I have a free Native American Unit Study. Look at these other Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more ideas and topics for hands-on learning.
First, there is no way in this one unit study I can go into the depth and breadth of each Native American tribe.
Each tribe not only hails from different parts of the U.S. but their past and present are vastly different.
However, because our children need a starting point, I’ve attempted to give a simple overview in this free Native American unit study.
In addition, I have hands-on ideas as we study a tribe or region and will continue to add more as we study them.
Before European explorers came Native Americans were well established in North America.
They were the first inhabitants of North America. Until the mid-1800s when they made contact with settlers, traders, and explorers they lived peaceably on their land.
Also, at that time the American government started enforcing their policies.
First, I have a list of living books.
Native American Books for Kids
I prefer living books when I can find them, then I like to add reference books to our reading list.
16 Books About Native Americans
You’ll love these books about various Native American tribes and how they lived and their rich history.
Saxso is fourteen when the British attack his village. It’s 1759, and war is raging in the northeast between the British and the French, with the Abenaki people Saxso’s people by their side. Without enough warriors
to defend their homes, Saxso’s village is burned to the ground. Many people are killed, but some, including Saxso’s mother and two sisters, are taken hostage. Now it’s up to Saxso, on his own, to track the raiders and bring his family back home . . . before it’s too late.
In Their Own Words: Sitting Bull tells the exciting story of Sitting Bull's life using real drawings, letters, and speeches from him and from his friends and family.A warrior I have been. / Now, it is all over. / A hard time I have.With these words, Sitting Bull surrendered to the U.S. government on July 20, 1881. Sitting Bull spent most of his life trying to protect his people. A proud father and brave warrior, Sitting Bull wanted the Lakota Sioux to continue hunting buffalo and roaming the Plains. Although he lost this battle, Sitting Bull is remembered for his brave actions and notable accomplishments.
Here are the great stories of the Blackfeet, recorded by the famous conservationist and ethnologist, George Bird Grinnell, who became a tribal member in 1885. The Nizitapi, or Real People, as they call each other, were people of the buffalo. They originated on the plains of today’s southern Alberta, western Saskatchewan, and central Montana. Famed frontier artist George Catlin called the Blackfeet “the most
powerful tribe of Indians on the continent.” Like many native people, the Blackfeet have stories and legends that originated centuries ago, perhaps thousands of years ago, and were passed down from generation to generation through an oral tradition.
In a story that is as gripping as it is historical, Newbery Honor-winning author Jean Fritz reveals the true life of Pocahontas. Though at first permitted to move freely between the Indian and the white worlds, Pocahontas was eventually torn between her new life and the culture that shaped her.
Countless herds of majestic buffalo once roamed across the plains and prairies of North America. For at least 10,000 years, the native people hunted the buffalo and depended upon its meat and hide for their survival. But to the Indians, the buffalo was also considered sacred. They saw this abundant, powerful animal as another tribe, one that was closely related to them, and they treated it with great respect and admiration.
"Hidden Roots" focuses on the greater impact that the generations of Abenaki that followed had to deal with. Readers will learn about the loss of identity, history and culture;lack ofself worth and fear that Abenaki people were feeling, and still feel today. Middle grade readers love to see life as "being fair", and will totally understand that life is not fair in this story. This is a book that should be read in every middle school class, so that this history will not be forgotten, and never be repeated.
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. Grabber and his friends will do anything they can to hurt him, especially during the village-wide game of Tekwaarathon (lacrosse). Ohkwa'ri believes in the path of peace, but can peaceful ways work against Grabber's wrath?
Through the eyes of a brave and independent young woman, Scott O'Dell tells of the tragic defeat of the Nez Perce, a classic tale of cruelty, betrayal, and heroism.
This powerful account of the tragic defeat of the Nez Perce Indians in 1877 by the United States Army is narrated by Chief Joseph's strong and brave daughter.
When Sound of Running Feet first sees white settlers on Nez Perce land, she vows to fight them. She'll fight all the people trying to steal her people's land and to force them onto a reservation, including the soldiers with their guns.
But if to fight means only to die, never win, is the fight worth it? When will the killing stop?
