Indigenous people of the Northwest Coast are famous artists, historians, activists, among many other professions. Researching real people helps students to get a more concrete and compassionate understanding of the culture, lives, and perspectives of Native Americans. In this activity, students will research a person and then create a biography poster highlighting their accomplishments.
Using one of the templates or starting from scratch on the poster layout, students will build up a profile of their chosen figure. Depending on requirements or complexity, students can add timelines to their posters. However, the wide variety of characters, scenes, and items makes it very easy for students to customize their project to fit any guidelines.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Some examples of people to research:
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a famous or notable person that is of Indigenous heritage from the Northwest Coast. Create a Biography Poster that highlights their major accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, accomplishment.
Encourage collaborative learning by having students review each other's posters. Peer feedback helps students refine their work and gain new perspectives.
Provide students with specific questions or a checklist to guide their feedback, such as clarity of information, use of visuals, and accuracy. Clear expectations help students give constructive comments.
Demonstrate how to offer positive, specific, and respectful feedback using a sample poster. Modeling builds student confidence and sets a supportive tone.
Assign students to small groups or pairs for reviewing, ensuring everyone participates. Rotate roles or posters to maximize engagement and fairness.
Have students summarize what they learned from peer comments and identify one improvement to make. Reflection deepens understanding and encourages revision.
A Northwest Coast First Nations biography poster activity is a student project where learners research a notable Indigenous person from the Northwest Coast and create a poster highlighting their life, heritage, and key achievements using text and images.
Students can research Indigenous figures by using school library resources, trusted websites, and books about Northwest Coast First Nations. They should look for biographical details, accomplishments, and cultural significance to include in their posters.
A First Nations biography poster should feature the person's name, image, dates of birth and death (if applicable), and a summary of their main accomplishments. Students can also add timelines, descriptive words, and creative visuals.
Notable Northwest Coast Indigenous people include Catherine Herrold Troeh, Freda Diesing, Doug Cranmer, Bill Reid, Matika Wilbur, and Elizabeth Peratrovich. Each has made significant contributions to art, activism, or cultural preservation.
To make biography posters engaging, encourage students to use colorful templates, add creative drawings or photos, and highlight unique accomplishments. Including timelines and quotes can also boost interest and learning.