Native languages carry stories, songs, and knowledge that exist nowhere else. Long ago there were hundreds of Native languages in North America. Sadly, many were lost when children were once forbidden to speak them. But today, nations are bringing their languages back — with language classes, apps, and schools where children learn from elders!
One Native language even helped win a world war. During World War II, Navajo Code Talkers — Marines who spoke the Navajo language — sent secret military messages in a code based on Navajo words.
The enemy never cracked the code, not once! The Code Talkers are honored as heroes, and their story shows how precious every language is.
1. Why are Native languages so precious?
2. How are nations bringing their languages back today?
3. Who were the Navajo Code Talkers?
4. Did the enemy ever crack their code?
Write what each word means in your own words.
1. Native carry stories and knowledge found nowhere else.
2. Children today learn languages from .
3. The Code Talkers spoke the language.
4. They sent secret messages in a special .
5. The enemy never the code.
6. The Code Talkers are honored as .
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
1. Why do you think a language dies if children stop learning it? Why is teaching children the key to saving it?
Draw a Navajo Code Talker sending an unbreakable secret message by radio.