Description

This is the most complete Indigenous Peoples Day lesson your upper elementary and middle school students will ever do, and they will actually be excited to show up for it.

Instead of students sitting through another forgettable October lesson, they are reading, annotating, analyzing a video, writing short responses, AND playing a self-checking Win-A-Lotto game that makes accountability feel like a reward.

🔍 What Students Will Do

• Read and annotate a 5-paragraph informational passage on the history of Indigenous Peoples Day
• Identify the main idea and important facts paragraph by paragraph
• Watch a curated video on Indigenous Peoples Day and respond to guided questions
• Analyze why communities celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day
• Write short responses to higher-order thinking questions, including contributions of Indigenous peoples to the United States
• Self-check their video answers using the Win-A-Lotto Google Sheet activity
• Engage in whole-class discussion sparked by the reading and video

📦 What’s Included

• 5-paragraph guided reading passage on Indigenous Peoples Day with annotation directions
• 12-question video analysis activity with multiple choice and short response questions
• Win-A-Lotto Google Sheet: self-checking activity tied directly to the video questions
• Fully interactive Google Slides version with annotation toolbar built in
• Force-copy link for Google Slides
• Answer key
• Print AND digital versions included

❤️ Why Teachers Love This

• Zero prep. Assign digitally in one click or print and go
• The Win-A-Lotto game means students self-check their own work, so you can circulate and have real conversations
• ACTUALLY engaging. Students aren’t doing a Win-A-Lotto in all their other classes
• Turn key and student-led: the video link, the reading, the game, it’s all there
• Sparks genuine discussion about Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples Day
• Works individually, in partners, or as a whole-class activity
• Print or digital, so it fits any classroom setup

📅 When to Use It

• Indigenous Peoples Day lesson (second Monday in October)
• Columbus Day alternative activity or companion lesson
• October history and social studies unit
• Native American history and culture unit
• Nonfiction reading activity
• Bell ringer, morning work, or full class period lesson
• Sub plans: completely self-directed and self-checking
• Early finishers or enrichment activity
• Advisory, SEL, or morning meeting discussion starter
• Turn key, no-prep activity for a busy October week

✨ Why This Is the Best Indigenous Peoples Day Activity for Upper Elementary and Middle School

Most students have never had a real conversation about why Indigenous Peoples Day exists. This lesson changes that. The reading builds background, the video brings it to life, and the Win-A-Lotto makes students want to get the answers right. Your students will leave this lesson with something they actually remember.

Designed for grades 4–8 Social Studies. Print AND digital.

🔎 Looking for More October Activities?

Grab the October History Super Bundle for Indigenous Peoples Day, Red Ribbon Week and Halloween, all in one purchase.

This purchase is for use in one classroom. For school or site licenses, please reach out directly.