First or Native Americans

      The Powhatan Indians lived here in our area of Virginia in the Eastern Woodlands.

  • Region = places that have the same or common characteristics

 

Look below at the three regions where the Native Americans lived and survived.

Indian Tribe & Region Climate Land Plant Life
Powhatan  (Eastern Woodland) mild winters, hot, humid summers rivers, hills, mountains, coastland forests with a great variety of plant life
Sioux (Plains) hot summers harsh, cold winters plains, prairies, rolling hills grasses
Pueblo (Southwest) hot days, cold nights, little rainfall high flatlands cactuses

                  

LOCATION OF TRIBES:

                     1) Powhatan Indians

            ( lived in the Eastern Woodlands of the USA )

Facts to Know:

  1. They fished in nearby rivers, creeks, lakes, and ponds.

  2. They gathered plants and farmed for food.

  3. The wood and bark of trees was used to make made canoes and homes.

  4. In the forests close by, they hunted for animals to be used as food and clothing.

               

                           2) Sioux Indians

                (lived on the Plains of the Central USA)

Facts to Know:

   1. The buffalo was hunted and used as food, to make clothing, tools, tepees, and weapons.

 

 

 

3) Pueblo Indians

                       ( lived in the Southwestern USA)

Facts to Know:

  1. The Pueblo Indians mixed clay soil, water, and grass to make bricks to form their houses.

 

    INDIAN HOMES:

Powhatan homes were wood and bark houses.

Sioux homes were teepees.

Pueblo homes were multi-story adobe houses.

    OCCUPATIONS:

Powhatan = fishermen, hunters, farmers

Sioux = hunters, horsemen, warriors

Pueblo = farmers

    TRANSPORTATION:

The Powhatan Indians traveled by walking, and paddling canoes.

The Sioux Indians traveled by walking, and using horses.

The Pueblo Indians traveled by walking.

    CONTRIBUTIONS:

  • The American Indians gave us many contributions that have we have learned from and still use today.

  1. arts (jewelry, pottery, weaving)

  2. legends and stories

  3. a respect for nature

  4. how to farm

*Information from the GradesK-3 History & Social Science Curriculum Frameworks (Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Education: Richmond, Virginia)