Native American Heritage Month Crossword Puzzle (Free Printable + Answer Key)

This Native American Heritage Month crossword puzzle is a meaningful November classroom activity for 3rd–8th grade students, with clues covering Sovereignty, Nation, Powwow, and Regalia. Free printable worksheet with answer key included.

Across

Older community members respected for their knowledge
Writing system where each symbol stands for a syllable
Passing down history and lessons through spoken stories
Native soldiers who used their languages to send secret messages
Gathering with dancing, singing, and drumming

Down

Special clothing worn by powwow dancers
Right of a tribal nation to govern itself
Term many tribes use for themselves, like the Navajo ___
Long, shared home of the Haudenosaunee
Cherokee man who created a writing system

About Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States, first designated in 1990. It honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples. Today there are more than 570 federally recognized tribal nations, each with its own government, language, and traditions.

Native American Heritage Month Vocabulary

This crossword covers key ideas and contributions: tribal SOVEREIGNTY and the meaning of a NATION, gatherings like the POWWOW and the REGALIA worn there, the LONGHOUSE, the CODETALKERS of the World Wars, and SEQUOYAH, who created the Cherokee SYLLABARY.

How to Use This Crossword in Class

Use this crossword to start learning about the Native nations whose homelands include your school's area. Students can research one nation's history and present how it continues today, avoiding the idea that Native peoples exist only in the past.

Printable Native American Heritage Month Crossword Worksheet

Click the Print Worksheet button to print this native american heritage month crossword. The printable version includes the grid and clues, perfect for classroom handouts or homework.

Copy and Customize This Crossword

Want to change the words, edit the clues, or adjust the appearance? Click Copy & Edit to save a copy of this puzzle to your account and open it in the crossword maker. From there you can add or remove words, rewrite any clue, choose a background color or pattern, and save your modified version with its own shareable link. Signing in or creating a free account is required to copy a puzzle.