Stephen Quinn

Unit: Social Studies 7: Global Heritage and Exploration

Aim: What were the political/social/ economic characteristics of the Iroquois Indians?

Goals:
• Identify and explain who the Iroquois Native Americans were
• Define and explain the significance of the Iroquois League.
• Recognize the impact of Iroquois on New York today

Main Ideas/ Understandings:

• In the northeast there existed a large group of Native Americans known as the
Iroquois.
• The Iroquois were located in eastern woodlands region, spreading from Illinois to
New York. They were made up of different tribes, such as the Mohawks, Senecas,
Onieda, Onondaga, Cayuga.
• The various Iroquois tribes had similar food habits, growing the three sisters:
Squash, beans, and corn. The different tribes shared many similarities and
differences, such as living arrangements and political structures.
• One characteristic of the Iroquois that stands out is their organization of the tribes.
The Iroquois were able to organize a political setup similar to what we have
today, as our government borrowed details from.

Materials: Corn Husk Doll, Iroquois facts, Iroquois political setup

Do Now: Students will be given sheet on Iroquois corn husk dolls. Students will then
read over the sheet and fill out. It will be discussed in class.

Activities/ Questions/ Transitions:

1. Homework will be gone over.
2. Students will go over the do now activity. It will be used to get them thinking of
the culture of the Iroquois.
3. What does this tell you about Iroquois society? Transition into Iroquois society.
4. Students will be given handout on Iroquois culture. Students will read through the
information together in class. They will also answer questions throughout the
reading. What made the Iroquois unique among the different Native American
groups?
5. Students will then go over the sheet on the Iroquois Political structure. They will
attempt to describe this system in their own words. How does this system relate to
our own system of democracy today?
6. Students will compare and contrast in groups the Iroquois League with what they
know of American society today. Once finished it will be gone over.

Summary/ Application: What are some ways the Iroquois culture has impacted American
culture? Are the Native Americans as barbaric as we believe them to be?