! Present fun facts about Native American history, include activities and hands-on projects, and read indigenous legends to give your students a well-rounded understanding of how important Native American culture is today!
For more Teachers Pay Teachers lesson ideas check out this article.
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Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help students have fun while learning.