I believe it’s important for children as well as adults to learn the truth of our history and develop appreciation for the first Americans. Fall is a perfect time for extra studies of Native American culture with Canada’s Orange Shirt Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day, and Native American Heritage Month in November.
With our Native American unit, you’ll find a new Montessori-inspired Native American pack for our newsletter subscribers’ resource library along with Native American themed activities and links to free printables!
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Montessori Shelves with Native American Themed Activities
You’ll find Montessori-inspired Native American numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Note: The Montessori-inspired Native American pack isn’t designed as a complete Native American unit but as supplemental materials. I design the packs using realistic images that I’ve often looked for when preparing a unit study (such as font cards and phonogram cards featuring the letter and phonogram related to the theme and math cards with realistic images that fit the theme and can be adapted for math activities at a variety of levels.)
You could mix your Native American themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special Native American themed area something like the one pictured. My shelves at the beginning of our unit have a mixture of skill levels. Many of the activities can be adapted for a variety of levels. Many of these are designed for early elementary as well as preschoolers. If you’re a homeschooler, just choose the activities that work for your child’s interests and ability levels. If you don’t have room for all the activities you’d like to do, simply rotate them.
Montessori Shelves with Native American Themed Activities and Native Americans on Horses Art Print
Notice the framed art print Native Americans on Horses (1911) by August Macke. It is a free download from Wikimedia Commons.
For our monthly featured art print, I purchased a Li’l DAVINCI art frame that opens in the front for easily changing a free art masterpiece printable or vintage illustration to fit with the month’s theme. The frame can be switched from horizontal to vertical without changing the hanger, which is perfect!
If you’re wondering about the rugs and rug box I use, both the rugs and wooden rug holder are from Montessori Services. I love the Montessori Services rugs and rug holder! I used to use an umbrella stand something like these. I loved that for 1-3 rugs, but I needed something different when I had more grandchildren and some projects that needed more than one rug.
Favorite Shelves, Trays, Baskets, and More for Montessori Homeschoolers
I often get asked about the trays, baskets, etc., that I use, so I published a post with many of the items. You can find lots of helpful resources here. They’re not all essential, so don’t feel you need to have everything. Just choose what’s best for your budget and your unique family’s needs. You’ll find more ideas in the Living Montessori Now Amazon shop
Native American Themed Books for Kids
Even though I have books on shelves, I’m now keeping many of my themed books in a forward-facing display after placing a plant where the themed book basket was before. Most of my seasonal books are now in that book basket.
For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).
Books for a Native American Unit
I’ll add links to all the books we’re using in a couple of days.
You can see lots of Native American Books for kids here.
Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture with Buffalo Pin Punching
Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture with Buffalo Pin Punching
The book is Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture.
Free Printable: Buffalo Pattern from PatternUniverse
Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes Book with Native American Heroes Activities
Go Show the World Book with Native American Heroes Activities
The book is Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes.
Free Printables (3 Different Focuses):
- Free Printables: Native American Printable Pack 1 (Famous Native Americans in History) from Every Star Is Different
- Free Printable: Native American Women from National Women’s History Museum
- Free Printable: Oglala Lakota Sioux Motivational Posters by Inspire Students at TPT
Native American Regions with Native American Regions and Homes Cards
Native American Regions with Native American Regions and Homes Cards
- Free Printable: Native American Regions Map by History with Long at TPT
- Free Printables: Native American Printable Pack 1 (Native American Geographic Areas) from Every Star Is Different
- Free Printable: Native American Homes from Montessori for Everyone
Sand Writing Tray for a Native American Theme
Sand Writing Tray for a Native American Theme
Free Printables: headdress /h/ font cards for sand writing tray (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
If you would like help with introducing phonetic sounds, introducing objects with sounds, or beginning phonics in general, check out my DIY Beginning Montessori Phonics with Preschoolers.
Powwow Books with ow in Powwow Work
Powwow Books with ow in Powwow Work
Free Printable: “ow” in powwow phonogram cards in print and cursive (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Printable: Drum alphabet cards in print and cursive (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
Powhatan TOOB with Photo and TOOB Cards
Powhatan TOOB with Photo and TOOB Cards
Free Printable: Yehakhin huts, single-family homes, of the re-created Powhatan Indian Village at the Jamestown Settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, Library of Congress.
Free Printable: Montessori 4 Part Cards Powhatan Native Americans TOOB by Morning Glory Montessori at TPT
The Safari Ltd. Powhatan TOOB can be used for a variety of activities whether it’s with Montessori 3- and 4-part cards or a sensory bin.
There are a number of ways to use Montessori nomenclature cards, although I’m showing a simple setup with a fun way to introduce the Powhatan tribe. With preschoolers, I like to read the description card and have the child find the picture card or control card and the matching Safari Ltd. figure.
It’s easy to adapt which way to use the Powhatan 4-part cards for a variety of ages from preschoolers through early elementary.
Feather Greater Than, Less Than Math Activity
Feather Greater Than, Less Than Math Activity
Free Printable: Feather numbers 1-10 (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
I used 19 feather charms. (They came in a package of 20.) You could, of course, use plain counters or another counter.
19 feather counters are needed if you use combinations of the numbers from 1-10. The wood sorting board for the bead stair that you’ll see in the tray on my shelf is from Etsy, but it’s not available right now. Typically, I just have the bead bars I’m using from our decanomial box in a little cup or other small container.
The bead bars aren’t necessary for this activity, but using them is simply another way to focus on counting with the bead bars. Check out my greater than, less than alligator math posts for fun ways to introduce greater than, less than.
Native American Themed Activities on Another Shelf
I have a variety of free Native American printables especially good for elementary age on up here:
- Free Printable: Native American Territories Poster from US History Posters by StudentSavvy at TPT
- Free Printable: Native American Cultural Regions Map Activity by Subversive Education a TPT
- Free Printable: Native American Regions Map by Farmer’s Favorite at TPT
- Free Printable: Native American Heritage and History Month (Timeline, Discussion, and Activity … I focused on 1964-2024) by Learning Is Not Quiet at TPT(I especially wanted to use this free printable, but I couldn’t get it to print properly on my computer: Native American / Indigenous History Timeline and Game by Learning Is Not Quiet. Learning Is Not Quiet also has an Indigenous, Native American STEM Figures and Innovations Timeline and Activity that looks fascinating!)
- Free Printable: Native American Lap Book by Mrs Males Masterpieces at TPT
Extra: 123 Homeschool 4 Me has an extensive, free Native American Unit.
Free Native American Pack
Montessori-Inspired Oceans Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Native American Resources
Native American Books for Kids
- Montessori-Inspired Native American Unit
- Free Inuit Printables and Montessori-Inspired Inuit Activities
- Historically Accurate and Culturally Sensitive Thanksgiving Printables for Preschool Through Elementary
- Native American Unit Study Board on Pinterest
If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout October and November, see my October Themed Activities for Kids. and November Themed Activities for Kids.
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