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Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn – any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!

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by Dr. Tehia Starker Glass, UNCC's College of Education.

Tis the season for depicting the stories that coincide with the holidays! Thanksgiving is up next and my husband and I have the responsibility of educating our 18 month old and 3 year old about what and why we celebrate.

We choose to say, "No Thanks" to going along with the 'traditional' depiction of the Thanksgiving story-the one where the Pilgrims and Indians sing 'kum by yah' around a perfectly styled dinner table.

We believe we have to prepare our boys with a foundation of historical accuracy for not only their racial group, but other's racial groups so they can discern truth from a false or deficit-oriented narrative about themselves and others. Based on current curriculum that is taught in schools, we know we have to provide a less Eurocentric perspective of history.

It's critical that our boys learn:

a historically accurate representation of Thanksgiving-time, location, people. Ask, 'Who are the "heroes?" 'Was it really Thanksgiving like we see in current time?'

accurate language-names of the Native Americans/Indigenous people,

multiple perspectives (Native and European) of Thanksgiving,

and a developmentally appropriate representation of Thanksgiving. W hat my 3 year old learns will be different than what my 18 month old learns.

We identified resources that support what we'd like our boys to see. We found Native American/Indigenous authors, illustrators, historians, organizations and the like to get an authentic perspective of Thanksgiving. Beyond the resources, we chose to incorporate larger ideas of Thanksgiving and what it means to our family.

Here are some resources we found. So, pull out the arts and crafts supplies, books, and the love, and have some fun celebrating Thanksgiving!

Constructing Knowledge about "The first Thanksgiving"

North Carolina Native American History (for caregivers and teachers-includes lesson plans)

Lesson Plan for grades 4-12

Children's Book List from American Indians in Children's literature
Bible verses about giving thanks.

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Saying 'No Thanks' To Lying To Kids About Thanksgiving - Brownicity

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by Dr. Tehia Starker Glass, UNCC's College of Education. Tis the season for depicting the stories that coincide with the holidays! Thanksgiving is up next and my husband and I have the responsibility of educating our 18 month old and 3 year old about what and why we celebrate.

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Understanding how school discipline policies can contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline is essential for educators and families. Harsh punishments, automatic out-of-class time and police involvement for discipline can push young people out of classrooms and into the criminal legal system. But educators, parents and caregivers can help to change this harmful system by advocating for and implementing practices that prioritize mental health and well-being.

We offer this new resource page that highlights LFJ articles and content to open dialogue, shift practices and foster change to benefit all young people.

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Learning for Justice | Education Resources

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Learning for Justice provides free resources to educators-teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners-who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants.

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Only 1% of the children's books published in the U.S. in 2016 featured Indigenous characters, and even fewer (1/4 of the 1% = 8 books total) were written by Indigenous authors.

"Most of what kids see in books today are best sellers & classics that stereotype & misrepresent Native people in history. There's a lot of bias in them. The books that I recommend are ones that can counter that bias in several ways. One, they're not stereotypical. Two, most of them are set in the present day, which is important in countering what we see in a lot of children's & young adult literature, which says that we vanished, we didn't make it to the present day, and of course we did." -Debbie Reese, Nambe Pueblo, of American Indians in Children's Literature

Indigenous people are very much a part of today's society. With their stories, Indigenous writers share the range of their lives, past and present, and we hope that you'll embrace and share their stories. This list of 14 recommended children's books by Indigenous writers and illustrators was curated by The Conscious Kid Library and American Indians in Children's Literature, in partnership with Brooklyn Children's Museum.

Little you
little wonder Little wish
gentle thunder You are mighty
you are small

You are ours
after all

Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis: A lyrical lullaby imbued with traditional Inuit beliefs, this bedtime poem written by internationally acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk describes the gifts bestowed upon a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic. Lyrically and lovingly written, this visually stunning book is infused with the Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants. Ages 3-7.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson, illustrated by David Shannon: Born of Mohawk and Cayuga descent, musical icon Robbie Robertson learned the story of Hiawatha and his spiritual guide, the Peacemaker, as part of the Iroquois oral tradition. Now he shares the same gift of storytelling with a new generation. Hiawatha was a strong Mohawk who was chosen to translate the Peacemaker's message of unity for the five warring Iroquois nations during the 14th century. This message not only succeeded in uniting the tribes but also forever changed how the Iroquois governed themselves - a blueprint for democracy that would later inspire the authors of the U.S. Constitution. Ages 5-10.

Sharing Our World: Animals of the Native Northwest Coast: The images and text in this book are the work of First Nations and Native artists from communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Through their art and words, each artist has shared the importance of their personal and cultural relationship to the natural world. Cultural meanings are provided from the Nuxalk, Namgis, Coast Salish, Kwakwaka'wakw, Haisla, Heiltsuk, Haida, Bella Bella, Tsimshian, Kwa Na Ki Nulth and Nuchatlaht Nations. "We have a spiritual connection with all that dwell in our natural surroundings. Our beliefs, based on our ancient traditions, guide us to live in balance with the wildlife that we share this land with." - T.J. Young, Kaigani, Haida. Ages 3-7.

When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard: Olemaun is eight and knows a lot of things. But she does not know how to read. Ignoring her father's warnings, she travels far from her Arctic home to the outsiders' school to learn. The nuns at the school call her Margaret. They cut off her long hair and force her to do menial chores, but she remains undaunted. Her tenacity draws the attention of a black-cloaked nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn. But the young girl is more determined than ever to learn how to read. Based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and complemented by stunning illustrations, When I Was Eight is a young readers version of the bestselling memoir, Fatty Legs. Now young readers can meet this remarkable girl who reminds us what power we hold when we can read. Ages 6-8.

