Diabetes is a prevalent disease in the United States. The emergence of Type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents within the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities brings increased public health and quality of life concerns. In this article, the authors describe an initiative titled "Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools K-12 Curriculum Project" to address the epidemic rates of Type 2 diabetes among AI/AN populations. The qualitative lesson plan's purpose is to introduce and promote ethnographic research skills among students. Working in teams of two, students developed investigation questions and then practiced observation and data collection skills among their peers. Adult community members volunteered to come to campus to participate in student interviews. Through the interview process, students acquired research skills, presentation experience, and constructed new understandings. In addition, students were able to glimpse, in a very personal way, how this disease is affecting their community and what their role might be in preventing the growth of this epidemic. (Contains 1 figure.)