Navajo Lesson Plans

Students research the use of sand paintings in the Navajo tribe. They work together to design their own sand painting. They share their painting with the class describing what the symbols mean.

In this lesson students research information about Navajo Code Talkers on the internet to explain their significance in World War II. In this lesson students access dictionary of words used in the secret code. In this lesson students create messages, using the Navajo words written in a "coded message", that may have been sent during World War II.

Students explore Navajo legends. In this legend lesson, students read the legend of the Spider Woman. Students read the legend and answer questions. Students watch videos about weaving and note the shapes in the weaving. Students create and perform an interpretive dance.

In this lesson 4th graders examine the lives of the Navajo people. In this guided reading, Life of the Navajo lesson, 4th graders conduct pre-, during, and post- reading strategies to demonstrate understanding of the text.  In this lesson 4th graders answer questions in the reader's notebook and use sticky note for attending to the text.

Students explore the Navajo culture through the use of poetry. Identify various elements of Native American poetry in relation to the culture. They interpret meaning into Navajo poetry and construct one form of artistic e

In this lesson students explore the Navajo culture. In this Navajo Indians lesson, students gain information about their weaving and dancing. In this lesson students note the patterns in the weaving. In this lesson students create a dance that corresponds with the patterns they see in the weaving.

In this lesson students explore the elements of design and Navajo blankets. In this Navajo Indian lesson, students research the Navajos and the traditional craft of weaving using Worldbook Online. In this lesson students sketch two designs for a Navajo blanket using the computer that include the elements of design - line, color, shape, and texture.

This lesson has 3rd graders study the difference between the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne and Navajo tribes. They identify the people, resources, lifestyle and beliefs of the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne, and Navajo Indians. Afterwards, they present their projects on each tribe.

In this lesson students explore geometry in Navajo culture. In this geometry lesson, students search for different geometrical shapes in Navajo art. In this lesson students then create their own rug or jewelry design using geometrical shapes.

Students examine the Navajo dictionary used by the U.S. military in W.W. II. They role-play Navajo messengers and Marine Corp staff. They research the Battle of Iwo Jima and confirm or discount the claim that Navajos made the victory possible.