Native American Cultural Regions Lapbook PDF

NORTHWEST COAST The Native Americans of the Northwest Coast lived on a strip of land along the coast of the Pacific Ocean that stretched from present day Oregon and Washington up into Alaska. The climate in this region is mild, with heavy rainfall. These Native Ameri...

NORTHWEST COAST The Native Americans of the Northwest Coast lived on a strip of land along the coast of the Pacific Ocean that stretched from present day Oregon and Washington up into Alaska. The climate in this region is mild, with heavy rainfall. These Native Americans built their homes on the rocky beaches between the shore of the ocean and the thick pine and cedar forests. They used cedar trees for shelter, clothing, and tools. The Indigenous peoples of this area built large, sturdy plank houses out of cedar wood. They wove cloth for garments from plant material found in cedar bark. They also used this same material to make ropes and fishing nets. The ocean and rivers provided plenty of food for the Native Americans of the Northwest Coast, including shellfish, cod, whales, salmon, seals, and sea otters. They also hunted wolves, deer, mountain goats, elk, and bears in the forests. These Native Americans made dugout canoes from cedar logs. They split the logs lengthwise and used stone tools to chip away at the wood. These boats were used for fishing and transportation when trading. Totem poles were carved from cedar trees and placed in front of homes. The totem poles © Undercover Classroom displayed animals and mythical creatures that told stories about the history of each family and indicated their social position within the tribe.  CALIFORNIA INTERMOUNTAIN Native Americans of the California Intermountain region lived from the shore of the Pacific Ocean and inland across the Sierra Nevada to the Rocky Mountains. There was a lot of variety to this environment, including mountain ranges, desert, rivers, and forests. The climate was cold in winter, with mild summers. The Indigenous peoples living in this region had plenty of food to gather and hunt. Near the coast, they ate shellfish such as clams. They also fished in the ocean and mountain streams. The California Intermountain Native Americans gathered nuts, seeds, and berries. Acorns were an important food for them. They would grind the acorns into flour and make paste for porridge. They also hunted rabbits, game birds, and other small animals. Rabbit fur was used to make clothing for the cold winter. Woven grass clothing was worn in the summer. Many of the Native Americans in this region lived in large, grass hut communities. They built these homes in groups, on round frames with grass or bark from the local redwood trees. The California Intermountain Native Americans built plank boats from wood for travel. They made rafts out of tall grasses. The rafts were light and easy to carry. They also traveled by foot. These Native Americans were known for their unique baskets and beads. They used shells to make beads. They tied shells and feathers to their baskets. © Undercover Classroom  SOUTHWEST Native Americans of the Southwest lived in the area that is now Arizona, New Mexico, Southern Colorado, and part of Texas. This region has mountains, mesas, canyons, and deserts. The climate was extremely dry, with very few trees, plants, or rivers. Native Americans who lived in this area learned how to farm with very little water. They grew cotton, corn, beans, and squash through the use of irrigation. There were not many animals to hunt in the Southwest. The Indigenous peoples of the Southwest built villages along the sides of cliffs for protection. They built their shelters out of stone or adobe bricks that were made from hardened clay from the Earth. These dwellings had many levels that were reached by ladders. These Native Americans wove cloth from cotton to make clothing and blankets. They used plants to make brightly colored dyes for these fabrics. They wore moccasins on their feet since they traveled by foot. The Southwestern Native Americans were known for their beautiful pottery and clay pots that were often decorated with geometric shapes and patterns. They wove baskets with similar designs and also carved Kachina dolls out of the roots of cottonwood trees. These dolls were made as gifts for children to teach © Undercover Classroom them about the spirits of their ancestors and religion.  