THE VERY FIRST AMERICANS

Thousands of years ago… Long before the Pilgrims, many people already lived in

America.

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We call them Native Americans. Native means “first”.

This is probably what America looked like back then.

There were no stores, cars, or electricity.Can you imagine that?

There were many different tribes of Native Americans.

Here are just a few…

Cherokee Navajo Apache Sioux

Many tribes had similar ways.

What is similar among these 4 different tribes?

They built their houses from what they could find around them.

Some used animal skins, clay, trees, and tall grass.

LonghousePueblo dwelling

Teepee Hogan

Most Native Americans had gardens. They grew corn, squash, beans, onions, and other

foods.

They also picked berries and gathered nuts.

They were great hunters. They hunted buffalo, deer, turkey, and fish.

They hunted with a bow and arrow.

We can still find their arrow heads all over America.

They made their clothes (and other belongings) from animal skins. They even made things from

husks of corn.

Cornhusk bed mat Cornhusk shoe Cornhusk basket

moccasins

Most of the first Americans walked from one place to another.

Others made boats, called canoes, from tree trunks.

They often played music, danced, and sang.

They would do a special dance called a Rain Dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=380Mh4jqs14You can watch a traditional rain dance at this link.

Why do you think they would want it to rain?

Like you, Native American children played with toys and games.

Do these games look familiar?

Corn husk dolls

Antler dice game

Pin game

Peg board game

Racket sport

Hoop dancing