Free Iroquois Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Kids

I have a free Iroquois Lapbook and unit study.

 Haudenosaunee {Part II. and Lapbook)

Because of the length of study on this topic, we have devoted two pages here on our site to this topic. This is Part II.

Begin with PART I which is the background information about the Iroquois Confederacy.

 Next, look at this part about their involvement prior to and during the American Revolution.

The American Revolution ended up being a period of civil war for the Iroquois.

In 1754 the British and the Iroquois Confederacy met and made an alliance.

Britain provided the Iroquois with weapons and supplies, and the Native Americans helped the British fight against the French for control of the colonies.

Prior to 1775, the Indians had been dragged into many wars and the period prior to the American Revolution was no different.

The Europeans had brought over superior weapons of destruction like guns, steel tomahawks, cannons and their diseases.

This added to the tensions that existed among the Native Americans.

After the American Revolution, the United States took over much of the Iroquois land in New York State.

The Boston Tea Party

Also, the Mohawk Indians were a symbol of colonial resistance to British Rule and the “Mohawks” (really colonist dressed as Mohawks) sang this chant.

Rally Mohawks!

Bring out your ax and tell King George we’ll pay no taxes on his foreign tea
His threats are vain, and vain to think to force our girls and wives to drink his vile Bohea!
Then rally, boys, and hasten on
To meet our chiefs at the Green Dragon!
Our Warren’s here, and bold Revere
With hands to do and words to cheer, for liberty and laws;
Our country’s “braves” and firm defenders shall ne’er be left by true North Enders fighting freedom’s cause!
Then rally, boys, and hasten on
To meet our chiefs at the Green Dragon.

(pic above is of a colonist in native garb in front of a Mohawk silhouette with a gustoweh (hat). This hat equates to the Iroquois as a concept of freedom.)

Iroquois Influence on the Constitution

Further, learn what is a symbol. It is a picture, object or thing that stands for something else.

The American Indian related to objects or things that were found in their natural environment. One is a pine tree, another is an eagle and one more is a cluster of arrows.

For example, what are some of the symbols the founding fathers used that were adopted from the Iroquois League or Confederacy?

Additionally, an eagle was one symbol that was adopted by the Founding Fathers.

An eagle has good eyesight. The bald eagle is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and tail.

A cluster of arrows is another symbol.

The symbol of the eagle and the arrows represented unity and strength just like it did for the Haudenosaunee.

 Do you remember reading on the American Revolution page that the colonists were not united?

So, Benjamin Franklin created this well-known political cartoon encouraging the Colonist to “Unite”.

After they won the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers wanted symbols to show their unity so they borrowed again from the Iroquois and used the bundled arrows which symbolize “unity”.

Have you ever noticed the back of a dollar bill? The eagle on the back of a dollar bill is holding “bundled arrow” in his talon or claw.

Pine tree – The Pine Tree was a symbol of peace for the Iroquois. The early American Patriots wove Native American symbols of liberty into their banners.

The pine tree, which is the national symbol for the Iroquois and many Native American nations in New England, was also used by the Sons of Liberty on their liberty poles, just prior to the American Revolution.

The Pine Tree Flag (or Appeal to Heaven Flag) was one of the flags used during the American Revolution.

Great Law of Peace v.The U.S. Constitution

Two Founding Documents

• About The Great Law of Peace. Unifying document that brought the fighting nations together. It was created by the Iroquois Indians. While the date is controversy, it is said to have been written around 1450 A.D.

The law was recorded on Wampum Belts.

Scholars believe it The Great Law was the longest international law written at that time.

• About the U.S. Constitution. Adopted in 1789.

Has two basic purposes:

1. Outline organization of 3 branches of government.
2. To define the powers of the federal and state government, ensure checks and balances on the government’s power.

Similar Characteristics of Both Founding Documents

• The freedom of natural right.
• That government should operate by a system of checks and balances.
• The best government is the least government.
• That leaders are public servants.
• That civil and military powers are best separated.

Iroquois Words to Know

• Alliance – union of nations formed by an agreement for a purpose.
• “burying the hatchet” – This phrase originated with the Haudenosaunee. Today and in the past it means that fighting should stop and that there should be peace. This phrase was used regarding the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy when literally they buried their fighting clubs under the Tree of Peace.
• Clan – an extended family represented by an animal. The Haudenosaunee has 9 Clans.

• Clan Mother – an elder clan woman who keeps traditional teachings, advises people, holds the chiefs’ titles and selects new chiefs.
• Great Law of Peace – a set of principles that teach how people should live in peace and harmony with each other and the natural world. It also preserves the traditional teachings and the natural world for future generations.

