Native American Heritage Month Word Scramble (Free Printable + Answer Key)
This Native American Heritage Month word scramble is a meaningful November classroom activity for 3rd–8th grade students, featuring words like Sovereignty, Nation, Powwow, and Regalia. Free printable worksheet with answer key included.
Scrambled Words
STINEOYREGV( 11 letters )
AOTINN( 6 letters )
OWOWPW( 6 letters )
AILERGA( 7 letters )
UOELGSNHO( 9 letters )
OCSTELRAEKD( 11 letters )
QHEASUOY( 8 letters )
YALRBASYL( 9 letters )
DRELSE( 6 letters )
ISOETLGLYNTR( 12 letters )
Word List with Definitions
SOVEREIGNTY
The right of a nation to govern itself. Federally recognized tribes are sovereign nations with their own governments.
NATION
A people with its own government and territory. Many tribes, like the Navajo Nation and Cherokee Nation, are nations.
POWWOW
A gathering of Native peoples to celebrate culture with dancing, singing, drumming, and food. Many are open to the public.
REGALIA
Special clothing and items worn by dancers at a powwow. It is not a costume and is often handmade and meaningful.
LONGHOUSE
A long wooden building shared by several families. Longhouses were homes of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and other nations.
CODETALKERS
Native American service members, most famously Navajo, who used their languages to send unbreakable messages in World War I and World War II.
SEQUOYAH
A Cherokee man who created a writing system for the Cherokee language, completed in 1821.
SYLLABARY
A set of written symbols that each stand for a syllable. Sequoyah's Cherokee syllabary is still used today.
ELDERS
Older members of a community who are respected for their wisdom and knowledge of traditions.
STORYTELLING
Sharing stories aloud. Many Native nations pass down history, values, and lessons through storytelling.
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 word scramble 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 Word Scramble in Class
Use this word scramble 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 Word Scramble Worksheet
Click the print button to print this native american heritage month word scramble. The printable version includes the scrambled words and answer key, perfect for classroom handouts or homework.