Indigenous Peoples' Day Elementary Lesson Set

Let's celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day!

Newly updated for 2023, this lesson set contains extension activities for four lauded books by Indigenous authors and illustrators. Choose any one of the four stories (or better yet, read them all!) and then dive into this great lesson set featuring fun and engaging art-based activities with minimal materials or prep required. While this lesson was designed for Indigenous Peoples' Day, the books and activities would be great for any time of year!

This Lesson Set Includes:

• four recommended picture books

  • Josie Dances by Denise Lajimodiere and Angela Erdrich (citizens of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe)

  • Young Native Activist: Growing Up in Native American Rights Movements by Aslan Tudor (Lipan Apache)

  • Returning to the Yakoun River by Sara Florence Davidson (Haida/Settler), Robert Davidson (Haida), and Janine Gibbons (Haida Raven)

  • Remember by Joy Harjo (Mvskoke) and Michaela Goade (Tlingit)

• recommended video resources

• discussion questions

• creative art activities with minimal materials and prep

• ready to print handouts

The books used in these lessons were created by Indigenous authors and illustrators and portray contemporary Native experiences throughout the year. This reinforces two important Indigenous Peoples' Day lessons: that Indigenous people are still here, and that non-Native people should be learning about and celebrating them more than one day or one season of the year.

This 18-page lesson set was designed to be appropriate and accessible for a wide range of elementary-aged learners, from 2-6th grades and even beyond.