Indigenous people of the Southeast region are famous leaders, artists, athletes, activists, and 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 an indigenous person from the Southeast region and then create a biography poster highlighting their life and 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.
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Due Date:
Objective: Research a famous or notable person that is of Indigenous heritage from the Southeast region. Create a Biography Poster that highlights their major accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, accomplishment.
Enhance your students' understanding by guiding them to locate and use primary sources like letters, interviews, or artifacts in their research. This helps them connect more personally with historical figures and promotes critical thinking skills.
Demonstrate finding trustworthy sources online or in the library, then walk students through analyzing a primary document together. Discuss what makes it authentic and how it reveals details about the person's life.
Encourage students to choose at least one primary source tied to their chosen individual. Offer suggestions like historical photos, newspaper articles, or oral histories to get them started.
Help students summarize what their primary source reveals about their figure, and teach them how to cite it simply on their poster. This builds both research and academic honesty skills.
A Southeast Region Indigenous biography poster activity is a classroom project where students research a notable Indigenous person from the Southeast U.S., then create a biography poster to showcase their life, achievements, and cultural impact.
Start by exploring a list of famous Indigenous figures from the Southeast, like Pushmataha, John Ross, Osceola, Mary Golda Ross, Wilma Mankiller, or John Herrington. Select someone whose story interests you or aligns with your assignment guidelines.
Each poster should feature the person’s name, image, birth and death dates (if applicable), and their key accomplishments. Add words and images to describe their life, and consider using timelines or creative layouts for extra detail.
Examples include Pushmataha (Choctaw), John Ross (Cherokee), Osceola (Creek), Mary Golda Ross, Wilma Mankiller, and John Herrington. These figures represent a range of professions and achievements.
Researching Indigenous people from the Southeast helps students develop empathy, understand diverse perspectives, and appreciate the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Native American leaders, artists, and innovators.