Native American tribes have a rich history filled with beautiful traditions, many of which have been shared and passed down through generations of artisans.
Through their art, they tell stories, honor their ancestors, and celebrate their deep connection to the natural world.
From weaving colorful baskets and intricate beadwork to creating your own Native American crafts, such as a dreamcatcher or pottery, there is so much to learn and create.
These projects are not just fun, but they are also a wonderful way to learn about different cultures and the important values they hold.
Why Native American Crafts Matter in Kids’ Learning?
Learning Native American crafts with kids is more than just a creative activity; it’s a chance to blend fun with meaningful learning.
These projects go beyond simple art, opening doors to explore history, traditions, and cultural stories in a hands-on way.
Because the activities are interactive, they Make lessons memorable and engaging, helping children connect with culture personally. They suit every age: young kids enjoy simple projects, while teens tackle more detailed designs.
This makes the crafts a great activity for families, classrooms, or community groups. At the same time, they encourage respect for cultural heritage, teaching empathy and broadening perspectives.
By finding Native American crafts, kids not only enjoy making something with their hands but also gain a deeper appreciation of the world around them.
Must-Try Native American Craft Ideas
Now that the importance of these crafts has been shared, it’s time to get crafting! Here is a list of 17 fun projects inspired by Native American traditions and art.
There’s something for every skill level, so everyone can find a project they’ll love.
1. Beaded Necklaces and Bracelets
Beading is a significant tradition in many Native American cultures, often used to create beautiful items for decoration or ceremonial purposes.
Kids can have fun making their own unique bracelets or necklaces with colorful beads. It’s a great way for them to practice fine motor skills while designing something special to wear.
- Materials: Plastic, wooden, or glass beads, strong string or stretchy cord, scissors.
- How to Make It: String beads onto a cord to create a pattern or design.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Supervise younger children and encourage them to create patterns with colors.
2. Paper Feather Headdresses
This craft is a fun, respectful way for kids to learn about the importance of feathers in many Native American cultures.
While real headdresses are very special and earned, this paper version lets children use their imagination to create a beautiful piece of art. They can get creative with colors and designs.
- Materials: Construction paper, scissors, markers or crayons, glue or stapler, string or elastic band.
- How to Make It: Cut out paper feathers and attach them to a paper band.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Remember, these are for fun and creativity, not ceremonial use.
3. Dreamcatchers
Legend says that dreamcatchers, a craft with Ojibwe origins, catch bad dreams in their web and let the good ones pass through. Creating one is a fun and calming activity.
Kids can make a dreamcatcher to hang above their bed to help them have sweet dreams.
- Materials: Embroidery hoop or twig ring, yarn or string, beads, feathers, and glue.
- How to Make It: Weave a web with yarn inside a hoop and decorate it with beads and feathers.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Tying off the yarn every few steps can make weaving easier for little hands.
4. Painted Rocks with Native Symbols
Many Native American cultures used symbols inspired by nature to communicate and decorate their homes. Kids can search for smooth rocks to use as their canvas.
They can then paint their own symbols representing animals, the sun, or even a constellation of stars.
- Materials: Smooth rocks, acrylic paint or paint pens, sealant spray (optional).
- How to Make It: Paint Native-inspired symbols onto clean, smooth rocks.
- Tips to Keep in Mind: Ensure rocks are clean and dry, and encourage kids to be creative with their designs.
5. Clay or Salt Dough Pots
Pottery is a traditional craft that has been used for thousands of years by many Native American tribes. Kids can learn the basics of hand-building by making a simple pot from clay or salt dough.
This is a great way to learn the feeling of working with a natural material.
- Materials: Air-dry clay or salt dough (made with flour, salt, and water), water, paint.
- How to Make It: Mold the clay or dough into a pot shape and let it dry completely.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Keep the clay moist while working and use sticks to add cool designs.
6. Corn Husk Dolls
Corn husk dolls were a common toy made without faces, encouraging children to use their imagination to give the dolls a personality.
It’s a simple craft that uses a natural material and teaches kids how to create something beautiful from things found in nature.
- Materials: Dried corn husks, string or yarn, scissors.
- How to Make It: Soak corn husks to make them flexible, then tie them with a string to form a doll.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Soak the corn husks first to make them flexible for tying.
7. Storytelling Sticks
Before writing was common, people used storytelling sticks to pass down history and stories. Kids can find a small stick and decorate it with different symbols or colors that tell a story about their own lives or a recent time.
It’s a unique way to create a special memory.
- Materials: A smooth stick or dowel, paint, yarn, beads, feathers, and glue.
- How to Make It: Decorate a stick with paint and yarn to represent a story or memory.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Plan your story or memory before you start decorating the stick.
8. Animal Mask Crafts
Animals play a significant role in many Native American traditions, often representing distinct qualities and values. Kids can choose their favorite animal and make a mask out of a paper plate or paper.
They can add feathers, yarn, or other decorations to bring their animal to life.
- Materials: Paper plates or construction paper, markers or crayons, feathers, yarn, elastic cord, scissors.
- How to Make It: Cut out eye holes and create an animal mask using a paper plate or construction paper.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Cut out eye holes carefully and ensure the elastic is comfortable.
9. Sand Art in Jars
Sand paintings are a traditional art form with spiritual meaning. Kids can create a simplified version by layering different colors of sand in a clear jar.
This is a calming and creative activity that yields a beautiful, colorful piece of art.
- Materials: A small jar or bottle, and different colors of craft sand or a mixture of sand and salt with food coloring.
- How to Make It: Layer different colors of sand into a jar to create a beautiful pattern.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Use a funnel to neatly pour sand and create smooth, even layers.
10. Nature-Inspired Paintings
Native American art is often inspired by the natural world, including animals, plants, and celestial bodies. Kids can take a nature walk to find leaves, twigs, and other natural items for inspiration and creativity.
They can then use these ideas to create their own unique paintings on paper.
- Materials: Paper, paint, brushes, and a collection of natural items for inspiration.
- How to Make It: Use natural items as inspiration for your painting.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Use colors and shapes found in nature as inspiration for your painting.
11. Woven Paper Baskets
Weaving is a very old and important tradition. Kids can learn the basic over-and-under pattern of weaving using strips of paper to make a simple basket.
It’s a great way to introduce them to the process of creating a functional item with their own hands.
- Materials: Construction paper in two different colors, scissors, ruler, and glue.
- How to Make It: Weave strips of paper over and under to create a basket shape.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Pre-cut the paper strips for younger kids to make weaving easier.
12. Totem Pole Art
Totem poles are a traditional art form that tells stories and represents ancestors or significant events in the history of a particular community. Kids can create their own mini totem pole out of paper towel rolls.
Each animal they choose for their pole can represent a different quality they admire, like bravery or kindness.
- Materials: Cardboard, paper towel rolls, paint, markers, scissors, and glue.
- How to Make It: Stack and glue cardboard rolls together and paint them with animal designs.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Remember that each animal on the pole represents a special meaning.
13. Painted Drums
Drums play a significant role in many Native American ceremonies and storytelling traditions. Kids can create a simple drum out of paper plates and decorate it with Native-inspired designs.
It’s a fun craft that allows them to learn both art and music simultaneously.
- Materials: Two paper plates, a dowel or stick, yarn or string, paint, and markers.
- How to Make It: Glue two paper plates together with a stick handle and paint designs on the top.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Add beans or rice between the plates for a fun rattling sound.
14. Feather Bookmarks
A feather is a powerful symbol in many Native American cultures, often representing wisdom or freedom.
This is a simple but beautiful craft where kids can create a feather-shaped bookmark and decorate it with colors and designs that are special to them.
- Materials: Cardstock or construction paper, markers or crayons, scissors.
- How to Make It: Cut a feather shape from paper and add details and colors with markers.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Make tiny snips along the edges to make the feather look more realistic.
15. Native-Inspired Jewelry with Natural Materials
Native American jewelry is often crafted from natural materials, such as shells, stones, or wood. Kids can go on a nature walk to collect their own items for a special necklace or bracelet.
It’s a great way to combine crafting with an outdoor thrill.
- Materials: String or wire, beads, small natural items (acorns, shells, small stones with holes), scissors.
- How to Make It: String together natural items like small stones or acorns to make jewelry.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Ensure all natural items are clean before you begin crafting.
16. Handprint Animal Art
This is a classic kids’ craft that can be turned into an animal inspired by Native American cultures, like a bear, buffalo, or turtle.
Kids can use their own handprint as the base and then add details to turn it into their favorite animal.
- Materials: Paper, washable paint, paintbrushes, markers.
- How to Make It: Press a painted hand onto paper and add details to turn it into an animal.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Add details with a paintbrush after your handprint has dried.
17. Miniature Tipis or Longhouses
Different Native American tribes lived in various types of homes, adapted to their specific environments. Kids can learn about these homes by building a simple model.
It’s a great way to learn history and architecture in a fun, hands-on way.
- Materials: For Tipis: sticks, paper or felt, string, markers or paint. For Longhouses: popsicle sticks or small twigs, cardboard, and glue.
- How to Make It: Build a simple model of a traditional home using sticks and paper.
- Tip to Keep in Mind: Be patient and allow the glue to dry completely for a strong structure.
Fun Ways to Share and Display Your Crafts
Creating Native American crafts is a blast, but sharing them is even more rewarding! Here are some fun ideas for celebrating and displaying your family’s beautiful creations.
- Create a Craft Corner: Set up a designated spot at home to display finished crafts, which helps kids take pride in their work.
- Host a Family Craft Night: Bring everyone together to work on projects and create special memories.
- Share Crafts in the Classroom: Encourage kids to share their crafts in the classroom as a fun way to bring history lessons to life.
- Make a Gift of It: Encourage kids to give their handmade crafts to friends or family as a meaningful and thoughtful gift.
- Connect Crafts to Learning: Pair each finished craft with a short story or fact to deepen the learning experience.
The Bottom Line
These Native American crafts are more than just fun projects; they are a bridge to stories and traditions that have been passed down for ages.
The creativity doesn’t have to end here!
There are so many more traditions to find and lessons to be learned. It is hoped that families will continue to create and learn together, perhaps by researching a new craft or visiting a museum.
The path of cultural findings through art is a thrill that can last a lifetime, filled with fun, learning, and a deeper appreciation for the world around us.
