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

Are you ready to take your students on an interactive virtual field trip across North America? This exciting journey will help them learn about the diverse Indigenous peoples, cultures, traditions, homes, and communities of nine geographic regions.

This resource aligns with the Native Knowledge 360 Essential Understandings Framework. It has been thoughtfully designed to help students realize that Native peoples are not just a part of history—they are vibrant communities today!

Explore the Regions of North America

Through interactive Google Slides, your students will explore different regions of North America. They will visit real-world locations using 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

  
  

In-Depth Learning About Each Region

For each region, your students will dive into 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

  
  

What’s Included in This Virtual Field Trip?

This Virtual Field Trip Includes:

• Informational Text (to 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 as a teacher-led session or shared with students through Google Classroom as an independent assignment. Everything is set up for you, making it low prep and perfect for sub plans! Student directions are included within the lesson, and direct links are provided to specific Google Earth™ locations and videos. All work is completed digitally—no printing necessary!

Structured Learning for Critical Thinking

This virtual field trip is structured to ensure meaningful engagement. The informational text and links are designed to lead students to think critically as they respond to questions throughout the virtual field trip. This structure also helps keep students accountable as they learn and explore. All response questions are editable, allowing you to tailor them to your class's needs. Students will complete this activity in edit mode of Google Slides.

Instead of learning about Indigenous peoples solely through textbook descriptions, students will 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 if Indigenous peoples exist only in the past. When students explore different communities and locations, they begin to see the geographic and cultural diversity of Indigenous peoples across North America. They can also start to understand how historical events shaped Native communities and why tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation remain important today.

Standards Alignment

This resource aligns with:

• 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, assessing accuracy, thoroughness, validity, and writing conventions. Answers will vary as students record their observations and findings.

Technology Requirements

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

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

For those seeking 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.