Picture by Brent

What buildings did the Indians live in?

The woodlands Indians liked to live in wigwams. These were round shelters that kept the Indians safe and warm. It was similar to a tepee because it was made of tree saplings (little tree trunks) that made a frame. Then bark from trees was used to make the walls. It was bigger than most tepees, though, and more round. Wigwams had roofs, too. Tepees did not.

The woodlands Indians also built longhouses. These houses were shaped like rectangles, and they had rounded roofs. Families would share these homes because they were very big.

The plains Indians mostly lived in tepees. These Indians were hunters, and they had to move a lot when they were hunting animals. Tepees were like big, tall tents and could be moved easily. Tepees were made of long poles that were tied together at the top. Animal skins were stretched around them to make walls. A hole was usually left in the top so that smoke could get out of the tepee.

Think about it:  Imagine that you have moved to the plains. You have to build a tepee. What things will you need? What poles will you use? How will you attach them? What will you cover them with? What if it rains? How will you make sure rain doesn't leak into your tepee?

To learn more about the shelters that the Indians used, visit this site:

Picture by Bailey

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