Before dying, Pyesa, Black Hawk’s father and chief of his people, commanded his son to defend their land from whites, who were trying to force the tribe off their land. Black Hawk, however, has no taste for killing and scalping and goes through great internal conflict. The story of this great-hearted leader shows how some whites and Native Americans were peaceful and kind, while others were not. Based on true events, this powerful book teaches about a difficult time period and shares profound, unique messages about love, faith, mercy, humility, friendship, forgiveness, and faith. Recommended for ages 13-18/Grade 7-12
Jim Keath has lived for six years as a Crow Indian when he learns that his two younger brothers and a sister are journeying west to take up land. Although Jim finds it difficult to fit in with the family he hasn’t seen since childhood, and though they are wary and distrustful of him, Jim feels his duty is at their side. But slowly, as they survive the dangerous trek west, the perils of frontier life, and the kidnapping of their younger brother, Jim and his family realize that the only way to survive is to accept each other and truly reunite the family.
Young hawk lived over 400 years ago, but the civilization of the pueblo indians, already well advanced before any white settlers came into their land, has changed very little since his day.
Captured by her enemies, married to a foreigner, and a mother at age sixteen, Sacajawea lived a life of turmoil and change. Then, in 1804, the mysterious young Shoshone woman met Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Acting as interpreter, peacemaker, and guide, Sacajawea bravely embarked on an epic journey that altered history forever. Hear her extraordinary story, in the voices of Sacajawea and William Clark in alternating chapters, with selections from Clark’s original diaries.
She was named Omakakiins, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop.
Omakakiins and her family live on an island in Lake Superior. Though there are growing numbers of white people encroaching on their land, life continues much as it always has.
But the satisfying rhythms of their life are shattered when a visitor comes to their lodge one winter night, bringing with him an invisible enemy that will change things forever—but that will eventually lead Omakakiins to discover her calling.
After being taken prisoner by an enemy tribe, a Shoshoni girl escapes and makes a thousand-mile journey through the wilderness to find her own people
Tells of the adventurous life of the Wampanoag Indian,Squanto.
This title teaches readers about the first people to live in the Plains region of North America. It discusses their culture, customs, ways of life, interactions with other settlers, and their lives today.
Next, there are many tribes of Native Americans.
Tribes of Native Americans
While they were similarities among tribes each tribe was different.
They varied in culture, belief and interaction with the settlers or Europeans.
Again, for the sake of simplicity tribes can be divided into 4 major regions.
However, with older children or if you want a deeper peer into the Native Americans, these general 4 major regions can be further subdivided.
For example, you can add the Southwest region to focus on less.
At this point 4 separations keeps it easy to give children an introduction into a massive study.
Also, this will help guide you as you learn about a region or a tribe and compare lifestyles and geographical areas. This greatly influenced how people lived.
Coastal Indians/ Pacific Northwest
The Coastal Indians lived in what is now Alaska to Northern California and from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains.
For example, in this area resources were bountiful like trees. Tribes could use long planks from the tall cedar trees for their homes.
In addition, this area had a temperate rain forest with an abundance of animals. So, this area had not only an abundance of trees but water.
To survive, they didn’t really need to move around since resources were abundant.
They were hunters, fisherman and gatherers.
The tribes of this area included the Tlingit, Chinook, Nez Perce, Coast Salish, Haida and Yakama.
Woodland Indians/Northeast
The Woodland Indians lived in the area that stretches from the border of Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. And from the Mississippi River to the east coast and the Atlantic Ocean.
In this area the Native Americans used the forests where trees were abundant. And used the bark and trees to make warm houses.
Winters were harsh and food scarce. They farmed and planted corn, squash and beans.
Too, they created dugout canoes to travel the waters. They were farmers, woodsmen and hunters.
In this area, groups can be separated into two larger groups. One was the mound builders like the Hopewell and the League of Five Nations.
Five tribes, the Mowhawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca, joined together to form the League. The League was the largest native group in the eastern United States.
Benjamin Franklin said that the U.S. idea of the federal government, in which certain powers are conferred
on a central government, and all other powers reserved to the states, was borrowed from the system of government of the Iroquoian League.
Examples of Native Americans in this area are Iroquois Indians of New York, the Wappani, The Wampanoag, Choctaw, Algonquin, Creek, and the Shawnee. Seminole were in Florida and the Chickasaw. The Cherokees were one of the largest in the area too. Penobscot lived along Penobscot River basin and along Penobscot Bay in present-day Maine.
Look at my HUGE unit study and free lapbook about the Iroquois Confederacy. Here is my first page Iroquois Confederacy and my Free Iroquois Lapbook.
Too, look at my hands on activities National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet and How to Make a 5 Arrows Craft | Iroquois Confederacy Facts.
More Northeast/Woodlands Native American Activities
Desert Indian/Southwest
Desert Indians lived in the southwestern part of the United States.
The area had limited water supply, but they learned how to farm with limited water.
This region had dry valleys and smaller rivers. The area was covered with cacti, sagebrush, and desert plants.
