Teach Native American History and Culture With An Activity Your Students Will Love

Take your students on an interactive virtual field trip across North America to learn about the diverse Indigenous peoples, cultures, traditions, homes, and communities of 9 geographic regions.

This resource is aligned with the Native Knowledge 360 Essential Understandings Framework. It has been carefully designed to help students understand that Native peoples are not simply part of the past.

Through interactive Google Slides, your students will explore different regions of North America, visit real-world locations through Google Earth™, watch selected videos, examine historical and cultural images, and reflect on what they have learned.

This resource includes 60+ slides that cover the following 9 regions:

• Arctic

• Northwest Coast

• Plateau

• Great Basin

• California

• Southwest

• Great Plains

• Northeast

• Southeast

For each region, your students will learn about topics such as:

• Indigenous communities of the region

• Geography and environment

• Traditional homes and dwellings

• Food and natural resources

• Society and community structure

• Cultural traditions

• Art, language, and crafts

• Historical experiences

• Modern tribal communities

• Cultural preservation and revitalization

Students will also learn key understandings including:

• Culture and culture-bearers

• Tribal sovereignty

• Native American terminology

• The importance of recognizing Indigenous peoples as contemporary communities

This Virtual Field Trip Includes:

• Informational Text (build background knowledge)

• Response Questions (EDITABLE)

• Google Earth™ Links to 360-degree views

• Video Links

• Grading Rubric

• Everything is set up in Google Slides & ready to go!

How it Works:

This virtual field trip can be conducted teacher-led or shared with students through Google Classroom as an independent assignment. Everything is set up for you. This resource is low prep and would even make great sub plans. Student directions are found within the lesson, and direct links are included to specific Google Earth™ locations and videos. All work is completed digitally. No printing necessary.

Structure:

This virtual field trip is structured. This means that the informational text and links are meaningful and are meant to lead students to think critically as they respond to the questions throughout the virtual field trip. This is also a great way to keep students accountable as they learn and explore. All response questions are editable, so you can tailor to your class needs. Students complete this activity in edit mode of Google Slides.

Instead of learning about Indigenous peoples only through textbook descriptions, students get to explore real locations, investigate multimedia resources, and consider questions about the past and present.

Native American history is not a single story, and it should not be taught as though Indigenous peoples exist only in the past. When students get to explore different communities and locations, they begin to see the geographic and cultural diversity of Indigenous peoples across North America. They can also begin to understand how historical events shaped Native communities and why tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation remain important today.

Standards Alignment:

• Native Knowledge 360 Essential Understandings Framework

• Washington State Social Studies Standards

• Common Core Informational Text Standards

• Can Crosswalk to Many Different Standards

Grading Rubric:

A grading rubric is included which assesses: accuracy, thoroughness, validity, and writing conventions. Answers will vary throughout, as students are recording their observations and findings.

Technology:

Please note that students will need to access Google Earth™ to take advantage of the 360-degree views of historical sites and reconstructions. Your students will also need access to YouTube to view the video clips. Please ensure your school provides access.

This virtual field trip provides teachers with a ready-to-use way to make connections through the use of Google Earth, video clips, informational text, and critical thinking questions.

For teachers looking for an engaging and meaningful way to teach Native American history and culture, this resource provides a versatile learning experience that brings the geography and stories of Indigenous North America into the classroom.