Celebrating Native American Heritage Month in the Classroom

Each November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month — a time to honor the rich traditions, history, and contributions of Indigenous peoples across North America. This special month is not only about remembering the past but also about recognizing the vibrant cultures that continue to shape our world today.

For young learners, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore the creativity, wisdom, and resourcefulness of Native American communities through stories, art, music, and hands-on learning. 

Native American Heritage Month began as a way to acknowledge the first peoples of this land — their deep connection to nature, community, and storytelling. By teaching students about Indigenous cultures in a respectful, age-appropriate way, we help them understand the importance of diversity, gratitude, and caring for the Earth.

Here are four of my favorite products to help your students learn about Native American heritage through art, research, creativity, and project-based exploration:

1. Native American Totem Pole Activity (Freebie!)

Introduce students to the artistic symbolism of Native American totem poles — tall, colorful carvings that tell stories and honor family history. Students can learn how each animal or symbol has a special meaning, then create their own paper totem design to represent qualities they value most. 

2. Native American Project-Based Learning Unit

Bring history to life with this hands-on project-based learning unit! Designed for young learners, it includes everything from pattern block teepees, rug weaving, and drumbeat syllable games to digital projects like QR codes, Chatterpix, and Voki.Students can explore facts, compare Native American life to their own using Venn diagrams, and even complete crafts like dream catchers, wigwams, and paper families. It’s a comprehensive and creative way to celebrate culture through learning and fun!

3. Indigenous Americans Fact Booklet

Perfect for independent or guided reading, this fact booklet introduces students to the daily lives, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous Americans. The set includes research forms, note-taking sheets, and crafts, making it a great foundation for cultural exploration or history units.Students can read, record facts, and create projects to display what they’ve learned — all while developing reading comprehension and research skills. 

4. How to Draw Early American Life

Art meets history with this engaging directed drawing set! Students will follow step-by-step directions to draw corn, shelters, feathers, canoes, and more while writing about how these tools and symbols were used long ago.It’s a perfect blend of creativity and education — building fine motor skills, focus, and confidence while helping students visualize early American life. 

5 Fun Classroom Activities for Native American Heritage Month

-Make Mini Totems: Have students create paper totems with animals that represent their strengths (e.g., bear for courage, owl for wisdom).

-Nature Walk & Gratitude Writing: Take a short walk outside and write about what they notice and appreciate — a simple connection to Indigenous respect for the Earth. 

-Story Circle: Read a Native American folktale and let students retell it through drawings or puppet play.

-Weaving Craft: Use paper strips or yarn to make small woven mats or “rugs,” discussing patience and craftsmanship.

-Create a Classroom Museum: Display all student projects — totems, crafts, and drawings — and invite them to explain what they learned about early life and culture.

5 Great Books to Read About Native American Heritage

-Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard - A warm, rhythmic story celebrating family, tradition, and food.

-We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom - A beautifully illustrated book about protecting the Earth, inspired by Indigenous-led movements. 

-When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson - A gentle, moving story about family, resilience, and the importance of culture.

-The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaolaA retelling of a Native legend that celebrates creativity and storytelling.

-Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith - A joyful story about tradition, dance, and community, perfect for early elementary students.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month in the classroom helps young learners appreciate the beauty of different cultures while building respect for history, community, and creativity. From storytelling to art and exploration, these activities encourage curiosity, kindness, and understanding — the heart of meaningful learning. 

Your students will love diving into this month’s lessons with the Native American Totem Pole Freebie, Project-Based Learning Unit, Indigenous Americans Fact Booklet, and How to Draw Early American Life resources — each designed to make cultural learning engaging, thoughtful, and age-appropriate. 

These resources may be found in my store:  

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher