Indigenous Games and Play

Hands-on play connects young learners to cultural traditions while building physical and social skills. Station rotations and peer comparisons turn abstract values like respect into tangible experiences through movement and discussion.

• Grade 1
• Social Studies
• 4 activities
• 20 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Compare the rules and objectives of traditional Indigenous games with a game played today.
2. Identify the specific skills developed through playing a traditional Indigenous game, such as balance or hand-eye coordination.
3. Explain how specific actions or elements within an Indigenous game reflect cultural values like cooperation or respect.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of how Indigenous games connect to the natural environment and community life.
5. Analyze the role of storytelling and oral tradition in passing down Indigenous games.

Stations Rotation

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Game Stations

Prepare three stations with simple Indigenous games: target throwing with bean bags, balance beam walking, and cooperative ring toss. Groups rotate every 10 minutes, play twice, then note one skill learned and one value shown. Debrief as a class on common observations.

Prepare & details

Analyze how traditional Indigenous games teach important skills.

Facilitation Tip: For Reflection Drawings, provide sentence starters like 'The game taught me...' to support students who need writing scaffolds.

Setup: Tables/desks arranged in 4-6 distinct stations around room

Materials: Station instruction cards, Different materials per station, Rotation timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Experiential Learning

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

Pairs: Game Comparison Charts

Pairs draw or list rules for a favorite modern game, then learn one Indigenous game via teacher demo. They chart similarities in skills or values, such as sharing turns. Share one comparison with the class.

Prepare & details

Compare Indigenous games with games you play today.

Setup: Varies; may include outdoor space, lab, or community setting

Materials: Experience setup materials, Reflection journal with prompts, Observation worksheet, Connection-to-content framework

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Experiential Learning

⏱ 50 min·Whole Class

Whole Class: Elder Story and Play

Share a video or guest story about an Indigenous game. Demonstrate and play together, pausing to discuss skills. End with students teaching a peer a move they mastered.

Prepare & details

Explain the cultural values embedded in Indigenous play.

Setup: Varies; may include outdoor space, lab, or community setting

Materials: Experience setup materials, Reflection journal with prompts, Observation worksheet, Connection-to-content framework

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Experiential Learning

⏱ 20 min·Individual

Individual: Reflection Drawings

Students draw themselves playing an Indigenous game, label a skill and value learned. Pair share before whole class gallery walk to spot patterns.

Prepare & details

Analyze how traditional Indigenous games teach important skills.

Setup: Varies; may include outdoor space, lab, or community setting

Materials: Experience setup materials, Reflection journal with prompts, Observation worksheet, Connection-to-content framework

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teachers approach this topic by grounding games in their cultural stories and land connections, not just physical activity. Avoid treating games as isolated skills drills by always linking play to community values and Indigenous perspectives. Research suggests young learners grasp complex ideas through embodied experiences, so active participation is essential.

What to Expect

Students will explain how games teach skills and values, compare Indigenous and modern games, and show active participation in discussions and reflections. Successful learning includes clear connections between play, culture, and their own experiences.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Elder Story and Play, watch for students who say Indigenous games are 'old-fashioned' or 'not as fun.' Redirect them by asking, 'What did you notice about the teamwork in this game? How is teamwork important in games you play today?'

What to Teach Instead

Correction: Use the Elder’s storytelling to connect past and present. Ask students to share a modern game that also values teamwork, linking both experiences.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

During Elder Story and Play, give each student a sticky note. Ask them to write down one thing they learned about how Indigenous games teach values or skills. They can also draw a small picture to represent their learning before placing it on a designated board.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to create their own simple Indigenous-inspired game using found materials, explaining the skill and value it teaches.
• Scaffold comparisons for struggling students by providing a word bank of skills and values to match during the Game Comparison Charts activity.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to research a specific Indigenous game’s history and share findings in a short presentation to the class.

Key Vocabulary

Indigenous Games	Traditional games played by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples that often teach important life skills and cultural values.
Cultural Values	Beliefs and principles that are important to a particular group of people, often taught through stories, traditions, and activities like games.
Cooperation	Working together with others to achieve a common goal, a value often emphasized in Indigenous games.
Hand-eye Coordination	The ability to coordinate what a person sees with the way their hands are moving, a skill practiced in many Indigenous games.
Balance	The ability to keep oneself steady and upright, a physical skill developed through certain Indigenous games.