Ch 7: Native American Art & Music Lesson Plans & Resources

1. Buffalo Hide Painting Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will learn about buffalo hide paintings. After discussing and analyzing an informational text, students will create their own buffalo hide paintings using modern materials.

2. Native American Buffalo Hide Art: Symbols & Meaning

Can you create art from an animal hide? Native American cultures in the Great Plains did. In this lesson, explore symbols and meaning behind Native American art painted on buffalo hides.

3. Winter Counts Lesson Plan

We think about history in a specific way. With this lesson plan, your students will be introduced to a different way of thinking about how we record history and develop a greater understanding of Native American cultural systems.

4. Native American Winter Counts: Definition, History & Symbols

How would you record history if your society didn't have a written language? In this lesson, we'll check out Native American winter counts and see how they helped largely nomadic peoples record their histories.

5. Native American Art & Music Lesson Plan

Help students gain a respect and understanding for Native American art forms with this lesson. Suggested video and text lessons, activities, discussion questions, and extensions are included.

6. Powwow Music: Definition, Songs & History

If you go to a Native American powwow, what kind of music can you expect to hear? This lesson walks you through the history and characteristics of powwow music.

7. Traditional Native American Art

This lesson will provide three examples of traditional Native American art from three distinct cultures found in North America. The cultural context and significance of these artistic traditions will be detailed.

8. Contemporary Native American Art

Native American art is often associated with woven, ceramic, beaded or feathered pieces but it is really so much more. Discover the artistic scope of contemporary Native American art, which continues Amerindian traditions through the use of new materials and old ideas.

9. Native American Dance Lesson Plan

Use this lesson plan to teach your students about the types and history of Native American dances. Students will read a text lesson describing different types of dances and their purposes, discuss content and engage in cooperative activities to make learning stick.

10. Native American Dances: Types & History

Few things epitomize Native American cultures as much as dancing. In this lesson, we are going to talk about the role of dancing in Native American cultures, and look at a few examples.

11. Native American Rain Dance Lesson Plan

What is the significance of a Native American rain dance? This lesson plan explains this with the help of an interesting text lesson. An activity gets students out of their seats and into the Native American spirit.

12. Native American Rain Dance: History & Ceremony

This lesson explores the rain dance ceremonies of native peoples from the Southwestern region of North America. We will look at the history of these dances, the ceremonial elements, and examples from Navajo and Hopi tribes.

13. Native American Basket Weaving Lesson Plan

Basket weaving's uniqueness intrigues many. Students will learn about Native American techniques in this lesson by reading about its history and methods, answering discussion questions, completing an activity, and taking a quiz.

14. Native American Basket Weaving: History & Techniques

What do Native Americans often use to carry and store their supplies? Baskets. One of the oldest Native American crafts is basket weaving. This lesson will focus on the history of Native American basket weaving and the materials and techniques used to create these beautiful containers.

15. Cherokee Indian Art Lesson Plan

What sets Cherokee Indian art apart from that of other Native-American tribes? Use this lesson plan to explain this to students with the help of an informative text lesson. An activity allows students to channel some of the themes present in Cherokee art.

16. Cherokee Tribal Art: History, Symbols & Designs

The Cherokee Nation is well known for its beautiful and meaningful art and culture. The symbols used in the design of Cherokee bead, basket, and leather work exude deep meaning for the Cherokee culture and many others who experience these fine works of Native American art.

17. Native American Shields Art Lesson Plan

Use this lesson plan to teach your students about shields used by the Native Americans. A text lesson details the history, types, designs and role these shields played in Native American lives, discussion questions and activities help apply thinking, and a quiz tests understanding.

18. Native American Shields: History & Design

Shields are an important part of any warring culture, but in Amerindian nations these objects had unique significance. In this lesson, we'll explore the design and use of Amerindian shields, and see what role they played in Amerindian warfare.

19. Native American Poetry Lesson Plan

With this lesson plan, your students will be exposed to the central themes and influences of Native American poetry. They will then conduct group activities to analyze and interpret notable poetic works.

20. Native American Poetry: Traditional Poems & Poets

Native American traditional poems and poets make up a distinct category of authors who have a unique style that still relates to universal themes. This lesson will explore some traditional Native American poems and several Native American poets.

21. Totem Pole Lesson Plan

With this lesson plan and materials from Study.com, you'll have all you need to help students fully appreciate the historical and cultural importance of totem poles to the peoples of the Pacific Northwest.

22. Native American Totem Poles: Definition & Symbols

One of the most famous Native American artistic traditions is that of the totem pole. In this lesson, we'll look at what these meant as well as who actually used them.

23. Incan Pottery Lesson Plan for Elementary School

What is unique about Incan pottery and what role did it play in the culture? This lesson plan uses a text lesson to outline key facts about Incan pottery for the class. An activity gives students the chance to replicate a piece of Incan pottery.

24. Inca Art, Pottery, & Designs Lesson for Kids

The Inca civilization of Peru is known for their incredible ability to design and produce art, particularly pottery and textiles. This lesson will teach you about the types of art the Incas are famous for.

25. Native American Musical Instruments Lesson Plan

Teach your students about Native American instruments with this lesson plan. Students will read a text lesson that explains common North American instruments and their uses, engage in discussion, then dig more deeply into content.

26. Native American Musical Instruments: History & Types

This lesson introduces traditional Native American music and the instruments used, including the human voice. As the continent is large, there are a variety of different styles of instruments and expression of music.

27. Native American Pottery Lesson Plan

This lesson plan may be used to help students learn about Native American pottery. Students will be able to answer questions about the history of Native American pottery making and use content-specific language when describing the process.

28. Native American Pottery: History, Facts & Symbols

Native Americans have been making pottery since at least 4,000 BCE. Explore Native American pottery, the materials that are used in its creation, and discover the distinct decorative styles that can be traced to specific Native American groups.

29. Native American Clothing Lesson Plan

This lesson will help your students learn about Native American clothing. Students will read a text lesson, participate in a related activity, and check their understanding with a short quiz.

30. Native American Clothing: History & Facts

The development of Native American clothing reflects the long history of cultures indigenous to North America. Learn about the roles clothing has played in Native American history, from a collection of different groups on the continent before Europeans arrived, to a modern revitalization by contemporary designers.

31. Navajo Weaving Lesson Plan

If you are discussing Navajo Indians, this lesson plan explores their contribution to weaving. Students will read two text lessons and engage in discussion questions. They will then apply the concepts they just learned in a hands-on activity to create their own Navajo weaving.

32. Navajo Weaving: History & Patterns

Weaving is an art that has been a sacred tradition of the Navajo people. Explore the history of weaving in the Navajo tradition, and learn about its aesthetic patterns as a way of reflecting on their spiritual journey.

33. Navajo Weaving: Tools & Techniques

Navajo rugs and blankets were historically vital to the Navajo economy and have been sought-after items for over 150 years. How did a culture create such beautiful weaving without the use of modern weaving machinery? This lesson will discuss the tools and techniques of Navajo weaving.

34. Totem Pole Project Ideas

The totem pole is an important part of cultural identity for many Native American/First Nation cultures. These project ideas can help students learn more about the totem pole, its history, and its meanings.