Curated OER
Navajo Sand Paintings
Research the use of sand paintings in the Navajo tribe. Your young scholars work together to design their own sand painting. They share their creation with the class describing what the symbols mean.
Curated OER
The Cultural Significance of Naming
The Navajo would disagree with Shakespeare that the naming of things is irrelevant. Navajo people have to earn their names. Middle schoolers learn about the cultural significance of Navajo names in a lesson that uses a video and reading...
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Navajo Weaving: A Lesson in Math and Tradition
Combine geometry and tradition with a lesson that spotlights Navajo weaving. The book, The Goat in the Rug by Charles L. Blood and Martin Link hooks scholars before watching a video of Navajo people tending their sheep and beginning to...
Smithsonian Institution
Borders within the United States: Indian Boarding Schools and Assimilation
Native American Nations ... sovereign entities or removable tribes? A thought-provoking lesson explores the relationship between Native American tribes and the United States, including forced assimilation and removal from their ancestral...
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Comparing Kwakiutl, Cheyenne and Navajo tribes
Third graders study the difference between the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne and Navajo tribes. They identify the people, resources, lifestyle and beliefs of the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne, and Navajo Indians. Afterward, they present their projects on each...
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Design a Navajo Rug -- A Lesson in Symmetry
Students investigate different types of Navajo rug design. They use a graphics program to create a rug-like design similar to the Navajo patterns they've researched.
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Artwork of World Cultures
Seventh graders research a culture and art produced by the people of that culture. They create a PowerPoint presentation to explain their findings. Students make a sand painting depicting the art of that era.
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Memorandum Regarding the Enlistment of Navajo Indians
Students examine the Navajo dictionary used by the U.S. military in W.W. II. They role-play Navajo messengers and Marine Corp staff. They research the Battle of Iwo Jima and confirm or discount the claim that Navajos made the victory...
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Navajo Pottery
In this Navajo pottery worksheet, students conduct an experiment using various samples of earthen material. Students are required to collect at least three samples of dirt. Students can make observations about the texture of the sample...
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The Navajo Homeland
Students identify the historical and traditional location of the Navajo Homeland. They study the four original clans system and the development of other adopted clans, e.g. Nakai Dine (Mexican), Notahi Dine(Ute), Ozii Dine (Hopi); and,...
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Native Americn Religious Beliefs and Practices
Students research how religions are created and how they influence the way people live. They identify the religious beliefs and practices of the Inuit, Lakota, Apache, Navajo and Iroquois Native Americans. Students find the...
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Din Clan System
The students use the clan system to identify relationships among the Din people and begin a conversation with the elders starting with their own clans. Students work on building stronger relationships with community members.
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Naming Zoo Animals (In Navajo)
Students investigate zoo animals and name various zoo animals in Navajo. They take a field trip to the zoo, take digital pictures of various animals, conduct research, and name each animal in Navajo.
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Sacred Art
Students view a PowerPoint about Tibetan monks to help them explain the culture's world views, myths and religious beliefs. They investigate Navajo sand paintings and compare how they are similar to the Tibetan monks' artwork.
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Athabaskan & Navajo Migration
Students examine the migration patterns of the Athabaskan and Navajo tribes. After taking notes on a lecture, they compare and contrast the two groups. To end the instructional activity, they write their favorite Navajo story in their...
Curated OER
The U.S. & Navajo Bills of Rights
Middle schoolers are introduced to the United States and Navajo Bill of Rights. In groups, they compare and contrast the two documents and take notes to share with the class. To end the lesson, they write in their journals about their...
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Civil Rights
Students are introduced to the concept of Civil Rights. In groups, they use a timeline of the Navajo tribe to identify the ways the tribe has made advances in Civil Rights throughout the years. To end the activity, they take notes and...
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Tribal Termination & Urbanization
Learners list the main events in historical sequence of tribal termination and urbanization. They identify a present-day American Indian experience or phenomenon as a result of termination and urbanization and refer to 'Navajo...
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Legends of the Navajo People
Second graders are read a story in which they begin to examine Native American legends. Using different legends, they discuss how they affected the future people of native peoples. They write a short story on the information they gathered.
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Exploring the Plant History of Canyon de Chelly
Students research native and conventional plants in Canyon de Chelly and surrounding area. Students collect, draw, and write about a variety of plants through research. In the descriptive writings, students include a brief history of...
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Native American Sand Painting
Children write Navajo journals pretending to be a Native American for four days. Student then begin their art project. After lightly penciling in their sketch of the land and environment of the Navajo, the students receive brown...
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Grinding Stones # 2
Second graders discuss and explore the Navajo tradition of grinding with stones. They observe how the grinding stone is used and then they practice using the grinding stones themselves.
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Navajo Shoe Game
Students in a Navajo community research the traditional shoe game. They interview community elders and find out how shoe game is played and the songs that are sung while playing it. They attend a shoe game and compare their research to...