The Medicine Wheel is a sacred symbol in many Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island. While the teachings vary between nations, the wheel is often used to represent balance and the interconnectedness of all aspects of life—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. Bringing medicine wheel activities into your classroom is a meaningful way to introduce these important teachings in a respectful and age-appropriate way.
As a First Nations educator, I’ve created three medicine wheel activities to support classroom learning through creativity, reflection, and wellness. These resources are designed to help students build self-awareness, explore identity, and learn about Indigenous perspectives through engaging, hands-on experiences. Whether you’re looking for art-based lessons, SEL projects, or a bulletin board with purpose, these medicine wheel activities offer powerful ways to deepen classroom learning.
🌿 What Is the Medicine Wheel?
The Medicine Wheel is more than just a visual—it’s a teaching tool. The circle represents the cycles of life and the importance of balance between all aspects of our wellness. Many teachings focus on the four directions, four elements, and four aspects of self: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
When we bring the Medicine Wheel into our classrooms, we’re not just offering an Indigenous perspective—we’re offering students a way to reflect on themselves and their relationships with the world around them.
🧡 1. Medicine Wheel SEL + Goal Setting Activity
This resource is a perfect way to bring Indigenous wisdom into your SEL curriculum. Students use the Medicine Wheel to reflect on their personal growth and set goals in each of the four wellness areas: emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical.
It’s a powerful tool for developing self-awareness and creating space for meaningful student reflection. This activity works well at the beginning of the year, during transitions, or as part of a wellness unit.
Teachers love how it brings goal-setting and emotional literacy together in a culturally inclusive way.
🎨 2. Medicine Wheel Art and Reflection Craft
This hands-on art activity invites students to connect deeply with their own life journeys. Using a baby photo and a current photo, students reflect on how they’ve grown and what each area of wellness means to them now.
They’ll create a Medicine Wheel craft with visual and written reflections on their emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual growth. It’s a beautiful project for identity and personal development—and the finished wheels make a stunning classroom display.
This activity works particularly well around themes of growth, change, or identity. Many teachers use it as part of their Indigenous Peoples Day activities or year-end reflection projects.
🧾 3. Interactive Medicine Wheel Bulletin Board
Looking to bring Indigenous art and culture into your classroom décor in a respectful way? This Medicine Wheel craft and bulletin board set is the perfect fit.
Students complete one of three writing prompts connected to wellness, direction, elements, and animal teachings. The resource includes:
- 3 student writing crafts
- Medicine Wheels in 3 sizes
- 4 animals: bear, eagle, wolf, buffalo
- 4 elements: fire, water, earth, air
- 4 directions: north, south, east, west
- 20 descriptive paragraph cards to support deeper learning
This set makes a thoughtful, educational, and visually beautiful addition to your classroom or hallway bulletin board—whether you’re honouring Indigenous education year-round or preparing for a special event.
🌼 Why These Activities Matter
Teaching with the Medicine Wheel helps students build more than just academic knowledge. It encourages them to explore their identities, reflect on their wellness, and understand the importance of balance in all areas of life.
For many students, this may be the first time they encounter Indigenous teachings in the classroom. These activities offer a respectful and accessible way to begin that conversation—while honouring the depth and diversity of Indigenous cultures.
As a First Nations educator, I’m proud to create resources that help bring Indigenous perspectives into classrooms in a meaningful way. All artwork in these resources is hand-drawn by me and created with care, cultural respect, and a heart for student learning.
👉 Explore the Medicine Wheel Resources
Whether you’re teaching SEL, art, or Indigenous culture, these three resources are designed to support student reflection, creativity, and understanding.
🌀 Medicine Wheel Goalsetting Activity
🎨 Medicine Wheel SEL Craft Activity
📌 Medicine Wheel Bulletin Board
✨ Looking for More Indigenous Education Ideas?
If you found these medicine wheel activities helpful, you might also enjoy these related blog posts:
- Orange Shirt Day Crafts and Activities for the Classroom
- Teaching About Turtle Island Through Indigenous Storytelling
- Seven Sacred Teachings Activities for Kids
Each post includes classroom-ready ideas created by a First Nations educator to support meaningful, respectful Indigenous learning in your classroom.