PLATEAU Native Americans of the Plateau region lived on the high, flat plateaus between the Cascade Mountains and the northern part of the Rocky Mountain Range. This area had a very harsh climate, with extremely cold, snowy winters and warm summers. These Native Americans made pit houses that were partially under the ground. They would dig down about three feet into the Earth and then build a circular shelter on top using wood, dirt, and grass mats. They built their homes in villages near rivers where they could fish for trout, salmon, and eels. Nearby forests were the perfect location for hunting elk, deer and bear. The Indigenous peoples of this area also ate many wild roots such as the Camas Lily bulb, which was boiled or roasted. They gathered blackberries and huckleberries. Native Americans of the Plateau region wore deerskin robes, dresses, and moccasins. These Native Americans were also skilled weavers. They wove dresses from grass and made basket hats. Dugout canoes or bark canoes were used for short distance transportation, but the rivers in this region had very strong rapids which made travel by water difficult. Some Native Americans in this region had horses and used a variety of interesting weapons and tools. They made digging sticks and sling shots. © Undercover Classroom  GREAT PLAINS The Native Americans of the Great Plains lived on the flat, grassy land between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River. This region is cold in the winter and hot in the summer. It did not have many trees, but it did have many animals including buffalo, deer, and antelope. The Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains were hunters and gatherers. Many tribes were nomadic. They traveled around the plains, following the buffalo, which they depended on for daily living. They hunted buffalo and dried the meat for eating. Buffalo skins were used for clothing, blankets, and shelter. They did not let any part of the buffalo go to waste. Since the Native Americans of the Plains moved around a lot, they needed a shelter that could be easily transported from place to place. They built tepees out of long wooden poles, covered by buffalo hides that were sewn together. When it was time to move, they would take down their tepee and carry it, along with their other belongings, on a wooden sled called a travois. The travois was pulled by a dog or a horse. Horses made travel and hunting much easier. Some tribes of the Great Plains built more permanent homes. They lived in © Undercover Classroom dome-shaped lodges that were made of grass and mud. They planted and traded crops such as beans, pumpkins, corn, and squash.  EASTERN WOODLANDS The Eastern Woodland Native Americans lived in the northeastern part of the United States in the area between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River. This region has four seasons. Natural resources were abundant in this area because it was filled with lush forests, rivers, streams, and ocean coastlines. These Native Americans traveled by foot. They also built light canoes from cedar wood and birch bark. In the Eastern Woodland region, Native Americans built their homes in the forest, among hills and valleys. They built two types of shelters, using hardwood trees such as oak, maple, and birch. Some families lived in wigwams. Wigwams were made from small trees that were bent over into a dome shape and then covered with birch bark. Other groups of families lived in longhouses. Longhouses were made from the same materials, but they were much larger. The Indigenous peoples of the Eastern Woodlands hunted for food in the forest. They ate deer, bear, wild turkey, beaver, and squirrels. © Undercover Classroom They were also able to grow corn, squash, and beans. After they killed an animal for food, they prayed for the animal and used all of its parts to make clothing and tools. They wore clothing made from deer skin and hides. They also made capes out of turkey feathers sewn together with roots. Woodland Native Americans sometimes wore masks to scare away evil spirits. It is also believed that they first created the dream catcher, which was used for protection while they slept.  SOUTHEAST The Southeast Native Americans lived in the southern part of the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to Texas. This region had a moderate climate, with coastal waters, rivers and swamplands. Many Native Americans in this area adapted to life in the wetlands. They built their homes on wooden platforms that were raised up above the swampy ground. These elevated shelters were called chickees. Other Native Americans of the Southeast that were in dry areas built wattle and daub homes out of woven grass and bark. Strong, tall grasses were easy to find in the nearby marshes. The Indigenous peoples of the Southeast wore deer skin leggings to protect their legs from the sharp grasses and mosquitoes in their environment. They wore clothing made from moss and wool in the winter. There was fertile soil in this region that was perfect for growing crops such as tobacco, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, corn, and squash. These Native Americans also gathered nuts and berries, caught fish with nets and spears, and hunted deer and turkey. In the fall, they sang and danced at a special Green Corn Ceremony. The Native Americans of the Southeast traveled by raft and dugout canoe. © Undercover Classroom They hollowed out logs using bones and stones to make their canoes. They also traveled by foot.