Today, I have a Navajo Code Talkers worksheet for you to use while studying World War II. Also, grab my Free World War II Unit Study Ideas and Fun Lapbook.
And of course, I have some other great activities, ideas, and resources.
Wondering exactly what the Navajo Code Talkers were? During WWII the Marine Corps leaders chose 29 Navajo men, the Navajo Code Talkers, who created a code based on the complex, unwritten Navajo language.
It was used to relay messages because the Japanese had broken every other code sent over the radio.
Navajo code was not able to be broken because the Navajo language has no definite rules and a guttural tone.
It was used to relay messages on Japanese troop movements and battlefield tactics, as well as other critical information.
How the Navajo Language Was Translated to Code
Code talkers first had to translate each Navajo word into its English equivalent. Then they used the first letter of the English equivalent.
Most letters had several Navajo words that represented them.
For instance, the Navajo word for “ant,” wo-la-chee was used for the letter “A”.
Some words did not have to be spelled out.
They assigned Navajo words to over 450 commonly used military terms such as Da-Ah-Hi-Dzi-Tsio for the word battle and Chay-Da-Gahi-Nail-Tsaidi for tank destroyer (which literally translated means, tortoise killer).
You can see why they were so important to the US military at the time.
Use my worksheet, you can get it at the bottom of the post to have your child learn more about these amazing men.
5 Navajo Code Talker Facts
- Aug. 14, 1982, was declared by our then-President Ronald Reagan as Navajo Code Talkers Day.
- The reason Navajo was first chosen was because of its complexity and because it wasn’t a written language.
- Because of its great success, the military started recruiting from Native nations all over the United States and they served in every single branch of the military.
- The Navajo Code was the only military code, in modern history, that was never broken by an enemy.
- Three code talkers that were part of the U.S. Marine Corps. are still alive today. They are Peter MacDonald, John Kinsel Sr., and Thomas H. Begay.
Also, add some hands-on activities to your study.
Activities To Go With Navajo Code Talkers Worksheet
- Free World War II Unit Study Ideas and Fun Lapbook
- World War II Hands-On History – Make Ration Cakes
- World War II Hands-On History – Make a Secret Message Deck
- 8 World War II Historical Fiction Books for Middle School
- World War II Free Resources For a Middle School Unit Study & Make Victory Garden Soup
- World War II Homeschool History-Manhattan Project, Vocabulary & A. Frank
- World War II Homeschool History: Life During the War & Pearl Harbor Minibook
- World War II Homeschool History: Minibooks Causes & Great Depression
Also, look at sone of these books to add to your study about World War II and the Navajo Code Talkers.
15 Books and Resources for Studying About World War II
Add some of these books about World War II and the time in history when there has been no other war before or after that killed so many people.
Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.
From spy maps and victory banners to spotter planes and ration cakes, Great World War II Projects You Can Build Yourself brings one of the most defining periods of American and world history to life through hands-on building projects and activities. Detailed step-by-step instructions for creating each project combine with historical facts and anecdotes, biographies, and trivia about the real-life models. Together they give kids a first-hand look at daily life at home and on the front lines during America's war years.
In the bleak winter of 1940, Nazi troops parachuted into Peter Lundstrom's tiny Norwegian village and held it captive. Nobody thought the Nazis could be defeated—until Uncle Victor told Peter how the children could fool the enemy. It was a dangerous plan. They had to slip past Nazi guards with nine million dollars in gold hidden on their sleds. It meant risking their country's treasure—and their lives. This classic story of how a group of children outwitted the Nazis and sent the treasure to America has captivated generations of readers.
A grandfather reminisces about his service as a Tuskegee Airman.
December 7, 1941-the day a sleeping giant awoke. Japan's surprise attack devastated the American Naval Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and forced the Americans into WWII. These moving accounts of the lives affected by the assault capture the scope of the day's emotions and repercussions. Viewpoints of both historical and imagined characters include the mother of a Japanese pilot, officials from both countries, and the grandchild of a WWII veteran.Powerful illustrations accompany every tale.
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.
In her amazing diary, Anne Frank revealed the challenges and dreams common for any young girl. But Hitler brought her childhood to an end and forced her and her family into hiding. Who Was Anne Frank looks closely at Anne’s life before the secret annex, what life was like in hiding, and the legacy of her diary. Black-and-white illustrations including maps and diagrams provide historical and visual reference in an easy-to-read biography written in a way that is appropriate and accessible for younger readers.
As he watches his homeland of Hungary being taken over and run by invaders from Nazi Germany, young Prince Michael of Chestry strives to retain his identity and integrity during one of the most dangerous seasons in human history.
