Transform Your Native American Unit with This Free Museum Exhibit Project
A Creative Performance-Based Assessment for Middle School Social Studies
If you're looking for a way to elevate your unit on Native American cultures—without losing valuable class time—you’re going to love this ready-to-use resource. I created the Native Voices Museum Exhibit project as the culminating assessment for my 7th grade mini-unit on Geography and Pre-Colonial Native American Cultures, and now I’m sharing it with you—for free!
Whether you're teaching about Indigenous Peoples Day or simply exploring how geography shapes culture, this performance-based assessment offers students a chance to create, reflect, and synthesize what they’ve learned in a truly meaningful way.
What is the Native Voices Museum Exhibit PBA?
The Native Voices Museum Exhibit is a hands-on project where students become curators of a museum. They design a visually engaging exhibit that showcases how one Native American group adapted to its geographic region and climate. Instead of a test or essay, students show their learning through maps, curated artifacts, and written analysis—making it ideal for all kinds of learners.
What Will Students Do?
Students complete the following tasks:
Curator’s Statement: A 1–2 paragraph written explanation of how geography and climate influenced their selected Native group’s way of life.
Labeled Map: A visual map showing the group's region and at least 3 geographic features.
3–5 Artifacts: With captions that explain how each item connects to the environment and culture.
Exhibit Display: A neatly organized presentation (poster, trifold, or digital) that tells the story visually.
Mechanics & Clarity: Students are expected to use academic vocabulary and revise for clarity and structure.
It’s rigorous, creative, and standards-aligned—everything you want in a PBA.
How Does It Fit Into Your Curriculum?
This project was designed as the culminating task of a 5-day mini-unit that includes:
Day 1: How Geography and Climate Shape Culture
Day 2: Native American Regional Adaptations
Day 3: Writing a Curator’s Statement
Day 4: Designing the Exhibit
Day 5: Gallery Walk and Reflection
But even if you’re not using the full unit, this PBA works beautifully as a stand-alone project or enrichment task.
Why Teachers (and Students) Love It
It promotes student voice and creativity
It builds critical thinking and analysis skills
It creates a visually rich classroom experience
It fosters cultural respect and academic rigor
It aligns with inquiry-based learning models
📥 Download the Free Project-Based Assessment
If you’re ready to bring history to life while hitting your content and skills-based goals, don’t miss this free resource!
👉 Click here to download the Native Voices Museum Exhibit PBA
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Let’s help students connect the past to place—and tell the stories that matter.