Grades 3-5 Student-Centered Learning Activities

Giving Thanks: A Haudenosaunee Message of Thanksgiving

During difficult times, we might forget to be thankful. This activity focuses on the Native American cultural value of giving thanks and reminds us that there are many things around us and in nature for which to be thankful. During this activity, students listen to Chief Jake Swamp (Mohawk) read "Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message" then write and illustrate their own message of thanks.

Time: About 1 hour

Ice Hop Like Eskimos: The Scissor Broad Jump

The Cook Inlet Tribal Council in Alaska sponsors the Native Youth Olympics every year. During the Olympics youth compete in cultural physical challenges that traditionally helped prepare young Alaskan Natives hunt and fish in ice and cold weather. This activity helps children practice the scissor broad jump. This jump was used by Alaskan Natives to be able to jump from one block of ice to another or keep warm in extreme cold.

Time: About 1 hour

Make Your Own Bullroarer

In this activity, children learn how to make and spin a bullroarer. A bullroarer is an ancient toy and tool used to make a loud buzzing or roaring sound. Bullroarers were used by ancient tribes all around the world for communication since the sound carries long distances. Children will need adult supervision for this activity.

Time: About 1 hour

Ancient Astronomy: Native American Star Stories

Since ancient times, Native American tribes have used astronomy to understand time and seasons as well as create origin stories based on the stars. This activity features several star stories from different tribes as well as a map to study the stars in the night sky. After completing the activity, young people can practice being their own traditional astronomer.

Time: About 1 hour

Create Your Own Book: The Different Tales of the Raven

In many cultures, especially Native American tribes, traditional stories contain characters who are usually animals and some of those characters are tricksters. This activity will highlight some of the different traditional tales of raven, a bird known for mischievous behavior. After reading, children have the opportunity to illustrate a raven story to create their own book or write an acrostic poem.

Time: About 1-2 hours

Trickster Tales Comics: The Cunning Coyote

In many cultures, especially Native American tribes, trickster tales are typically about certain animals that have clever or mischievous behavior. This activity features the coyote, a popular trickster across many Native American tribes. After sharing several coyote tales, this activity provides an opportunity to create a comic book sketch of your own coyote trickster tale.

Time: About 1-2 hours

Chickasaw’s Eula “Pearl” Carter Scott: The Youngest Pilot

Eula “Pearl” Carter Scott was a Chickasaw woman who became the nation’s youngest pilot in 1929. She was licensed at 13 years of age and flew solo at 14. Scott would eventually become a stunt pilot and later a legislator and advocate for Chickasaw Nation. She was awarded several Hall of Fame titles and will always be remembered as a Native American woman frontrunner in aviation. This activity shares her story and accomplishments as well as a full length movie filmed by the Chickasaw TV Video Network.

Time: About 1-3 hours

Navajo Weaving: A Lesson in Math and Tradition

The beautiful patterns woven into Navajo blankets not only tell a cultural story but they also demonstrate several math concepts in geometry. This activity will share the traditional process of weaving a Navajo blanket through video and story. Then, young people can learn and practice tessellation, a geometric process, to create a design of their own.

Time: About 1 hour

Make Pottery like Pueblo Artist Maria Montoya Martinez

Our Elders: Storytelling & Oral Traditions

From prehistoric pots made for holding food or water to the modern creations of decorative pottery, the Southwest is famous for artists who fashion beautiful clay pots with cultural and symbolic designs. This region is also known for its red clay earth. This activity shares some traditional methods for making pottery, spotlights Pueblo artist Maria Montoya Martinez, and includes a recipe to make and bake homemade clay pottery.

Time: About 2+ hours

In this activity, students will learn about the importance of storytelling and oral traditions passed down from elders by listening to an audio recording from renowned storyteller, actress, and poet Geri Keams, who was taught the importance of passing on stories of the "Old Ones". In this audio recording, titled "The Quillwork Girl", she tells one story in her Native language about a girl with extraordinary talent for embroidering porcupine quills on buckskin. Students will then have the opportunity to talk to elders in their family or community, and recreate those stories to be passed down from generation to generation.

Time: About 2+ hours

The Lone Dog’s Winter Count

A Life in Beads: The Stories a Plains Dress Can Tell

In this activity, students will learn about the oral culture and history-keeping of the Nakota people, creators of the Long Dog winter count. Students will then have the opportunity to create a pictograph calendar and recreate their personal history, month by month, over the last year.

Time: About 1-2 hours

In this activity, students will explore the traditional art of dressmaking and dress decoration among Native American women from the Great Plains regions, including the materials used in the past and today, and the symbols used to represent the cultural values and meanings family and tradition. Students will then have the opportunity to design their own clothing using original symbols to represent their own values, culture, and family.

Time: About 1-2 hours

I Remember: Poems & Pictures of Heritage (Using Acrostic Poetry)

Sometimes, students may find it difficult to write about themselves and their heritage, such as where they came from, who they are, their family, their traditions, etc. In this activity, students will read poems written by diverse, award-winning poets that shines a light on the rich diversity of people in our nation, as well as the human connections and experiences they share. Using a style of poetry, known as Acrostic poetry, students will then have the opportunity to write about their own heritage.

Time: About 1-2 hours

Choctaw Code Talkers

In this activity, students will learn about the Choctaw Code Talkers, and their influence on secret communications during WWI. Students, will then have the opportunity to create their own secret code.

Time: About 1 hour

Native Traditional Dance Forms: The Round Dance

Native Traditional Music: Drums and Shakers

In this activity, students will identify the importance of music within a culture, and recognize the significance of dance in the Native culture. Students will compare three different dances, picking out their similarities and differences.

Time: About 1 hour

In this activity, students will identify the importance of music within a culture, and recognize the significance of the shaker and drum in the Native culture.

Time: About 1 hour

Learning from Apache Artist Allan Houser: Observing Life Around You

Sequoyah’s Talking Leaves: The Cherokee Alphabet

In this activity, students will learn about a famous artist from the Oklahoma area, Allan Houser, and how his art was based on his observations and inspiration from the nature around them. Students will then take a walk around the neighborhood outside, and draw their own art from the inspiration in their own lives.

Time: About 1- 2 hours

Sequoyah (1765-1843) was a Cherokee man known for inventing the Cherokee syllabary that brought a written language to his people. He was always fascinated by how white people could read“talking leaves” to communicate. He became the only Native American to create a whole alphabet for his own language. The Cherokee alphabet has 86 syllables. Sequoyah used the alphabet to record the history of his tribe and the Cherokee still use it today. This activity will introduce young people to Sequoyah and the Cherokee language.

Time: About 1 hour

Learn to Dance like an Ojibwe Jingle Dancer

Honoring Warrior Spirit: The 2020 National Native American Veteran’s Memorial

Jingle dancing and the Jingle dress are traditional dances performed by girls and women by many northern Native American tribes. The dance originated with the Ojibwe but can now be seen at various pow wows and ceremonies across different regions. The origin story of the jingle dance names it a dance of healing and a representation of life’s journey. This activity features a story and learning activity about jingle dancing as well as a video lesson on how to jingle dance.

Time: About 1 hour

Native Americans serve and have served in the US armed services at a greater percentage than any other people group. To honor those who have served, the National Museum of the American Indian was commissioned to build a National Native American Veterans Memorial that will be unveiled in Washington, DC in November 2020. This activity defines the “warrior spirit” and explains the history of Native service in the military. The activity also features an interview and closer look at the memorial with its designer Vietnam veteran and artist Harvey Pratt. This activity is rich with information for the families and communities to learn together.

Time: About 1 - 2 hours