Arts and craft projects can be a fun way to help students learn about other cultures in a hands-on way. Have your students paint rocks with Native American symbols and describe the meaning behind these symbols and how they related to Indian culture. Have your students draw pictures or create dioramas of an Indian settlement or village based on the information they have learned in class.
To help your students understand what life was like for Native Americans, prepare a meal featuring typical Indian foods and recipes. Staples like corn bread, beans and popcorn are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters and you can teach your students how the Indians prepared these meals without modern day kitchen appliances. As an added experience, have your students draw pictures and create menus featuring the types of foods that Indians ate.
Get your students to think both critically and creatively by assigning creative writing assignments with an Indian theme. Have younger students create and share oral stories using pictures and symbols from Native American culture. For older students, assign projects where they have to create stories or journal entries from the perspective of a Native American child their own age; encourage them to research the culture of a particular Indian tribe for authenticity.
Using air-drying molding clay, students can create their own Indian pottery. Students can decorate their creations with Indian symbols by drawing them into the soft clay using a toothpick. Once the clay has dried, they can paint their projects using nontoxic paint. Older students can use beaded jewelry kits to make Indian-themed necklaces or bracelets.