Native American History - 1 st lesson-

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Native American History

Native Americans lived in the United States for a very long time before Christopher Columbus discovered America. You can read about their amazing culture and learn about the things they love like music, Art and different types of homes. They have many different tribes and we give you a quick overview of these. There are many famous Native Americans like Jim Thorpe, Pocahontas and Sitting Bull.

Native American Homes

There were many Native American tribes through North America. The homes they built were as varied as they were. Their homes often reflected the region in which they lived, their climate, and the nature of their life. Three of the most recognized Native American homes were the teepee, the longhouse, and the pueblo.




The teepee is the Native American home that you’ve probably seen in movies. It is probably the most famous of all Native American homes. The word comes from the Lakota word “thipi,” which means “dwelling.” These were most common on the Great Plains of the central United States. They were tent-shaped and were usually covered with buffalo skins. Teepees were useful for tribes were moved a lot because they could easily be taken apart. They were usually about twelve feet tall. Later, however, as the Plains Indians became horsemen, they built them twice as tall. They were meant to be portable, and could be taken apart very quickly.

Teepees were simple, but cleverly designed. The opening at the top of the teepee had a flap. When fires were burned inside the teepee, the flap could be opened to let smoke escape. Think of it---it was almost like a chimney!

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Native American Food

Native Americans were resourceful and very good at using what was available to them. Food was no exception. Wherever a tribe was located, they learned what plants would grow there and how to hunt the animals in the area.

Many tribes survived mostly hunting and fishing. In the Arctic and extreme northern parts of North America, most tribes relied entirely on hunting and fishing. The reason for this was simple---nothing would grow there! Other tribes hunted mostly big game, like buffalo or caribou. Those tribes moved frequently in order to follow the herds. Almost all tribes hunted at least part of their food. Most tribes hunted deer and rabbits, and caught fish in rivers and lakes. Native Americans felt very strongly that they should not waste food, so they were careful to eat all of an animal that they killed.

Agriculture, or farming, was very common among native tribes. Farming was most common among settled tribes who did not move around very often. It was most advanced in the Southern United States, where the warm climate created a long growing season. The tribes of the Southeast developed special methods for growing their food. They used irrigation, crop rotation and planted windbreaks to ensure their crops.
The main crops that were grown by Native Americans were corn, beans, and squash. Corn, in particular, was a very important part of the diet of Native Americans. It was referred to as maize by many Native Americans. Most Americans of today are used to corn in shades of yellow. But Native Americans grew a wide variety of corn in many different colors. They grew red, green, blue, and even black corn! Over the years, corn has been bred to be much sweeter than it was when Native Americans grew it. Unfortunately, it’s far less healthy now than it was then. In addition to food crops, many native tribes also grew medicinal plants, cotton, and tobacco. Believe it or not, it is estimated that as much as three-fourths of the world’s foods today are food that were originally cultivated by Native Americans!

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Native American Art

There were many Native American tribes across North America. They each had their own unique culture. Many tribes developed unique art forms, as well. Since tribes were often very different from each other, their art was often very different from each other. Generally, only native societies that settled in an area for a long period of time pursued art. Tribes that moved often did not have time for creative pursuits.


One of the most common types of art created by Native Americans was pottery. Not all tribes made pottery. The Lakota Sioux, for example, moved too often to carry around heavy pieces of pottery. Most tribes, however, made pottery for its usefulness and also because it was beautiful.



Native Americans often made pottery the same way that artists make it today. They used a spinning wheel, or they sometimes made coil and pinch pots. Many pottery pieces were decorated with important symbols, such as animals. Sometimes native pottery recorded important events in the history of a tribe.

In addition to pottery, Native Americans also made colorful and beautiful baskets. Basket weaving was a common pastime for native women, who spent long periods of time weaving reeds and cornhusks into detailed patterns. Baskets served a purpose, since they were used to carry vegetables and fruits. They also told a story. Like pottery, baskets could be decorated to tell about tribal leaders or even battles.

Blankets were another item made by Native Americans that was both useful and attractive. Like baskets, blankets were woven in detailed patterns and vivid colors. It might take days or even weeks to complete a blanket!

Many native tribes also made beautiful carvings. Sometimes they carved bones or animal teeth, or even rocks. These carvings were often of animals. Perhaps the most famous of all Native American art forms was the totem pole. Totem poles were large. In fact, some are more than one hundred feet tall. Totem poles were mostly carved by native people in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

That’s where the country’s tallest trees can be found! Totem poles were carved with many different faces. Sometimes the faces were of family members, and sometimes they were of animals. Sometimes totem poles were carved with large, protruding wings or beaks. Totem poles were even used to tell stories or to pass down legends! Imagine it….a one hundred foot-tall story book with wings and a giant beak!



In the Southwestern United States, the Navajo were famous for their sand paintings. These served a certain purpose. They were made for healing ceremonies. The Navajo believe that the paintings allow them to communicate with spirits who have the power to heal sickness. No matter how beautiful or complex they were, once the ceremony was over, the painting was destroyed. It was simply no longer needed.

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Native American Entertainment

Native Americans enjoyed sports and games just like everyone else. They spent a lot of their time growing crops and hunting, but they enjoyed their free time. We know, from accounts of Europeans, that Native Americans played a variety of games. They also enjoyed music, and entertained themselves with a number of different instruments.





Many tribes played a kind of handgame. This involved two players hiding bones or sticks under their hands, shifting them back and forth. The other team has to guess where the bones and sticks are. This game was not only played for fun. Apparently the game was used to gain land, horses, or cattle. It may have even been used to get a wife!


Whatever games Native Americans played, it seems that entire villages participated. They were not strictly for children. Even elderly family members played games. It also appears that betting on games was commonplace.

Music was also widely played for entertainment. European accounts of their encounters with Native Americans often describe enthusiastic music-playing. Drums were widely used as were rattles. Rattles were often made of dried gourds, then filled with things like small rocks or seeds to make noise. Native Americans also made rattles to wear on the body. These were made by stringing ****ls or animal hooves onto a cord, which would then be worn around the ankle or wrist.





Wind instruments, such as whistles, were also widely played by Native Americans. These were often made from wood, reeds, or hollowed bones. Archaeologists have found many carvings and cave drawings of people playing flute-like instruments. This tells us that it was a popular instrument for Native Americans.