Indigenous people of the Southwest 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 Southwest 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.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
(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 Southwest Region. Create a Biography Poster that highlights their major accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, accomplishment.
Encourage students to share their biography posters by setting up a gallery walk. This activity boosts engagement and helps students learn from each other's research.
Display each student’s poster on the walls or desks so everyone can view them easily. Spacing out posters prevents crowding and makes the walk comfortable.
Direct students to walk around the room, taking time to observe each biography poster. Encourage them to read about different figures and notice design choices.
Give students tools to jot down interesting facts, questions, or compliments about their classmates’ posters. This supports active engagement and positive feedback.
Facilitate a group conversation about what students discovered and which Indigenous leaders inspired them. This reinforces learning and fosters appreciation for diversity.
A biography poster activity for Indigenous people of the Southwest is a project where students research a notable Native American individual from the region and create a visual poster displaying their life, achievements, and cultural impact. This helps students learn history through real-life examples and fosters empathy and cultural understanding.
Encourage students to pick from a list of famous Indigenous leaders, artists, athletes, or activists from the Southwest, such as Geronimo or Jacoby Ellsbury. You can provide a starter list or let students explore school-approved resources to discover someone who interests them.
An effective Indigenous biography poster should include the person’s name, image, birth/death dates, and key accomplishments. Adding a character illustration, timeline, and descriptive words or images about their impact makes the project more engaging and informative.
Studying biographies of Indigenous people from the Southwest helps students develop a deeper, more personal understanding of Native American culture, history, and contributions, while challenging stereotypes and building empathy.
Yes, there are biography poster templates that students can use or customize for their projects. These templates make it easier to organize information and add creative touches while meeting assignment requirements.