Native American Heritage Month Lessons, Activities, and Totem Pole Craft

Native American Heritage Month is in November and a great history lesson for kids. Get Native American lesson plans, American Indian arts and crafts including totem pole craft ideas and more cultural ideas for the month. We have teaching resources on history of Native Americans (American Indians history) and present-day Native American cultures. Perfect for November teaching resources for Thanksgiving, too!

Updated: July 12, 2024

What To Do For Native American Heritage Month For Kids

We have respectful lesson plans and activities that pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans, plus a fun totem pole project that are perfect for Native American lesson plans for kindergarten, teaching Native American history in elementary school, and high school.

You’ll learn Native American heritage facts, Native American symbols, Native American history and language. and so much more—enough to make a great history study unit!

 
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How To Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month include:

Learn the real history of Native Americans / Indigenous Peoples in America
Discuss the truth about the real first Thanksgiving with kids
Read about contemporary Native Americans / American Indians today (and not just historical indigenous people)
Help kids understand that there were and are many different Native tribes and cultures
Watch videos on traditional Native storytelling
Learn about (and even try!) authentic Native food and recipes
Make respectful native crafts (Native Headdress are not respectful)
Attend or host a Native educational event
Seek out American Indians in children’s literature
Read Native American authors
Support local or online Native-owned business

Get more Native American Heritage Month activities and ideas below! NOTE: We will refer to Indigenous People as “Native American” during this post to stay consistent with the designation for the month.

Before we get to the Native American activities, let’s answer a common question:

American Indians or Native Americans?

Which is correct Native American or American Indian?

To honor the culture correctly, do you say Native American or American Indian?

Native American, American Indian and Indigenous Peoples are all used, even within the community.

Many prefer their tribal affiliation (like Lakota people, Sioux, Cheyenne, etc.) to generalized terms.

Some Native Americans prefer one term over the other, so if you’re unsure, just ask!

ALSO CHECK OUT: More Crafts for Native American Heritage Month

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FACTS FOR KIDS

Is there an Indian History Month?

YES! It’s called Native American Heritage Month

When is Native American Heritage Month?

Native American Heritage Month (or Indigenous Peoples Day) is celebrated in November each year. The month is dedicated to honoring indigenous peoples, the culture, and learning and understanding the true history of Natives in America.

REMEMBER: you don’t need to wait until November and Native American Heritage Month! Add any of these great native American culture activities throughout the year!

What Is Native American Heritage Month?

So, what is Native American Heritage Month all about and why do we celebrate it?

What does Native American heritage mean?

According to the National Congress of American Indians:

“Native American Heritage Month celebrates rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.

Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges

Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.”

Native American Month is also called American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

Did you know: Native American Heritage Month is also called National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month?

When was the first Native American Heritage Month?

In 1990, a resolution was signed by President George H.W. Bush to create “National American Indian Heritage Month” in November, now referred to as Native American Heritage Month.

However, the idea started long before that.

According to PeoplesWorld.org:

“One early proponent of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, whose father was Seneca Indian.

He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the ‘First Americans,’ and for three years they adopted such a day.

In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association (which promoted unity among American Indians regardless of tribal affiliation), meeting in Lawrence, Kan., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day.

It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day.

Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens…The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states followed, celebrating the fourth Friday in September.”

Why is November the Native American Month?

It is believed that Native American Month finally settled to the month of November due to the historical happenings for indigenous people during that month, especially Thanksgiving and the settling of Europeans in the future United States.

Why is Native American Heritage Month Important?

It’s important to honor and celebrate the rich culture and history of Indigenous Peoples who were the first people in America and their contributions to society. Additionally, it’s important to understand the true history of Natives American Indians.

How to Teach and Celebrate Native American Heritage Month With Native American Facts and History

Before you begin your studies with traditional (or popular) crafts and information, review these ways to stay authentic and help dispel Native (Indigenous People) myths and stereotypes.

Be sure to include discussions on terminology like American Indians vs Native Americans.

Also, be aware that some of the depictions that we grew up with as parents may really be disrespectful to the culture.

This is good to keep in mind when making crafts.

For example, a headdress may seem like a fun thing to make for kids, but they are traditionally pieces of honor and making them as a craft may be seen as disrespectful by the culture.

► TIP: We grabbed a book called Indian Crafts and Lore from a library book sale.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This book is dated and has some terms we no longer use (which actually provided great discussion points), but still has some great info on Native American history as well as cool crafts and projects. Also, I always use dated material as an opportunity for discussion with my kid.

7 Ways to Celebrate with Native American Heritage Month Activities (Teaching Resources & Learning Resources)

NOTE ABOUT NATIVE CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES: When you’re creating your lesson plans and activities, be sure to remain respectful of (especially) the crafts that you are doing. For example, it’s not appropriate to do feather headdress crafts because those are often used in sacred rituals and for traditions. If you are doing other crafts from the culture (for example a basket or beadwork or totem), be sure to completely study and learn about the history of the item and culture surrounding the item and not just doing a “one-off” craft without honoring the cultural significance.

For example, when we did the totem pole craft (that you see in the image above), we spent an entire unit learning about Native storytelling, First Peoples’ storytelling techniques, the importance of stories, story symbols in the culture, and understanding the spiritual significance poles (and more).