"We Sang You Home" illustration by Julie Flett

Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey From Darkness Into Light by Tim Tingle, illustrated by Karen Clarkson:In this powerful family saga, author Tim Tingle tells the story of his family's move from Oklahoma Choctaw country to Pasadena, TX. Spanning 50 years, Saltypie describes the problems encountered by his Choctaw grandmother - from her orphan days at an Indian boarding school to hardships encountered in her new home on the Gulf Coast. Tingle says, "Stories of modern Indian families rarely grace the printed page. Long before I began writing, I knew this story must be told." Seen through the innocent eyes of a young boy, Saltypie is the story of one family's efforts to honor the past while struggling to gain a foothold in modern America. Ages 6-10.

Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu: The affirming story of how a contemporary Native girl turns to her family and community to help her dance find a voice.Jenna loves the tradition of jingle dancing that has been shared by generations of women in her family, and she hopes to dance at the next powwow. But she has a problem - how will her dress sing if it has no jingles? The cone-shaped jingles sewn to Grandma Wolfe's dress sing t ink, tink, tink, tink. Jenna's heart beats to the brum, brum, brum, brum of the powwow drum as she daydreams about the clinking song of her grandma's jingle dancing. Ages 4-8.

Dragonfly Kites by Tomson Highway, illustrated by Julie Flett: Joe and Cody, two young Cree brothers, along with their parents and their little dog Ootsie, are spending the summer by one of the hundreds of lakes in northern Manitoba. Summer means a chance to explore the world and make friends with an array of creatures, but what Joe and Cody like doing best of all is flying dragonfly kites. Off soar the dragonflies into the summer sky and off race the brothers and Ootsie too, chasing after their dragonfly kites through trees and meadows and down to the beach before watching them disappear into the night sky. In their dreams, Joe and Cody soar through the skies with their kites until it's time to wake up. Tomson Highway brilliantly evokes the very essence of childhood as he weaves a deceptively simple story about the power of the imagination. Dragonfly Kites has a bilingual text, written in English and Cree. Ages 4-7.

The Conscious Kid Library is an education, research, and policy organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity development in young children. They promote access to diverse children's books that center underrepresented and oppressed groups. www.theconsciouskid.org

American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books, the school curriculum, popular culture, and society. https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com

Brooklyn Children's Museum(BCM) works to ensure that all children have access to cultural learning opportunities that build empathy, encourage creative thought and problem solving, and inspire global citizenship. BCM believes in the power of culture to help children and families find comfort, resilience and stimulation. All books featured in the #IndigenousReads list support BCM's commitment to cultural learning and will be available to read during story time at the museum throughout November. www.brooklynkids.org

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#IndigenousReads by Indigenous Writers: A Children's Reading List

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Only 1% of the children's books published in the U.S. in 2016 featured Indigenous characters, and even fewer (1/4 of the 1% = 8 books total) were written by Indigenous authors. "Most of what kids see...

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Banned Books Week is an annual event that highlights the value of free and open access to information.

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Access thousands of primary sources - letters, photographs, speeches, posters, maps, videos, and other document types - spanning the course of American history. We're always adding more!

Borrow from an ever-expanding collection of document-based activities created by the National Archives, and teachers around the world. Copy and modify activities for your students.

Create your own activities using the online tools. It's as simple as: (1) selecting a tool, (2) choosing your primary sources, and (3) customizing instructions. Learn more >

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Access thousands of primary sources - letters, photographs, speeches, posters, maps, videos, and other document types - spanning the course of American history. We're always adding more! Borrow from an ever-expanding collection of document-based activities created by the National Archives, and teachers around the world. Copy and modify activities for your students.

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Peterson - Presidents and Slaves Helping students find the truth

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Thanksgiving is usually thought, of course, as a feel-good, quintessential U.S. holiday.

But many argue the traditional narrative perpetuates myths, as well as being disrespectful to Native Americans, because it often leaves out the context of relations between them and the early immigrants, how the settlers brought diseases, for example, that decimated Native tribes, or information about the massacres of Natives that followed.

Now there's a growing movement to help history teachers unlearn what they themselves were taught. But not everyone agrees about what should be taught to students today.

Special correspondent Kavitha Cardoza, with our partner Education Week, has this report.

It's for our weekly education segment, Making the Grade.

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How teachers are debunking some of the myths of Thanksgiving

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School children in the U.S. often celebrate Thanksgiving by dressing up as pilgrims and "Indians." But these traditions tend to perpetuate myths that are offensive to Native American communities. Education correspondent Kavitha Cardoza takes a look at a new movement aiming to reinvent the way schools teach Thanksgiving.

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Native American/ Indigenous Peoples Resources

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This list is by Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). AICL provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books, the school curriculum, popular culture, and society.

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American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)

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Designed to help readers develop a critical eye about representations of American Indians in children's and young adult books

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Rodríguez - Teaching about Angel Island through Historical Empathy and Poetry (1)

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Mulrey et al. - -Boss of the United States- Kindergarteners' concept of voting (1)

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Teaching Tolerance - Anti bias framework pamphlet

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Cohosted by experts from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, this webinar will delve into the ways American history instruction often fails to acknowledge-and contributes to-the erasure of Indigenous stories and perspectives. Join us and you'll learn about critical historical events, as well as cultural and societal contributions of Indigenous peoples past and present. You will also examine common misconceptions and stereotypes and gain resources for teaching a more complete history.

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Teaching Tolerance provides free resources to educators-teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners-who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants.

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Oregon Department of Education : 4th Grade Tribal History Lesson Plans : American Indian/Alaska Native Education : State of Oregon