Strengthening Our Understanding of Indigenous Culture in Early Childhood

Activity	Materials	Strategy	Concept

Indigenous storytelling circle

Storybooks, cultural artifacts, rugs or mats

Create a space for oral storytelling, inviting elders or community members to share traditional stories

Strengthening oral traditions and storytelling as a form of cultural transmission

Land-based learning activities

Natural materials (rocks, trees, water), maps

Encourage outdoor learning and exploration, focusing on local Indigenous lands

Connecting children to the land and fostering an appreciation of Indigenous land-based pedagogy

Interactive map exploration

Maps, images, and symbols of Indigenous territories

Introduce children to maps and symbols representing Indigenous territories and cultures

Cultivating an understanding of geography through Indigenous perspectives

Traditional dance workshop

Music instruments, traditional Indigenous music, space for movement

Invite Indigenous artists or dancers to lead children in a traditional dance session

Promoting physical engagement with Indigenous cultural expressions through dance

Creating Indigenous-inspired art

Natural materials (clay, feathers, beads, bark), art supplies

Guide children to create their own art inspired by Indigenous patterns, symbols, and materials

Encouraging creative expression through the lens of Indigenous art traditions

Indigenous language games

Flashcards, audio recordings of Indigenous languages, props

Incorporate language learning activities using audio or visual prompts from Indigenous languages

Supporting language revitalization and fostering cultural awareness through play

Indigenous music and instruments exploration

Drums, rattles, flutes, musical recordings

Introduce Indigenous music and instruments for children to explore and experiment with

Understanding the role of music in Indigenous cultures and developing musical appreciation

Exploring Indigenous foods through play

Play food sets, real or pretend foods like berries, fish, corn

Explore Indigenous foods through role play or real-world food preparation experiences

Connecting food to culture and tradition while teaching children about sustainable, local food practices

Creating a nature altar with Indigenous plants

Natural objects, Indigenous plant guides

Have children build a nature altar using local Indigenous plants and objects

Connecting spirituality, culture, and the natural world through learning about plants’ significance

Indigenous art gallery walk

Images of Indigenous art, printed materials

Set up a gallery walk showcasing Indigenous art, explaining the cultural significance of each piece

Educating children on the significance of art in Indigenous communities and storytelling

Land acknowledgement activity

Land acknowledgement statement, community research

Encourage children to learn about and acknowledge the land they are on before activities

Promoting respect and awareness of Indigenous lands and communities

Traditional Indigenous games

Traditional games (e.g., Lacrosse, double-ball game, hoop and stick)

Introduce Indigenous games to teach teamwork, physical activity, and cultural history

Engaging children in traditional games as a means of cultural preservation and physical education

Cultural dress-up and role-playing

Traditional clothing, accessories

Allow children to dress up in culturally significant clothing and role-play scenarios based on Indigenous life

Deepening cultural understanding through play and immersive experiences

Creating a collaborative Indigenous knowledge wall

Paper, markers, printouts of Indigenous facts, symbols

Set up a collaborative learning space where children and educators add to a wall of Indigenous knowledge

Encouraging ongoing learning and sharing about Indigenous cultures in the classroom

Indigenous puppet show

Puppets, traditional Indigenous stories, props

Use puppets to act out traditional Indigenous stories or legends

Reinforcing storytelling traditions and creating a dynamic learning experience for children

Nature walk with Indigenous teachings

Guidebooks, elder or knowledge keeper

Take children on a walk in nature with an Indigenous guide who shares cultural teachings about plants, animals, and the land

Building connections between cultural teachings and natural environments

Indigenous seed planting activity

Seeds, soil, pots, educational materials on Indigenous gardening

Teach children about Indigenous agricultural practices by planting native plants together

Connecting children to the earth and learning about traditional agricultural knowledge

Indigenous beadwork and weaving

Beads, yarn, thread, fabric

Introduce basic beadwork and weaving techniques inspired by Indigenous crafts

Engaging in hands-on art practices while learning about cultural traditions in craftsmanship

Indigenous legends and storytelling

Picture books, audio recordings, props

Share Indigenous legends and stories, incorporating visuals and oral storytelling techniques

Developing an understanding of Indigenous cultural history through storytelling

Interactive cultural museum visit

Field trip materials, permission slips

Organize visits to local Indigenous cultural centers or museums

Deepening cultural understanding through direct experiences with artifacts and traditions

Respecting Elders’ teachings circle

Circle space, respectful listening materials

Create a listening circle where Elders share teachings and children practice respectful listening