1. Discuss the REAL Thanksgiving.

Although there is nothing wrong with the other activities during your Thanksgiving learning, it’s really important that we teach our children the real story of Thanksgiving.

When I was growing up, we were taught a very watered down version of the first Thanksgiving, including how the Native American Indians and the Pilgrims were all friends and shared the land and everything was awesome.

The end.

As we now know, that was not exactly the case.

What happened looked very little like the stereotypical “Indian” and Pilgrim figures we see in books and movies.

This can be a tough topic (especially for little ones), so use your own discretion about how much to reveal and when.

Search out videos and books on the real stories of the first Thanksgiving.

We read Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving each year.

Also, refer to The Real Story of Thanksgiving, written by a Native American teacher, to give you guidance.

If you’re struggling with what is an age appropriate discussion, check this out.

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO INCLUDE HISTORY FROM THIS SOURCE:

Learn About First Thanksgiving and Go On a Virtual Field Trip

2. Teach Native American studies the right way.

Debbie Reese, a Native American and an educator, recommends the following ways to teach Native American studies:

• Cover contemporary Native Americans doing every day tasks, not just historical figures.

• Make unit studies on different tribes and don’t just study Native Americans as a broad-sweeping generalization.

• Be clear about how different Native American clothing, lives, food, and what tools were used.

• Understand the real truth about Native American reservations history.

• Critique an image that shows a stereotypical version of a Native American to spark discussion.

• Don’t make your studies only about the first Thanksgiving.

• Listen to authentic Native American music.

►Use this site to direct you on some authentic Native American information.

COMPANION UNIT STUDY IDEA:

WHAT SHOULD WE TEACH KIDS ABOUT COLUMBUS?

3. Understand the importance of Native American storytelling.

Storytelling is an important part of the Native culture and is often misrepresented in our society.

According to Reese:

“Many mainstream retellings of Native traditional stories are distorted to fit mainstream ideas of what those stories should be.

They are turned into Disney-like stories.

But traditional Native stories are told for a reason — just like bible stories.

An author would not retell Genesis, changing it to suit his or her idea for a plot.

Yet that is exactly what happens to our stories.”

Native American storytelling is a really fun way to celebrate and honor Native American Heritage month (or any time you are studying the culture)!

Check out this resource on Native American storytelling, and also this resource on the CodeTalkers.

Here’s a video of a Native American retelling of a legend that has been passed down through generations:

The Native American Turtle Story [VIDEO]

Watch The Turtle Story, a Native American Account of Earthquakes.

You can check out more Native American legends here.

Native American Totems

Totems are in some Native Americans regions, especially in the Pacific Northwest like Washington state and Alaska.

Totems often tell stories.

Native American Totem Animals & Their Meanings has a great discussion about totems and also descriptions of Native American symbol used on totems.

►Don’t Miss THIS Storytelling Totem Craft Project

4. Tackle Native American stereotypes.

Many of the images we present to our children (books, movies, and other media) are of historical Native Americans in feathered headdresses.

However, this is a stereotype that isn’t quite factual.

The Native Americans across the country dress and live as differently (and, sometimes very similar) as everyone else all across the country.

Here’s a lesson plan on Native American history, facts, and misconceptions that will help with these.

You can also include these books about stereotypes and differences:

5. Don’t just focus on historical Native Americans.

Provide information on contemporary Native Americans to balance the picture.

The books Pueblo Storyteller Pueblo Boy: Growing Up in Two Worlds, and Children of Clay: A Family of Pueblo Potters (We Are Still Here) have been recommended by Native American educators.

Native American Heritage Month Children’s Books Recommendations:

6. Sample some authentic Native American food.

Did you know that there was probably no turkey at the first Thanksgiving?

(The fowl was probably more like duck or goose.)

No pumpkin pie either…

(Sorry.)

Go beyond what you think you know about Native American food from Thanksgiving lesson plans and check out some authentic Native American food from all year (not Thanksgiving!).

You’ll have fun making recipes and cooking with the kids.

Just be sure that the foods you are pairing with your studies are authentic to the tribe or region you’re studying.

Get this book about Native American recipes.

7. Have fun, but be clear and intentional about your Native American crafts and projects.

It’s OK to make crafts and have fun with your Native American studies, but do so in a way that makes sense and honors the culture.

Educator Debbie Reese also weighs in on this:

“AVOID PRESENTING SACRED ACTIVITIES IN TRIVIAL WAYS.

In early childhood classrooms, for example, a popular activity involves children in making headbands with feathers, even though feathers are highly religious articles for some tribes.

By way of example, consider how a devout Catholic might feel about children making a chalice out of paper cups and glitter.”

Instead, try:

PLEASE keep them to authentic Native American crafts don’t do the over-crafted Native American headdress! When making an inspired project, be sure to study the specific tribes and information on Tribal Nations that goes with the craft, food, or project.

READ BOOKS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY AND NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE

Children’s books for Native American Heritage Month:

Additional Sources: National Congress of American Indians, Library of Congress, Native American Timeline,

HAVE FUN HONORING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FOR KIDS!

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Respectful Native American Heritage Month Crafts And Activities For Kids