Michael carries an acorn all the way from his castle home in Chestry Valley to the warm soil of
the Hudson Valley farm in the USA where he makes a new home after WWII.
British airman Dym Ingleford is convinced that the young German prisoner, Max Eckermann, is his brother Anthony who was kidnapped years before. Raised in the Nazi ideology, Tony has by chance tumbled into British hands. Dym has brought him back, at least temporarily, to the family he neither remembers nor will acknowledge as his own. As Tony keeps attempting to escape, his stubborn anger is whittled away by the patient kindness he finds at the White Priory. Then, just as he is resigning himself to stay with this English family, a new chance suddenly opens for him to return home-to Germany!
Lida thought she was safe. Her neighbors wearing the yellow star were all taken away, but Lida is not Jewish. She will be fine, won't she?But she cannot escape the horrors of World War II.Lida's parents are ripped away from her and she is separated from her beloved sister, Larissa. The Nazis take Lida to a brutal work camp, where she and other Ukrainian children are forced into backbreaking labor. Starving and terrified, Lida bonds with her fellow prisoners, but none of them know if they'll live to see tomorrow
This book is packed with information that kids will find fascinating—excerpts from actual wartime letters written to and by American and German troops, personal anecdotes from people who lived
through the war in the United States, Germany, Britain, Russia, Hungary, and Japan, and gripping stories from Holocaust survivors—all adding a humanizing global perspective to the war.
Learn how this heroic group of American Indian men created a secret, unbreakable code and helped the US win major battles during World War II in this new addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling series.By the time the United States joined the Second World War in 1941, the fight against Nazi and Axis powers had already been under way for two years. In order to win the war and protect its soldiers, the US Marines recruited twenty-nine Navajo men to create a secret code that could be used to send military messages quickly and safely across battlefields. In this new book within the #1 New York Times bestelling series, author James Buckley Jr. explains how these brave and intelligent men developed their amazing code, recounts some of their riskiest missions, and discusses how the country treated them before, during, and after the war.
Written and illustrated by Native Americans from various tribal nations, these graphic novels detail the deep emotions of leaving one's homeland to fight in a war far away, the comfort and benefit in finding those who speak our native language, and the pride in knowing you served your country while honoring your people. A high percentage of Native Americans serve in the U.S. military and bring special talents that have aided their fighting units during wartime, including the famed code talkers of World War I.
Note: This book does not give any content about torture & distortion stories, kidnapping, burn, or any negative events that had a relationship with killing,
This book is a collection of stories based on real-life events during World War II. A selection of 10 inspiring stories, introduces us to unique characters with different characteristics.
Now you can, with these exciting tales of World War II written especially for reluctant readers.
In his highly acclaimed middle-school class “Great Battles for Boys," author Joe Giorello has ignited a love of military history in hundreds of boys. Now with this engaging non-fiction book written specifically for boys ages 8-14, your son can experience that same thrilling adventure in learning.
Finally, look at this fun hands-on activity to learn more about the Navajo Code Talkers.
Navajo Code Talkers Worksheet and Dog Tags
We used this site to get the Navajo Code Talkers’ Dictionary and choose our words.
We then made 2 dog tags, one with the word in English, and the other with it in Navajo.
Your child can choose their word or words from the list and create one for everyone in the family.
You will need:
- Blank Dog Tags
- Metal Stamping Kit
- Small Hammer
- Enamel Stamping Marker or Sharpie
- Masking or painter’s tape.
First, you will want to practice first to determine how hard and how many times you need to hit to get a good depth to your stamping in the metal.
Tape your dog tag down to the metal bench block.
That is the piece that absorbs the impact with minimal noise and gives you a solid surface for making the impressions.
I had some tape that is designed for spacing letters on stamped jewelry.
You don’t have to use this.
Just make marks on your masking tape, or let your child have free reign with imperfections-perfectly imperfect.
Be sure that you have enough room on your tag for all your letters.
Then hold each stamp in place.
For the correct positioning my stamps had an engraved letter on one side that needed to be facing me.
Tap firmly 2 or 3 times on the stamp with the hammer.
Continue until your entire word is spelled out.
Cover the stamped word with the enamel marker or Sharpie and allow it to sit for about 1 minute.
Take a paper towel or soft cloth and buff off the excess, you don’t want to pull it out of the grooves, this is going to help your lettering stand out more.
Add your tags to the chain and it’s ready to wear.
Moreover, grab this Navajo Code Talker worksheet. It’s one page two different ways.
One page is blank for your student to research and the second page has a few facts if you simply want to add it to a lapbook or a notebook.
How to Get the Free Navajo Code Talker Notebooking Page
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1) Sign up on my list.
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