As educators, we have the honour and responsibility of helping students connect with the values and worldviews that shape Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island. Introducing students to these teachings through Seven Sacred Teachings activities can offer powerful ways to understand themselves, relate to others, and honour the world around them.
These teachings are often represented by animals, each carrying the responsibility of passing its teaching on to us. When we introduce the Seven Sacred Teachings in our classrooms, we’re not just teaching values—we’re inviting students to explore the deep relationships between people, land, and animals through Indigenous ways of knowing.
But how do we introduce these teachings in a respectful, age-appropriate, and engaging way?
That’s where thoughtful, ready-to-use Seven Sacred Teachings activities come in.
I’ve created a set of meaningful Seven Sacred Teachings activities and classroom resources—designed specifically for primary, intermediate, and high school students. Whether you’re just beginning to introduce these teachings or diving deeper into cultural understanding, there’s something here for your learners.
A Resource for Every Grade Level
1. 7 Sacred Teachings – Primary Resource (Grades K–3)
This beginner-friendly resource is perfect for younger students who are being introduced to the teachings for the first time. It uses simple, accessible language and includes engaging printable activities that help students explore what each teaching means in their daily lives. Each teaching is introduced with a supporting animal, like the bear for courage or the eagle for love. Students can respond through drawing, discussion, and personal reflection.
Why it works for primary:
It’s simple, visual, and interactive—young students begin to connect with the teachings in a personal way, all while developing empathy, respect, and self-awareness.
2. 7 Sacred Teachings – Intermediate Resource (Grades 4–7)
This version goes deeper. Students explore each teaching through reflection prompts, storytelling connections, and creative activities. The resource helps students consider how these teachings show up in their own lives and in the world around them. It includes discussion starters, art-based responses, and writing opportunities.
Why teachers love it:
It’s thoughtful, ready to use, and offers space for students to explore identity, values, and Indigenous perspectives in a meaningful way.
3. 7 Sacred Teachings – High School Resource (Grades 8–12)
Designed with older students in mind, this high school resource supports deeper reflection and classroom discussion. It invites students to engage in critical thinking about each teaching and the animal that carries it, connecting these concepts to real-life situations, historical context, and their own lived experiences.
Why it matters for teens:
It encourages personal growth, emotional intelligence, and a more respectful understanding of Indigenous worldviews.
Dive Deeper with the 7 Sacred Teachings Animal Bundle
For educators looking to go beyond the general teachings, the 7 Sacred Teachings Animal Bundle offers a unique and engaging science-meets-culture experience. Each animal—like the turtle, wolf, eagle, beaver, bear, buffalo, and sasquatch (and a bonus: Orca!)—is explored through a science-based lens, covering its:
✔️ Life cycle
✔️ Habitat
✔️ Diet
✔️ Adaptations
✔️ Cultural meaning
Each page includes hand-drawn animal artwork, created with care to honour the significance of each animal in the teachings.
This bundle is perfect for cross-curricular learning, blending science, social studies, and Indigenous education together in a respectful and student-friendly way.
Why it stands out:
Students get to see each animal as more than a symbol—they learn about the animal’s real-life characteristics while deepening their understanding of what it represents in Indigenous teachings.
Why These Seven Sacred Teachings Resources Belong in Your Classroom
These resources are designed to be age-appropriate, respectful, and rooted in real learning. Whether you’re teaching little ones about kindness or guiding older students through self-reflection and critical thinking, the 7 Sacred Teachings offer powerful entry points for personal and community growth.
Each resource:
✔️ Highlights First Nations culture written by a First Nations educator
✔️ Is designed with care and cultural respect
✔️ Offers ready-to-use activities for K–12
✔️ Helps students reflect on values, empathy, and their connection to the land
All of the resources feature original, hand-drawn illustrations of the animals, helping students connect visually and meaningfully with the teachings.
Let’s create classrooms where Indigenous teachings are honoured, not just as one-off lessons, but as values we live and learn by all year long.
♥︎ Seven Sacred Teachings for Primary Grades
♥︎ Seven Sacred Teachings for Intermediate Grades
♥︎ Seven Sacred Teachings for High School Grades
♥︎ Seven Sacred Teachings Animal Bundle
♥︎ Seven Sacred Teachings using Metis Dot Art
