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

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. 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, Pebble Go Next, World Book Kids online encyclopedia, BrainPOP Jr website, or Britannica Kids online encyclopedia
  • 1 version lets students choose from all 4 resources for 4 different books
  • Includes space for students to write a new fact they learned.
  • 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 for students to discover the Indigenous people who lived where they live now.
• 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 ELA Standards,
  • Objectives or learning targets,
  • Essential questions,
  • Assessment,
  • Materials and preparation,
  • Lesson procedure, and
  • Reflection.
• 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:

“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
“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
“Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story” by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunton, and Garry Meeches Sr.
“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 Indigenous people or history may be substituted by changing the book cover image on the editable activities. Nonfiction books can be used instead of online resources if your students don’t have 1:1 devices or reliable Internet access.

Standards Addressed:

AASL National School Library Standards – See the AASL Standards Framework for Learners to view full text.

• Inquire – C.1 – D.1.
• Collaborate – A.1. – A.2. – B.1. – D.1.
• Curate – C.1.
• Explore – A.1. – A.3. – C.1.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards –
© Copyright 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.4 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.4 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.2.4 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.10 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.10 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.10 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.10
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.5 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.5 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.5
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.10 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.10 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.10 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.10
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.7 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.7 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.7 –  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.1 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.1 – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.1

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