Native American Heritage Month Activities, Lesson Plans, and Printables

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!

Jump to:

What is the History of Native American Heritage Month?
3 Ways To Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month Activities & Printables

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 Ways To Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month is a great opportunity to explore indigenous history, culture, and current events across the curriculum. Here are three ways you can celebrate Native American Heritage Month in your classroom.

1. Listen to Native American Music

Music is a creative way to engage students, and this could easily be incorporated into social studies or music lessons. Try the Smithsonian’s American Indian Music video collection for examples of both traditional and contemporary music.

2. Learn About Important Native American People

Teach your students about important historical figures, but also encourage them to find out about important Native American people who are changing the world today. This Important Indigenous Americans activity is perfect for a middle school social studies lesson.

3. Discuss Historical Events from the Perspective of Native Americans

It’s important for students to learn the real history of Native Americans and consider events they may already be familiar with from a different perspective. For younger students, Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story is a great way to explore the story from the perspective of Native Americans, and for older grades, it’s a great opportunity for a more in-depth research project.

Native American Heritage Month Activities & Printables

Explore Native American Heritage Month teaching resources for all ages. 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 Grades

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 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!