Indigenous education lesson plans PreK-K

Lesson Plans

It is important to think about how to move away from paper and pencil tasks, or simple arts and crafts that do not explore the complexity of Aboriginal worldview and pedagogy. While I scoured the web for lessons that are available, I challenged lessons that were "token" representations of Aboriginal culture, so I have not included the typical paper totem poles or teepees arts and crafts lessons and have posted lessons that teach Aboriginal worldviews. While I searched on the internet for lesson plans, I tried to choose lessons that were culturally respectful, appropriate, and inspired deep reflection and inquiry.

Guidelines to determine whether a lesson or resource is respectful and culturally appropriate:

1. The resource respectfully represents the diversity and experience of Indigenous people

2. The resource was developed and validated by a qualified, reputable Indigenous source (Indigenous organizations, Elders, knowledge keepers, authors, or scholars)

3. The resource represents the local Indigenous population

*These guidelines have been modified from criteria used in the UBC EdX Course "Reconciliation through Indigenous Education"

Learning Resources Evaluation Guidelines

Guidelines to evaluate First Nations, Metis, and Inuit resources are included on pg. 17, as well as definition of key terms in Appendix C.

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Treaty Education Outcomes and Indicators

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Printable Lesson Plans

I have gathered lesson plans off the internet that I feel are appropriate for PreK/K age range, although some lessons might be appropriate for older children. Please feel free to e-mail me your lessons to add here and any feedback in the comments section. Let's start working together to create amazing lessons!

I do not own copyrights to these documents and no copyright infringement is intended.

The Learning Circle: Classroom Activities on First Nations in Canada (Ages 4 to 7)

The Learning Circle is organized in thematic units, each with its own teaching activities. Units are designed to give teachers and students simple but effective exercises, projects and activities that will encourage students to learn more about First Nations. Educators can follow some of the exercises as stand-alone units on First Nations topics, or integrate them with existing curricula on Aboriginal peoples.

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In Our Own Words: Bringing Authentic First Peoples Content to the K-3 Classrooms

The eight units in this teacher resource guide illustrate examples of how authentic resources can be incorporated in primary classrooms. These units, however, represent only a small fraction of the possible ways in which authentic texts can be used to address a range of curricular areas.

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Education for Reconciliation and Social Justice: Kindergarten - Grade 2

This document introduces different campaigns that can be supported in the classroom including Shannon's Dream and Jordan's Principle.

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Kindergarten Treaty Education Learning Resource

This document is focused on Kindergarten treaty education in Saskatchewan. It contains a scope and sequence for Kindergarten to Grade 4 on aspects of Treaty Education, including Treaty Relationships, Spirit and Intent, Historical Context, and Treaty Promises and Provisions

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The Indigenous Student Success Strategy Activity Book

This Activity Book has mostly paper and pencil tasks, however there is a page to learn some Cree words, and a "spot the difference" activity of a photograph of current traditional dancers.

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Health Education - First Nations, Metis & Inuit Content & Perspectives Integration

The purpose of this guide is to help educators with the integration of Aboriginal content and perspectives Grades 1 to 5. This does not include lesson plans, however there are many links to resources and suggestions for ideas which may be adapted for PreK/K.

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Authentic First Peoples Resources K-9

This is a list of Resources for K-9 from BC that focuses on children's literature than can be used to support children's understanding of Aboriginal culture. It lists the resources as an annotated bibliography with suggestions of reading level.

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Treaties in the Classroom Kindergarten and Grade One

This unit plan includes 14 lessons on how First Nations people lived before the arrival of the newcomers, how First Nations lives changed after the arrival of the
newcomers via the fur trade, the importance of the buffalo, what a treaty is, the significance of the Circle of Life and the sacred number four.

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The Diversity of First Nations People

This is a Kindergarten lesson from the Office of the Treaty Commissions (OTC) website that explores the different Aboriginal peoples who live in Saskatchewan.

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Circle of Life and the Sacred Number Four

This Kindergarten activity can be used with the children's book "Inside my Tipi" by Vera Trembach to explore the importance of the circle and the sacred number four.

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Traditional Teachings - The Circle of Life and the Sacred Number Four

This activity is from the OTC's website for Kindergarten. It introduces the concept of how everything on earth is connected and how nature is an important part of our lives.

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Circle of Life and the Sacred Number Four - The four seasons

This is another Kindergarten lesson found on the OTC website. This activity explores the sacred number four through the four seasons.

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History- First Nations Lived Here First: Pre-Contact Lifestyles

This is another Kindergarten activity from OTC's website. It can be done after reading the children's book "Hidden Buffalo" by Ruby Wiebe. I would also suggest going on a nature walk before hand to look at local flora and fauna that could be used on the map.

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The Six Seasons of the Woodland Cree

This Kindergarten lesson introduces the Woodland Cree's six seasons which include the four seasons plus "FreezeUp" and "BreakUp". Another lessons from OTC's website.

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The Circle of Life and the Sacred Number Four

Another Kindergarten lesson from the OTC's website on the Sacred Number Four. It also includes a song that the children can learn.

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The Creation Story of Turtle Island

A Kindergarten lesson about the Creation Story of Turtle Island. A link to a Sioux creation story online is included.

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Four Directions Learning Activities

This unit plan by Mary Lee is aimed at Gr.1-6 children, but many of the activities can be used in PreK/Kindergarten.

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Mother Earth

This lesson is designed to give children, ages 3 to 5 years old, a comprehensive understanding of their place within Creation and a fundamental sense of belonging to their traditional land base.

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Founded in Culture: Strategies To Promote Early Learning Among First Nations Children in Ontario

The purpose of this resource is to review the areas of policy and research that have been undertaken for First Nations children (from birth to age 6) living in Ontario and to identify strategies that support early learning for service providers who work with parents/caregivers of First Nations children.

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Help Me Tell My Story

From the Government of Saskatchewan, Help Me Tell My Story is a holistic and interactive tool that is used to measure oral language development of a child. It is available to every Prekindergarten and Kindergarten child and includes story books four digital storybooks in English, French, Cree, Dene, and Michif

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Aboriginal Languages: A Curriculum Guide for Kindergarten to Grade 12

From the Government of Saskatchewan, this curriculum guide includes the rationale for studying First Nations and Metis languages at school. There are several sample lesson plans and suggestions on how to incorporate experiential learning to support language development.

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