Instruments

• Handmade Native American instruments are simple, but create wonderful music. Provide instruments for students to look at and play, and let them discover the different sounds. Have each student become familiar with an instrument, such as a drum or ankle bells, and play Native American music as a class. If the instruments are not in the budget, then have the class make their own. Simple drums, ankle bells or rattles make a fun project using commonly found materials.
  
  

Research and Report

• Assign a project or report on Native American music. Ask students to research a particular tribe's music, modern Native American composers, common musical themes or the role music plays in tribal culture. Provide students with possible topics, but allow them to select a topic as well. Some students may prefer to make their own instrument or engage in a project rather than write a report. Students can gather information from the Internet, library books, Native American journals or interviews with community members. Students can present their report or project either to the class or the entire school audience and to parents on a back-to-school night.
  
  

Songs

• Have students learn a Native American song. Songs vary by tribe and tribal language. Select a song from a tribe that lives nearby or that once lived in the region to make the activity more meaningful. Choose a song that is simple and obtain a recording and the lyrics. Hand out the lyrics to the class and play the recording several times. Then practice singing the song as a class. Obtain the translation, if available, and discuss the meaning of the song in class. Once students are familiar with a Native American song, ask them to compose lyrics for their own song.
  
  

Dance

• Introduce Native American dances to the classroom. Show students videos of dances so they can learn the moves. Native American dances range in difficulty from easy to more complicated. Start with an easy one. Many dances are suitable for a large group and promote a sense of community. This makes dancing a fun way to experience music, keeps the whole class on task and encourages students to work together. Students can dance to recorded music or ask a Native American drummer to visit the classroom and drum for the dance.
  
  

Powwow

• Plan a field trip to a powwow on a Native American reservation. If there is no reservation nearby, inquire with the Native American center or multicultural center at a local college or university to ask if they put on powwows or musical events. Arrange a mini-powwow in the classroom and have students plan it and act it out. Students could play music on Native American instruments, sing songs, listen to recordings and learn a few dances. Get the support of the art teacher so students can make Native American artifacts, clothing or jewelry. Ask the cafeteria to serve Indian tacos or fry bread. Making the mini-powwow a collaborative effort will help it become a memorable school event.