Strengthening respect for elders and promoting the value of oral knowledge

Indigenous art project using natural pigments

Clay, charcoal, berries, brushes, paper

Let children use natural materials like berries and charcoal to create art, connecting to Indigenous artistic traditions

Teaching art techniques rooted in nature while emphasizing sustainability and cultural methods

Cultural sharing circle

Talking stick, cushions or rugs

Form a circle where children can share their own experiences or stories, taking turns with a talking stick

Fostering a sense of community and respect for each other’s voices in a culturally aware context

Land-based Indigenous philosophy discussion

Elder or cultural knowledge keeper, images, storybooks

Engage in a discussion about Indigenous philosophies regarding nature, interconnectedness, and the land

Introducing children to Indigenous worldviews that emphasize connection to the earth and sustainability

Cultural exchange with Indigenous communities

Digital resources, meeting space

Arrange opportunities for children to connect virtually or in person with Indigenous communities for cultural exchange

Promoting global awareness and cultural competence through active learning exchanges

Crafting with Indigenous materials

Leather, wood, stone, feathers, beads

Teach children about Indigenous craftsmanship by using authentic materials for crafting

Supporting hands-on learning of Indigenous culture through material exploration

Traditional storytelling with shadows

Shadow puppets, light source, cultural stories

Use shadow puppets to tell traditional Indigenous stories, engaging children in visual storytelling

Merging creativity, oral tradition, and visual arts to deepen cultural understanding

Indigenous-inspired playdough designs

Playdough, natural materials (feathers, stones)

Let children create symbols, animals, or objects that represent Indigenous culture using playdough

Encouraging fine motor skills development while embedding cultural themes into play

Cultural symbol tracing and drawing

Symbol printouts, tracing paper, crayons

Provide children with printouts of Indigenous symbols to trace and color, while discussing their meanings

Teaching Indigenous symbols as a form of visual language while fostering creativity

Collaborative mural with Indigenous themes

Large mural canvas, paints, brushes, traditional Indigenous symbols

Collaboratively create a mural with children that incorporates Indigenous symbols, animals, or stories

Encouraging teamwork and cultural expression through a collective art project

Indigenous family storytelling night

Family invitations, storytelling space, cultural artifacts

Organize a family storytelling evening where parents and community members share Indigenous stories

Strengthening the home-school connection while sharing Indigenous cultural practices

Beading with natural materials

Natural beads (seeds, nuts, stones), string, needles

Teach children simple beading techniques using materials that reflect Indigenous cultural practices

Incorporating cultural traditions into fine motor skills development

Exploring traditional Indigenous games with modified rules

Wooden balls, hoops, sticks, rope

Adapt traditional Indigenous games like lacrosse or the double-ball game to fit the classroom or outdoor play

Engaging children in culturally meaningful physical activity

Exploring Indigenous art through digital media

Digital art software, Indigenous artwork

Use technology to explore and analyze traditional Indigenous art pieces digitally

Providing a modern, digital lens to understand and appreciate Indigenous art

Indigenous plant medicine exploration

Books, plant identification charts, herb samples

Educate children on traditional Indigenous knowledge regarding medicinal plants

Building awareness of Indigenous ecological wisdom and plant-based healing practices

Interactive Indigenous cultural calendar

Large calendar, cultural event printouts, traditional holidays information

Create a classroom calendar that highlights Indigenous holidays, events, and celebrations

Teaching children about the Indigenous cultural calendar and the significance of various times of the year

Indigenous-inspired textile art project

Fabric, thread, needles, beads, natural dyes

Encourage children to make simple textile art pieces like small bags or ornaments using traditional Indigenous methods

Exploring textile art as a form of cultural storytelling and creative expression

Interactive Land Acknowledgement Art

Craft materials (clay, paper, markers, paint)

Guide children to create visual representations of Land Acknowledgements for their classroom or school

Embedding the practice of Land Acknowledgement in creative, meaningful ways

Listening to traditional Indigenous music

Audio recordings, instruments, space for movement

Introduce children to traditional Indigenous music, discussing its role in community and ceremony

Creating an appreciation for music as a significant cultural practice

Indigenous pottery exploration

Clay, natural tools, water

Teach children about Indigenous pottery techniques, allowing them to make simple clay creations

Promoting creativity and cultural awareness through tactile experiences in pottery

Creating cultural storybooks together

Blank books, crayons, markers, pictures of Indigenous people and symbols

Have children collaboratively create their own storybooks, inspired by Indigenous themes and stories

Fostering group collaboration and creativity while learning Indigenous narratives

Learning traditional Indigenous dances

Music, dance space

Teach children traditional Indigenous dances, focusing on the rhythm and cultural significance

Incorporating movement and rhythm to teach cultural practices through dance

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