Professional Development
Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) professional development programs help education professionals incorporate more complete narratives about Native histories, cultures, and contemporary lives into their teaching.
Online
Native Knowledge 360° Online Series | Americans
April 7, 2026 | Session 1: Thanksgiving
April 14, 2026 | Session 2: Battle of Little Bighorn
April 21, 2026 | Session 3: Trail of Tears
7 PM ET
Free | Registration required
Register arrow_outwardAmerican Indian images, names, and stories infuse American history and contemporary life. Pervasive, powerful, at times demeaning, the images, names, and stories reveal the deep connection between Americans and American Indians as well as how Indians have been embedded in unexpected ways in the history, pop culture, and identity of the United States.
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This three-part professional development series focuses on the stories and images presented in the exhibition Americans, on view at the National Museum of the American Indian DC and through Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street. Educators will explore ways in which American Indians have been part of the nation’s identity since before the country began and learn new ways of understanding a few familiar events. Educators will be guided through Native Knowledge 360° classroom resources, delving into three stories — Thanksgiving, the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the Trail of Tears.
Online
2026 NK360° Summer Webinar Series | American Revolution: Haudenosaunee Perseverance
July 21–22, 2026
1 PM ET
Free | Registration required
Register arrow_outwardJoin the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, education initiative, Native Knowledge 360° and featured speakers for an in-depth look at the newest classroom-ready resource for middle school teachers and students: American Revolution: Haudenosaunee Perseverance. This standards-aligned resource explores how the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca nations) persevered during and after the American Revolution.
Online
edX Course: Foundations for Transforming Teaching and Learning about Native Americans
Through November 13, 2026
Free | Registration required
Register arrow_outwardIn 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.
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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: What Educators Say
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.