And they were nomads or wanderers. People who lived by hunting, villagers and farmers.
Some examples of tribes in the area are the Navajo, Anasazi, Hopi, Zuni, Apache, Mescalero Apache and Pueblo.
Plains Indians
Next are the Plains Indians.
The area they lived in was the region between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico.
This landscape could be harsh with limited resources, but they followed the resources.
Some tribes never settled; they were nomadic. They were gatherers, farmers, hunters and fishermen.
Cheyenne, Comanche, Crow, Mandan, Arapaho and Blackfoot are some tribes in that area.
Too, Sioux, Ponca, Omaha, Pawnee, Oto, Lakota, Kiowa, Osage, Wichita, Iowa, the Cheyenne, the Pawnee, Dakota, Wahpeton, Ojibwa and Teton to name a few more.
More The Plains Indian Activities
- The Plains Indians Unit Study & Lapbook
- Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School).
- Plains Indians Free Writing Prompts. For Elementary, Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
- How to Make a Kid’s Paper Bag Native American Vest
As you can see there are huge regions and many variations of tribes that lived within these 4 regions
Compare the Food, Homes, and Clothing of Native Americans
Additionally, comparing the food, homes, clothing and other cultural differences with give your children a bird’s view.
This will help you to dive into huge areas if you want to compare tribes or learn about a few.
Homes of the Native Americans
The Plains Indians lived in teepees or tents because they moved about.
And the tribes who lived along the northwest seacoast or Coastal Indians made homes of wood.
The Southwest Native Americans used dried brick or pueblos.
However, the Woodlands/northeast tribes built home of tree branches covered with bark. There were two main types of houses, longhouses and wigwams.
Food of the Native Americans
Next, learn about the animals that lived in the region.
Some animals were considered sacred to the Native Americans, and most were used for food and utilized for clothing.
Look at some of the animals of the following regions:
Plains – The buffalo provided the Plains Indians everything they needed. For example, the buffalo provided food, clothes, and teepees.
Desert Indian/Southwest -They were farmers too and utilized their small water supply to grow corn, beans and squash.
Sometimes they could find wild turkeys and rabbits. Women would sometimes ground corn for bread from cornmeal.
Woodland Indians/Northeast – They farmed beans, squash and corn when food was scarce. In the wintertime they would hunt deer and rabbits.
They fished using nets and traps.
Coastal Indians/ Pacific Northwest – Salmon was abundant in this area for a short time of the year. Some tribes hunted seals and whales.
Clothing of the Native Americans
Move on to learning about the clothing of the Native American in each region.
All of them made their clothing by hand and used local resources like animals hides, animal furs and plants.
Clothing of the Plains Indians varied as much as the region is diverse and large.
Decorations varied too. The Northern Plains clothing was elaborate. However, the clothing in the Southern Plains was almost void of decorations.
The principal body covering was a whole robe buffalo skin. Men wore tunics or fringed shirts but the clothes were made for traveling.
Some decorated their clothes with porcupine quills and bead work. And both men and women wore moccasins.
Next, the Woodland Indians/Northeast used beaver pelts or animal hides like deer were used to make clothing, blankets, parts of shelters and many other everyday household items.
Men wore long shirts and adapted their clothing to the weather. In the winter they would wear fur robes.
Women wore long dresses made from deerskin and would wear leggings and shawls in the winter for warmth.
Moreover, dress was fairly simple among the Coastal Indians/ Pacific Northwest.
Women wore skirts or gowns. Dress varied by tribe. Some used bark from cedar trees to make raincoats and hats. Men wore robes made from woven cedar bark. They often had detailed embroidery.
They would wear wooden or woven sandals to protect their feet from the elements.
Finally, the Desert Indians clothing was made entirely of natural materials like buckskin, cotton, yucca, and feathers.
Their clothes were designed to keep them comfortable and cool. Men wore loin cloths and women colorful dresses. All from cotton.
Finally, they would wear wide brimmed hats to protect themselves from the sun.
More Native American Unit Study Resources
- 100 BEST Hands-on Free Native American Resources
- How to Make a Kids Pinch Pot
- How to Make A Spin Drum | 10 Native American Crafts for Kids
- Create A Fun Cradleboard Craft
- 13 Easy Native American Crafts for Kids & Make a Cool Arrowhead
How to Get the Free Native American Printables
Now, how to grab the freebies. It’s a subscriber freebie.
Too, I have 2 printables which come two ways in this one download.
One printable is for your child to write the answers and the other page has the answers printed or your child draws the pictures.
So, when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.
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