There were originally five nations of the Iroquois Confederacy who united to create one peaceful nation. Add this to my Iroquois Confederacy and Iroquois lapbook for an amazing unit study.
The Iroquois inhabited Ontario and upstate New York areas for over 4,000 years.
The Iroquois Confederacy was formed between 1350 to 1600.
And was originally made up of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca tribes. Tuscarora was later added in 1722.
Before the important treaty that brought them together these tribes were often at war with one another as well as with the Algonquin.
Learning about the history of these people does not need to be dry and boring, or even have to be part of a box curriculum.
You just want to include some fun ideas and crafts.
To make your study more hands-on I have a tutorial for how to make a 5 Arrows craft to represent the five original tribes of the confederacy.
Also, I have a wonderful array of facts about them, and some additional resources and crafts to make it fun and exciting.
Books about the Iroquois Confederacy
Also, look at these books to add to your reading day.
5 Books About the Iroquois
Learn about how the Iroquois lived.
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
Examines the life and career of the fifteenth-century Iroquois Indian.
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.
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.
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.
Add more of these resources to your study.
Iroquois Confederacy Crafts and Resources
- Check out this video on the Iroquois with a folktale and lots of information on the tribes.
- Celebrate National Native American Heritage Day and Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet as an example of Wampum that was so important to them.
- This easy tutorial will teach you How to Make a Longhouse For a School Project that is a great centerpiece for a diorama.
- Learn How to Make A Spin Drum | 10 Native American Crafts for Kids. Spin drums were used in several ways throughout tribes across the nation.
Finally look at how to make this five arrows craft.
How to Make a 5 Arrows Craft
You will need:
- Dowel rods 3/16” to ⅜”
- Macrame Cord
- Pencil Erasers
- Scissors
- Small Comb
- Hot glue gun
First, cut roughly one hundred 5” lengths of macrame cord, you will need 20 pieces for each arrow.
Take 2 strands and knot in the center on one end.
Repeat 9 more times.
Line up your knots and run a line of hot glue from one side, across the back and over the other, allowing it to cool and harden.
Use the comb to brush out both sides of the cording, you want to fluff and frizz it out.
Trim the excess cording from each side, the length of your cording will depend on the length of the dowel rods
Place hot glue inside an eraser cap and press onto the other end.
When you have completed all 5 arrows you can lay them out, fanning a bit.
Run the cord in and out of several of them and then wrap around the whole bundle leaving a little slack.
Spread the bundle back out and hold it into place using a little hot glue.
