Traditional American Indian housing styles reflect the culture and environment of the people who made and lived in them. They illustrate extended family relationships, how communities worked together, and the ability of people to plan and prepare for major projects.
The size of these structures is important to their function, but it can be difficult to visualize. This activity allows students to physically “draw” the footprint of a tipi, bark lodge, grass lodge, or earth lodge to aid in visualizing the structures.
