Let's learn about the

"First People" of New York

(Chapter 3)

In this part of our unit (Chapter 3), we will explore the early people of the Americas. We will pay close attention to the people in the area that is now New York State. We will go back in time (40,000 years ago!) and learn how the first people of the Americas arrived over a "land bridge" and see how artifacts and storytelling can help us learn more about our history. We will continue with discovering who the hunter-gathers were 15,000 years ago, as well as the People of the Woodlands near the Hudson River Valley 1000 years ago. We will end up in the 1570s with the Iroquois Confederacy in the area of Onondaga Lake. At the end of our unit, we will create a special culminating project. Our "Native American Museum" will have the special projects we create on display for others to see. We will earn about the details at another time.

For now, let's get started with...

Words to Know

Now let's review a little about American Indians, some early explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Henry Hudson, the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving.

Let's learn about the culture of the Hodenosaunee...

The People of the Longhouse!, also known as the... Iroquois!

The Iroquois Confederacy (The Six Nations)

Cayuga

Onondaga

Seneca

Oneida

Mohawk

Tuscarora (joined later)

Don't forget to explore our classroom display for an extra challenge! You can read more about the Iroquois Indians and more from books like these...

http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/society/iroquois-confederacy.html
http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/society/native-american-languages.html