More Iroquois Words to Know

• The Great Law of Peace is one of the earliest examples of formal democratic governance structure. The Great Law of peace was known to some of the Founding Fathers and has been compared — in terms of designated authorities and balances of power — to the U.S. Constitution. The Haudenosaunee Grand Council is the oldest governmental institution still maintaining its original form in North America.
• Gustoweh (ga-STOH-weh) – Fitted hat worn by the men. It was decorated by hawks, pheasant or turkey feathers. Each nation of the Haudenosaunee had a different number of feathers and position on the hat to indicate which nation they were from.
• Seneca had one upright feather; Tuscarora had no feathers; Cayuga had one feather laying to the right (as your facing him); Onondaga has one upright feather and one feather laying to the right (as your facing him); Oneida had two feathers upright and one feather laying to the right (as your facing him) and the Mohawk had 3 upright feathers.
• Haudenosaunee – An alliance of 6 nations also known by their English name Iroquois; Haudenosaunee means “people of the long houses”

Vocabulary Words to Know

• Iroquoian Languages -The Iroquoian language group comprises over  ten languages including Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida,
• Onondaga, Tuscarora and Seneca. Cherokee is also an Iroquoian language, though the Cherokee are not part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy
• Tree of Peace – When the Confederacy was formed the Leaders chose a white pine tree to symbolize their alliance. One reason for choosing this tree is because the pine needles are always found in clusters of 5. This was a symbol of the original 5 nations. Also the branches of the white pine spread out and symbolize protection or shelter for the Haudenosaunee people.
• Wampum/Belts- cylinder shape beads made from Quahog and Atlantic Whelk. Wampum beads were woven into belts and strung on strings.

The Iroquois Today

The Iroquois no longer live in longhouses, but they do use them for ceremonies.

Many Iroquois today still follow the tradition of the Peacemaker’s traditional teachings. They are cleaning up the environment and preserving their culture.

The Iroquois hold many types of jobs. Many have become doctors, lawyers and educators. But they are still chief, clan mothers and faithkeepers. ( a spiritual advisor and keeper of traditional teachings. They also determine when ceremonies are suppose to be held.)

Iroquois Lapbook Layout Picture

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More Iroquois Hands-on Activities for Kids

Links we like and downloads

• From the American Indian Museum –  One of the best, free and accurate educator’s resource on the Haudenosaunee.
• Free Lapbook on Homeschool Share done by Jimmie based on book “If you lived with the Iroquois….”
• A copy of the resolution (H. Con. Res. 331) by the Senate recognized the influence of the Iroquois on the original framers of the U.S. Constitution
• Online reading and we have a hard copy too –  Forgotten Founders by Bruce E. Johansen

Books for Kids About the Iroquois

5 Books About the Iroquois

Learn about how the Iroquois lived.

The Iroquois (A True Book: American Indians)

A True Book: American Indian series allows readers to experience what makes each American Indian people distinctive and exceptional. Readers will get to know each tribes culture, influence and history

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Hiawatha: Founder of the Iroquois Confederacy (North American Indians of Achievement)

Examines the life and career of the fifteenth-century Iroquois Indian.

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The Iroquois: The Six Nations Confederacy (American Indian Nations)

The Iroquois have lived in what is now upper New York State and Ontario, Canada, for more than 4,000 years. In the 12th century, a man of their tribe called the Peacemaker convinced the five other nearby tribes - the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca - to work together with the Iroquois in a peaceful confederacy. 

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Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children (Keepers of the Earth)

These traditional Native American stories along with related activities show parents and teachers how to teach children the importance of wildlife in Native American traditions. As the stories unfold and the activities come to life, the importance of our connections to animals became apparent.Features traditional Native American stories.Includes field-tested activities appropriate for all ages.Connects wildlife ecology and environmental issues.Fosters creative thinking and the synthesis of knowledge and experience.The stories in this book present some of the basic perspectives that Native North American parents, aunts and uncles use to teach the young. They are phrased in terms that modern youngsters can understand and appreciate, along with eye-catching illustrations and photographs throughout.

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Children of the Longhouse

When Ohkwa'ri overhears a group of older boys planning a raid on a neighboring village, he immediately tells his Mohawk elders. He has done the right thing—but he has also made enemies. 

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Early American History Co-op Pictures

We studied about American Revolution, Colonial and Iroquois together. Some pictures here and some on the American Revolution Page.

{Kelley had an idea of decorating the tables with beans and vegetables and adding some teapots from the Colonial times}

{The boys helped and we used silhouettes to glue on the banner along with some of the clipart we used on this page.}

{some of the lapbooks done the co-op}

Finally, look at how to grab this Free Huge 24 page Iroquois Lapbook.

How to Grab the Free Huge 24 page Iroquois Lapbook

This is a huge unit study and lapbook.

AND you will need both this page, Iroquois Lapbook and my second page Iroquois Confederacy to learn and fill out your lapbook.

Minibook/Topics Included in the Iroquois Lapbook

• Who-are-the-Haudenosaunee
• Who-is-Hiawatha-and-Belt
• Words-to-know
• The-Sustainer-and-Family-Life
• The-Peacemaker
• The-Meaning-of-a-Name-Iroquois
• Rally-Mohawks
• Lacross
• Iroquois-Territory-Past-and-Present
• American-Nation-influenced-by-Iroquois
• 9-Clans-of-Haudenosaunee
• Iroquois-Clothing
• Homes-of-the-Past
• Crafts-of-the-Iroquois
• Animals-important-to-the-Iroquois
• Great-Law-of-Peace-US-Constitution

Finally, how to grab the free lapbook. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.

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