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November is American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month

November is known as Native American Heritage Month but also American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. This month is a time to celebrate the culture, history, and contributions of indigenous people in Alaska and on the mainland USA. We are sharing resources that can be used to teach your students about the people, the land, and the history.   

Grades K-12

Native American Month Resources for Teachers

Start your search for Native American Heritage Month lessons and activities with the resources provided by the Library of Congress. Lessons and activities focus on many different types of primary sources, including maps, artwork, and music.

Grades 2-6

The Molly of Denali Podcast

Follow the adventures of Molly of Denali, an Alaskan native girl, as she attempts to discover the identity of the mysterious creature who stole her birthday cake. Shared over nine different episodes (podcasts), learn about the ways of life in Alaska.

Grades 6-12

Navajo Code Talkers

The Navajo Code Talkers Foundation tells the story of young Navajo men who transmitted secret communications on the battlefields of World War II. Choose the link to the "Code Talkers" to read their story from the beginning, through the battles, and more.

Grades K-12

Native American Heritage Month

Explore this five-video series (connected to standards), broken into the categories of A History of Native American Achievement, Native American Culture, Native American Folklore, Native American History, and Celebrate Native American Educators.

Grades 6-12

Northern Alaska Environmental Center

This conservationist site offers lots of detail on the size and fragility of the Alaskan environment and the potential impact of extensive intrusion into that environment. Use during discussions about natural resources and the background of Alaska.

Grades K-5

Daria—World Music for Children

World Music for Children shares some simple treasures of music: song lyrics, audio files, and music-related craft projects to engage children with music at school or home. Click the link to go to Native American Heritage Month to listen to the music.

Grades 4-12

Everything to Learn: Diving Into the Life and Art of Edmonia Lewis

View this article's Introduction and Background Knowledge sections to learn biographical information on this first female American sculptor of African American and Native American descent to rise to fame on the global art stage. Find books and activities.

Grades K-12

National Museum of the American Indian

The National Museum of the American Indian contains an expansive collection of Native American artifacts. Additionally, the museum's online offerings share photographs, media, and additional resources for educators and students.

Grades 3-12

Visualizing History

Learn about various American historical events through virtual history and photography exhibits with lesson plans and videos. A few examples are Votes for Women, Quilts As a Visual History, and Native Americans: Our First Historians.

Grades 3-12

Native American Heritage Collection

Discover Indigenous art, history, and culture with the PBS LearningMedia Native American Heritage Collection. This collection of teaching resources includes videos, lesson plans, media galleries, learning interactives, and much more to explore.

This Week at TeachersFirst

We invite you to join us for our upcoming bimonthly Twitter chat this Thursday. We are also excited to share a new blog post and information about an upcoming conference.