houses

Family Living

Objective

After reading information and facts about Native American homes, the students will create different life size homes.

Materials Needed

1. Pictures of the four nation's houses
2. Reference books and book marked web sites
3. Brown construction paper or bulleting board paper
4. Glue, scissors, tempera paint
5. Different size boxes (e.g. Refrigerator boxes, television boxes, computer boxes)
6. Green construction paper; students can also use KidPix software to plan, create and publish floor plans of their homes
7. Desktop Publishing program
8. Internet access

Procedure

1. Read the information on the different Nation's home from the resources provided. Visit Native Americans, National Park Service- Indians Indians, and Settlements
to learn more about Native Americans.

a. Iroquois - longhouses
    b. Hopi Pueblos - adobes
    c. Seminoles -chickee
    d. Sioux - teepee

2. Create fact cards on the computer with the following information:

IROQUOIS LONGHOUSES: the Six Nations of long ago lived in longhouses, their structures vary depending on the Nation. The typical longhouse was for more than one family, where all the rooms were lined up on the two sides of the central hall. Over twenty families could be accommodated within one longhouse, each with its own fire.

HOPI PUEBLO ADOBE HOUSES: most of the pueblos or houses were built in a stair-step design, with each floor set back by the depth of one room from the front of the floor below it. The houses were built from stones and mud. This style of housing provided protection and comfort.

SEMINOLE CHICKEE: The homes have open sides and palmetto leaves as their roof. The houses are raised from the ground with a platform. There is very little room for furniture, only hammocks for sleeping or mats.

SIOUX TEEPEE: Teepees are used for religious and cultural ceremonies. In the past, Sioux Indians lived in permanent villages in cabins made of poles and bark and the tepees for their special occasions. Each family decorated it's teepee with the symbols of bravery deeds or other family experiences.

3. Use the brown construction paper and different size boxes to create each house. Then, paint with the tempera paint. For the chickee, create the leaves from the green construction paper. For the teepee, students may use the symbols used in the symbol stories. Take a test about Native American homes Indians- Homes

4. The houses will be used as props for the play "A Native American Welcome." If play is not available, students can write and produce a play about Native Americans.

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on their final product, Indian houses.

Extension Activity

Writing with Symbols

Students will use pictures to tell a story
Brainstorm on ways to communicate; ancient people used pictures
Explain that Native Americans did not have a written language and they communicated by pictures and sign language
Have students write a story and edit it. Then explain that they will write the same story using symbols
Students use Kid Pix, Kid Works, or similar program to draw or insert symbols representing their words
Print out stories

Homework

Have students complete the following form:

My Indian name is

My father or mother's (sister, brother or friend) Indian name is

I have this name because

My father or mother (sister, brother or friend) has this name because

Here is a picture of my name

My Indian name is
My father or mother's (sister, brother or friend) Indian name is
I have this name because
My father or mother (sister, brother or friend) has this name because
Here is a picture of my name