Daycare Lesson Plans on Native American Culture
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Introducing young children to culture with Daycare Lesson Plans on Native American Culture can help them appreciate the rich history, traditions, and contributions of Native American communities. These lesson plans include hands-on activities, traditional gardening concepts, and simple recipes that can be adapted for a daycare setting. They provide an age-appropriate approach to teaching about Native American culture respectfully and meaningfully.
For a printable copy of this free daycare lesson plan on Native American Culture that includes the Oklahoma ELG’s, check it out on ETSY here.
Lesson Plans on Native American Culture
1. Native American Symbols and Stories
- Activity: Make a simple “story stick” or “story stone” using sticks or rocks. Encourage children to draw simple symbols that represent things from nature (sun, tree, water).
- Materials Needed: Small rocks or sticks, markers or paint.
- Storytime: Read a Native American folktale, such as “The Cloud Artist,” and discuss the story’s symbols and meaning.
2. Native American Gardening
- Activity: Create a small “Three Sisters” garden. Explain how corn, beans, and squash support each other’s growth: corn provides support for beans, beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, and squash spreads across the ground to prevent weeds.
- Materials Needed: Small garden plot or large pots, soil, seeds (corn, beans, squash).
- Storytime: Read a short story about Native American gardening traditions, such as “The Three Sisters” story, which explains the cultural importance of these plants.
3. Counting Corn/Pumpkin/Carrot Counters
- Activity: Counting manipulatives and sorting them.
- Materials Needed: Corn, pumpkin, and carrot counters
- Directions: Help the kids count, sort, and make patterns with the counters.
4. Drumming and Rhythm Activity
- Activity: Make simple drums from recycled containers (like oatmeal containers) and let children explore different rhythms.
- Materials Needed: Empty containers, markers, and crayons for decorating.
- Discussion: Talk about how Native American drumming is often used in ceremonies and dances and represents the heartbeat of the earth.
- Music Time: Play a recording of traditional Native American drumming and let children try to match the rhythm.
5. Native American Pumpkin Recipes
- Activity: Make a basic pumpkin recipe like roasted pumpkin seeds or pumpkin mash.
- Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Scoop out seeds from a pumpkin, rinse, and toss them with a little oil and salt. Roast until golden.
- Pumpkin Mash: Cook diced pumpkin with a little water until soft, then mash it. Add a tiny bit of honey if desired.
- Traditional Pumpkin Pie: Cook a pumpkin custard inside of a pumpkin like they would have done before they had flour to make pie crust.
- Materials Needed: Pumpkin, baking sheet, custard ingredients.
- Tasting and Sharing: Let children taste the roasted seeds or pumpkin mash and discuss the flavors.
- Other recipes such as corn and turkey soup or grape dumplings can also be made.
6. Native American Clay Work
- Activity: Create pinch pots inspired by traditional Native Americans and add patterns, such as geometric shapes, animals, and nature.
- Materials Needed: Clay, materials for scribing designs in the sides.
- Discussion: Show examples of Native American art and explain the use of natural elements and symbols in their designs.
- Craft: Let children create their own art using these styles and shapes.
7. Grinding Corn with a Mortar and Pestle or Food Processor
- Activity: Get some dried corn (Or grow some and dry it) and a mortar and pestle. Let the kids bang the pestle into the mortar and grind the corn into small bits and then flour. Sift out larger pieces that don’t get ground up. This can also be done in a grain grinder or food processor.
- Materials Needed: Dried dent corn or hominy such as Goya brand
- Discussion: Talk about how many Native Americans had a corn based diet and used corn for many different things.
- Recipe: Use the corn meal to make a recipe such as this recipe for corn pone.
8. Nature Walk and Respect for the Earth
- Activity: Take a nature walk and encourage children to observe and appreciate different plants, trees, and animals.
- Discussion: Explain how Native American cultures see the earth as something to respect and care for, teaching children about gratitude and stewardship.
- Craft: Collect a few small leaves or rocks and make a “Nature Collage” on paper.
9. Making Natural Dyes
- Activity: Take a nature walk and encourage children to observe and appreciate different plants that have strong colors. Collect a supply of one item to boil the colors out of and make the dye. Strain out the pieces of plant. Make a mordant in another bowl such as salt or vinegar in water. Soak an item in the mordant and then into the hot pan of dye. (See what we used to dye these t-shirts in a post coming soon)
- Discussion: Explain how Native American cultures see the earth as something to respect and care for, teaching children about gratitude and stewardship. And how they use the resources for what they need.
These lesson plans offer children a respectful, engaging introduction to Native American culture through stories, art, music, and hands-on activities. They help children appreciate the connection Native American communities have with the earth, nature, and tradition, fostering an early sense of respect and curiosity.
For more unique lesson plan ideas, check these out: