Upcoming
These live and interactive programs introduce educators to NK360° and its extensive resources. Webinars and onsite programs are designed to support education professionals in learning approaches to incorporate more complete narratives about Native American histories, cultures, and contemporary lives into their teaching. View recorded webinars.
California Native American Survival and Resilience During the Mission Period: A Source Investigation
July 22 & 23, 2025
1–2:30 PM ET
Free | Registration required
Historian Dr. Olivia Chilcote (Luiseño/San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians) provides a history of Native people’s resilience during California’s Spanish mission period. NK360° program manager Irene Kearns (Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria) guides educators through how to analyze sources to answer the question, How did Native Americans of California resist and persist in the face of extreme adversity?
Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In
September 20, 2025
10 AM–2:30 PM EST
$20 fee | Registration required
The ninth annual Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In, hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in collaboration with Teaching for Change, is an opportunity for educators to convene in person and strategize ways to uplift and bring Native voices directly into the classroom.
Teachers play a crucial role in advancing the museum’s work to transform popular understandings of Native histories, cultures, and contemporary lives. Participants will select two workshop breakout sessions. Each session includes resource-rich experiences, such as classroom lessons about Native peoples and topics; resources from Teaching for Change and the National Museum of the American Indian; and strategies for effectively incorporating the museum’s exhibitions in New York City into classroom curricula. The goal of the Teach-In is to increase awareness of the museum’s Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) national education initiative, which promotes improved teaching about Native American communities through classroom lessons. Recommended for grades K–12.
This event will be hosted IN PERSON at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. Coffee, snacks, and a catered lunch will be provided. We encourage participants to bring a reusable water bottle.
edX Course: Foundations for Transforming Teaching and Learning about Native Americans
Through November 7, 2025
Free | Registration required
In this course, learners will explore the impact problematic narratives about Native Americans have on society and student education, as well as learn ways to recognize and share more complete narratives, both inside and outside the classroom.
In addition, learners will explore Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°), the National Museum of the American Indian’s national initiative to inspire and support transformative teaching and learning about Native Americans.
This course, based on a three-part live webinar series taught by educators at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, is designed for education professionals who are new to incorporating more complete narratives about Native American histories, cultures, and contemporary lives into their teaching. Educators whose primary subject area is social studies, English language arts, or library sciences and who work with students in grades 4–12 are encouraged to enroll. Homeschoolers, parents, and others looking for digital educational resources about Native Americans can also register.
NK360° & You
Here’s what Josefina, a 4th and 5th grade ESOL educator, had to say about the Native Knowledge 360° edX course Foundations for Transforming Teaching and Learning about Native Americans:
“Because of NK360°’s edX course,... I am more aware of stereotypes and erasure of Native Americans and how this impacts everyone, namely Native American youth.”
How did you tie this lesson into your curriculum?
My first Language Arts units are about Native nations in the Americas and the history of the western United States, and NK360° has a wealth of material, including lesson plans, visuals, maps, and graphic organizers already focused on these topics.
What did you do as a student?
The asynchronous course was easy to navigate. I was able to pace myself, and the content of the course is archived, so I can go back to it. A discussion board was embedded in the course, and I was learning with educators from all over.
Teacher Reflection
As I have engaged in this course, my passion for enhancing curricula and lesson plans was reignited. I have more confidence teaching about Native American history, and I am excited to share what I have learned with my colleagues and district.
