Huts and Shelters in the Woodland Village
Lesson Plan
Huts and Shelters
1. Display on poster or overhead the different types of Native American shelters built through out the country during this time or at other periods.. Discuss how the materials available and the climate determined the type of shelter that was built.
2. If possible show the Views of the Past poster that depicts the small Cherokee Village on the Warren Wilson College site. Students can offer ideas as to the materials used and how the shelters were constructed. Display on the overhead a copy of the archeological maps of the site that actually show the post holes and many other features of the village. Briefly explain excavating process and the positioning of post holes every 6 inches as well as the post holes that created the palisades.
3. Activity: Building a Shelter - Prepare a clay circular base about 4 inches in diameter. Use toothpicks to build a circular frame. Set the toothpicks about an inch apart. Use yarn to weave the exterior of the shelter by going in and out of the toothpicks. For the roof cut a half circle from construction paper and pull together to from a cone to place on the top of the shelter.