Upper elementary learners engage in a study about the Potlatch as a Northwest Coast Indians social custom. Groups of pupils plan their own Potlatch ceremony; incorporating activities and creating gifts much like the ones that the Indians...

Elementary schoolers study the history and purpose of potlatches. The listen to two stories about potlatches, then design a potlatch that they will host for their family members. They must come up with the gifts they would give, the...

Students view video and watch an artist create a potlatch (gift necklace).  For this community and resources lesson, students understand the culture of Northwest Coast Art & Traditions  .  Students create their...

Discover the cultural practices and unique value systems of a group of native peoples from Canada called the Kwakwaka'wakw. Your young historians will discuss how conceptions of wealth can vary and how these native...

Fifth graders discuss Potlatch and how the First Nation's government was handled where births, deaths, and marriages were recorded. In this government lesson plan, 5th graders watch a video, write in journals, and paint portraits.

In this Native American scavenger hunt instructional activity, students research 10 famous Native Americans using the Internet. First, they read each questions to determine which famous Native American they need to search. Then, students...

Students observe art from different Aboriginal cultures.  In this art evaluation lesson, students discover the different traditions of cultures from the Pacific North West.  Students judge the art from these cultures with a...

Learners identify ways that a society promotes assimilation and examine areas where it still occurs in our present culture. They assess the value of assimilation.

Students work with Elders or a knowledgeable adult/expert to learn details of their culture which may include the language, dance, songs, art, and stories and create a play or poem which reflects aspects of their culture.

Ninth graders examine the lifestyle and culture of First Nations people. They investigate and analyze primary and secondary source documents.

In this Native Americans of the Pacific worksheet, students test their knowledge through ten fill in the blank questions related to the aforementioned topic.

Students study seasonal weather and interview elders in their community about how weather affects traditional activities. In this seasonal weather instructional activity, students talk about the seasonal, traditional activities they...

Learners explore the weather and how it affects different seasons and activities. In this weather lesson plan, students discuss how the weather differs in each season, interview an Elder about how weather effects their activities, and...

Students explore how people use money every day and how it is one of the defining resources in our life.

Students explore the artistic expressions of the Northwest Native American Indians and using traditional palette of colors, create a personal interpretation of the traditional raven mask.

Students engage in a game of economic exchange that present a variety of perspectives on wealth. They read scenarios and write a journal response to the scenario. They discuss how we use money in the Western culture and discuss how...

This teaching guide for "Secret of the Dance," a story written by Andrea Spalding and Alfred Scow and illustrated by Darlene Gait, provides a synopsis of the story and discussion of aboriginal masks and culture, as well as an explanation...

An interesting site filled with pictures of artwork from the Pacific Northwest coast. Great examples of masks, prints, paintings, carvings, totem poles, and much more!

This resource provides information about money in North America from Wampum to electronic transfer.

Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of the Tlingit, a native tribe. (Note: Content is not the most current.)

Northwest Coast transformation masks manifest transformation, usually an animal changing into a mythical being or one animal becoming another. View pictures and read the history behind the masks and how they are related to myths.