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4B-2
Take-Home Worksheet

Dear Family Members,

I hope your child is enjoying learning about some of the earliest people to inhabit the continent of North America. Over the next several days, s/he will be learning about the tribes that settled in the various regions of the continent, including the Hopi and Zuni tribes of the Southwest; the Eastern Woodlands tribes, including the Iroquois; the Southeast tribes, including the Cherokee; and the Inuit of northern North America. Below are some suggestions for activities that you may do at home to reinforce what your child is learning about the earliest known people to inhabit North America.

1. Using a Map of North America

Have your child locate the southwestern part of North America on a map. S/he will be learning that two of the tribes that were descended from the Ancestral Pueblo in this area were the Hopi and the Zuni. Discuss with your child how the Hopi, like their ancestors before them, had to use ingenious methods to farm in this arid climate. The Hopi grew many different foods, but they relied most heavily on corn. On the map, have your child locate the Eastern Woodlands area of North America, which stretched from Canada south to the Carolinas, and from the Great Lakes east to the Atlantic Ocean. Discuss with your child how the tribes in this area, including the Iroquois, had to build houses that would keep them warm in this often cold and snowy region. They built longhouses, which housed many members of an extended family, and wigwams that were wooden, rounded structures similar in shape to igloos. On the map, have your child locate the southeastern part of North America. Discuss with your child how the tribes in this area experienced a mild climate and fertile soil. As a result, food was plentiful in this region and allowed the population to grow at a faster rate than in many other regions. Your child will learn that this region was the most densely populated when the European explorers arrived in North America. Your child will be learning about the Cherokee who settled in this area. S/he will be learning about the Cherokees Green Corn Festival and a game played by the Cherokee that was similar to lacrosse in its use of a ball and net, but very different in its serious warring nature. On the map, have your child locate the northern part of North America, including Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. Remind your child that s/he learned about part of this region when s/he studied the Vikings earlier this year. Your child will also be learning about the Thule and Inuit, who lived in this region and found ingenious ways to survive in an inhospitable climate.

2. Draw and Write

Have your child draw and write about what s/he is learning regarding the different ways various tribes adapted to their environments. You may wish to have your child draw the different types of houses built in the different regions. The Hopi stone and wood home was entered through the ceiling
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2013 Core Knowledge Foundation

using a ladder. The Iroquois lived in longhouses and wigwams that provided protection from the cold and snowy winters. The winter homes built by the tribes of the Southeast were circular with conical roofs through which smoke from an internal fire could escape. The summer homes built in the South and east were often thatched roofs supported by wooden poles, frequently lacking any walls. The homes built by the Inuit in the harsh climate of the northern-most part of the continent were made of blocks of snow called igloos. Those homes had a tunnel entrance that was designed to trap cold air and keep it away from the main living area of the home. Your child could also draw some other aspects of the tribes culture. S/he may draw a kachina spirit and describe its importance to the Hopi people. You may also wish to have your child draw the three sisters of corn, beans, and squash, and explain their importance to the Native Americans. S/he may also draw a scene depicting the Green Corn Festival or the game anetsa, both associated with the Cherokee culture. You may also wish to have your child draw a kayak and explain how it was invented by the Inuit and was important to their survival because of their reliance on fishing.

3. Sayings and Phrases: Cold Shoulder

Your child will be learning the saying cold shoulder. Talk with your child about the meaning of this phrase. In reference to this saying, have your child tell you about the way in which the Hopi people used this as a way of punishing people. Because the Hopi people believed they should always be kind to people, it was considered a punishment to ignore someone, or give them the cold shoulder.

4. Words to Use
Below is a list of some of the words that your child will be learning about and using. Try to use these words as they come up in everyday speech with your child.

reveredJohn revered his father, who was a kind and intelligent man. cloakedThe young girl, cloaked in a brown cape, crept through the forest. extended familyAn Iroquois extended family, called a clan, lived together in a longhouse even though it could include up to fifty people. inhospitableThe inhospitable climate of the Arctic makes it difficult for much vegetation to grow. Read Aloud Each Day
It is very important that you read with your child every day. Set aside time to read to your child and also time to listen to your child read to you. Please refer back to the list of recommended resources related to the Native Americans that may be found at the library, as well as the list of informational websites. Be sure to praise your child whenever s/he shares what has been learned at school.
158 Native Americans: Regions and Cultures
2013 Core Knowledge Foundation