Navajo Code Talkers Lesson Plan for Students

The Navajo Code Talkers are often regarded as a “Secret Weapon” that helped the Allied Forces win World War II. The Marine Corps needed a way to safely deliver messages without fear of them being intercepted. Working with the Navajos, they were able to develop a code using their complex and unwritten language. For example, everyday Navajo words were used to represent military terms ("whale" represented "battleship"). 

The WWII code talker program was decoded in 1968, though it wasn't until later that Navajos code talkers began to receive recognition for the role they played. In 2000, the original twenty nine Navajos were rewarded with Congressional Gold Metals. Today, due to the lasting effects of colonialism and assimilation policies, the traditional Navajo language is in danger of dying out. Several years ago, Disney and the Navajo Nation Museum teamed up to help keep it alive with a Navajo language edition of “Finding Nemo.” Let's take a look at why Native American languages are dying out and how we can preserve them.

Opening activity:

In the article, Young Navajos Study to Save Their Language, there is a video of Navajos children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in their language. You should start this activity by playing the recording for your class. For a bigger impact, don't share any images or context before you play it.  

• Think-pair-share: Ask students to guess what language is being spoken.
• Introductory questions: Is anyone familiar with Native American languages? Has anyone in class attended a traditional Native American festival or celebration, or visited a museum dedicated to Native American history and culture? What did you see, do, and learn?

Words in the news:

Oral tradition (noun): Information, traditional stories, and songs passed down through the generations by word of mouth rather than in writing.

Discuss:

Have students read the following news articles online:

• CBS: "Finding Nemo" aims to help Navajo language stay afloat
• Reuters: Disney-Pixar to translate "Finding Nemo" film into Navajo

Then, have the students answer the following questions in complete sentences.

• Why was it hard to cast the part of Nemo in the Navajo edition of “Finding Nemo”?
• What was the purpose of creating a Navajo language version of “Finding Nemo”?
• What are some general reasons for preserving the Navajo language?

Write:

Students should respond to the following writing prompt: Is it important to preserve languages that people no longer use in their daily lives? Why or why not? Support your argument with details from the articles, online research, and your own ideas.

Research: 

The Navajos are just one of the Native American tribes in the United States. You should encourage your students to research the tribes in their region. Are there efforts to preserve other Native American languages? Consider these questions: 

• What are the primary languages spoken by these tribes, both historically and today? 
• Are there partnerships between the tribe and museums, libraries, or historical societies to help preserve their language? 
• What challenges do the community face in keeping the language alive, and how are they addressing them?
• How can non-Native allies support local language preservation efforts? 

Media literacy:

Have students read and analyze this primary source document from the U.S. National Archives, then answer the following questions:

• What is the date of this document? Where was it written?
• Who wrote this document? Who received it?
• What is the main idea of the document? Provide two quotes from the document that help support the main idea.
• Why do you think this document was written?

Closing activity:

Ask students the following question and have them share their thoughts on an exit ticket:

• Other than movies, what are some ways to interest kids and teens in learning and preserving traditional languages? Share an idea.

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This blog, originally published in 2020, has been updated for 2025.