Native American Heritage Month & Thanksgiving: One-Class Research Library Activities and Read-aloud Lesson

Description

These easy-prep activities are perfect for a read-aloud lesson celebrating Native American Heritage Month, Indigenous people & history, and Thanksgiving from an Indigenous perspective. One-Class Research activities are a no-pressure way for young elementary students to explore and begin using the library’s online resources. After listening to the book, students use Pebble Go, World Book Kids, or Britannica Kids, or BrainPOP Jr. to learn more about Indigenous people, foods, history, and Native American Heritage Month in November.

This is not a complete research unit; it’s a very first introduction and exploration for kindergarten through 3rd grade students to the library resources. The keywords to type in the search bar are provided and pre-researched, so students are guaranteed to find what they are looking for.

This research lesson has 77 total pages & slides, and includes:

Suggested book list for reading aloud to students (see book titles below)

• The books featured are about different aspects of Indigenous history, people, food, language, and culture. Most of them are also by Indigenous authors and illustrators.
• All books have been evaluated and vetted by Mrs. J in the Library, a certified school librarian, and are appropriate for a primary elementary class.

Six (6) Printable One-Class Research Activities (46 pages)

• Editable in Microsoft PowerPoint
• 4 different versions for students to use a single online resource –
  • Pebble Go database,
  • World Book Kids online encyclopedia,
  • Britannica Kids online encyclopedia, or
  • BrainPOP Jr. website.
• 1 version lets students choose from 4 resources for 4 different books
• Includes space for students to write a new fact they learned.
• 1 bonus activity invites students to use the Native Land Digital website to search for their address and find out which Indigenous groups lived and still live in their area.
• Printed 2 per sheet of 8.5″ x 11″ letter-size paper.
• Full color and black & white versions

Six (6) Digital One-Class Research Activities (23 slides)

• Editable in Google Slides
• 4 different versions that use a single online resource, just like the printable version
• 1 version lets students choose from all 4 resources, like in the printable version
• 1 bonus activity researching on the Native Land Digital website, just like the printable version
• Additional resource graphics are included to customize the activity to what you have access to. (e.g. National Geographic Kids, Notebook Sheep, ebooks, etc.)

Comprehensive, Editable Lesson Plan (6 pages) in Google Docs for kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade, including:

• AASL National School Library Standards for Learners,
• National Common Core English Language Arts Standards,
• Objective(s) and/or learning targets,
• Essential questions,
• ​Suggested assessment methods,
• ​Materials needed,
• ​Detailed procedure (great for substitutes!), and
• ​Reflection and notes space

Teacher Notes and Video Directions to show you how to use this activity in an online learning platform, such as Google Classroom or SeeSaw (2 pages)

Please note: These lesson activities are designed to complement a read-aloud. The actual read-aloud story comes from you!

 

Recommended books to read aloud with this lesson:

• “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal
• “This Land: The History of the Land We’re On” by Ashley Fairbanks and Bridget George
• “Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story” by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunton, and Garry Meeches Sr.
• “We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga” by Traci Sorell and Frané Lessac
• “What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me: Deb Haaland’s Historic Inauguration” by Alexis Bunten and Nicole Neidhardt
• “We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade
• “Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know” by Brittany Luby and Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley

Other picture books about Native American history and people may be substituted by changing the book cover image on the activities. Nonfiction books can be used instead of online resources if your students don’t have 1:1 devices or reliable Internet access.

 

Terms of Use 
© Mrs. J in the Library – By purchasing this product, you receive a one-user license. Copying or distributing to others is prohibited.  ​See my Digital ​Resources Terms of Use and Store Policies page for more information. For teacher-librarians: You may use this product with all of your classes and students.