Choctaw Code Talkers 1918
Discover the story of the Choctaw Code Talkers—Native American soldiers who used their language to help secure Allied victory in World War I. This curriculum situates their contributions within the broader history of the Great Wars, offering an accessible entry point for high school classrooms. Developed in collaboration with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Historic Preservation Department and descendants of the original Code Talkers, the experience centers primary voices, cultural context, and historical accuracy.
EST DURATION
4 hours
GRADE LEVEL
9th – 12th grade
PUBLISHED
March 1, 2026
AVAILABLE FORMATS
Google Classroom, Canvas, Workbooks
Bring Choctaw Code Talkers 1918 to Your Students
Lesson Objectives
- Explain how Choctaw soldiers used their Native language as a military asset in WWI and why it proved unbreakable as a code.
- Analyze the impact of WWI technology — field phones, gas masks, tanks — on the daily experience and survival strategies of soldiers on the Western Front.
- Interpret primary sources including Library of Congress photographs, military records, and Choctaw elder testimony to construct an evidence-based historical narrative.
- Examine the tension between Indigenous peoples’ military service and their disenfranchisement at home, and connect that history to ongoing movements for sovereignty and recognition.
- Create an original memorial honoring a specific Code Talker, demonstrating how historical legacy-making connects past accomplishments to contemporary Native identity.
Pilot Impact
In our Bayfront pilot, students showed nearly a 40% increase in core WWI knowledge after first exposure to the experience.
Explore Sample Lessons
Browse three sample lessons below and then enter your email for instant access to the full sample material.
1.3
DISCUSSION
20 MIN
Read, Think, Pair & Share: Choctaw Code Talkers
Choose one of the readings below for your class. Then, pair with another student to write a response to one of the following 2 questions:
- Why do you think it was important to transmit coded messages during WWI?
- What images come to mind when you hear the phrase “telephone warrior?
2.1.2
READING
25 MIN
Explore: The Effect of Technology on WWI
Today you’ll explore how new technologies changed the experience of World War I—through both reading and real historical photographs.
Working in groups, assign each person a role:
- Reads the passage aloud to the group.
- Marks key ideas, inventions, and turning points in the text.
- Takes notes on the and writes down group insights.
As you read, pause often to discuss what each new technology—like trench systems, gas masks, field phones, or tanks—reveals about innovation, survival, and the human cost of war.
Then, open the page from the Library of Congress, featuring historic NYTimes images and captions from the period. Look carefully at each photo and headline: what details show how new technologies shaped the battlefield and soldiers’ lives?
These photographs are original evidence from people who lived through World War I. Studying them helps historians (and you) understand not just what happened, but how people about those events at the time. The Library of Congress is one of the best places to explore these sources—its collections are free and open to everyone.
After your group finishes the reading, worksheet, and photo analysis, complete the short reflection below on your own:
- Which invention or tool do you think had the greatest impact on soldiers’ daily lives—and why?
- Think about both its practical use and its emotional or human effect.
3.3
VR/AR EXPERIENCE
5 MIN
Virtual Field Trips
Using your phone, tablet, or computer, visit sites using the links below and step into history through a series of 360° videos featuring three World War I memorial sites in France and the United States.
As you explore each space, pay attention to what you notice, feel, and wonder—how do design, sound, and setting shape the way we remember? Record your thoughts, reactions, and questions while you move through the experience. Your notes will guide our upcoming class discussion on how memorials keep stories—and emotions—alive.
Try it Out
Course Materials
Student materials support different modes of learning, from full integration with learning platforms to low-technology settings.
Lessons for Google Classroom, Canvas & More
3D Augmented Reailty artifacts
Print or Digital Workbooks
Optional headset loaner kits
Classroom Implementation
Designed to fit into real classrooms without requiring specialized hardware, extensive setup, or major curriculum restructuring.
Teacher Support Materials
Includes lesson plans, discussion prompts, assessments, student workbooks, and classroom-ready resources to reduce preparation time.
Troubleshooting & Setup Support
Our team is available for a live setup walkthrough before you begin and throughout your pilot for troubleshooting. We also offer demos for you or your department. The full teacher guide includes pacing recommendations that fit a standard unit without displacing your existing curriculum.
Built-In Assessments
Built-in formative assessments to track student understanding throughout the unit.
Bring the Full Course to Your Classrooms