1. Presentation, Graphic Organizers, & Activities
American
INDIANS
INDIANS
Presentation, Graphic Organizers, & Activities

2. STANDARDS:
SS8H1 Evaluate the impact of European exploration and settlement on American Indians in Georgia.
a. Describe the characteristics of American Indians living in Georgia at the time of European contact; to include culture, food, weapons/tools, and shelter.
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3. TEACHER INFO: CLOZE Notes
The next pages are handouts for the students to use for note-taking during the presentation. (Print front to back to save paper and ink.)
Check the answers as a class after the presentation.
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4. American Indians CLOZE Notes 1
Mississippian
Shelter
Weapons & Tools
Food
Culture
Georgia
Mississippian Indians were alive when Europeans discovered America, but soon after their culture __________________________ .
Villages were protected by guard __________________________ .
Mississippian settlements contained __________________________ .
The Mississippian Indians lived in towns governed by chiefs, who lived in religious centers on top of __________________________ .
The Mississippian Indian groups __________________________ , weapons, pottery, and other goods with one another.
They were accomplished craftsmen, __________________________ , pipes, instruments, and jewelry.
The Mississippian Indians used stone, wood, and bone to __________________________ and farming tools.
They also hunted animals, __________________________ , and gathered nuts and berries.
They grew __________________________ , squash, beans, tobacco, etc.
Mississippian Indians were the first of Georgia’s early inhabitants to __________________________ on a large scale.
The dead were buried in fine cloths with feathered headdresses and the bodies were __________________________ .
Mississippian Indians built __________________________ and had religious ceremonies.
Mississippian Indians inhabited Georgia from about __________________________ , and were around when Europeans began exploring the area.
Some of the earliest indigenous groups were Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and __________________________ Indians.
For thousands of years, __________________________ have inhabited the land that is now Georgia.
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American Indians CLOZE Notes 1

5. American Indians CLOZE Notes 2
Shelter
Weapons & Tools
Food
Culture
Early Georgians
The “hothouse” roofs were constructed with __________________________ .
During the winter, the Creeks lived in rectangular homes with __________________________ .
They were known as “hothouses” because they were built __________________________ and had a cone-shaped roof that trapped the heat inside.
Cherokee winter homes were smaller, __________________________ with bark roofs.
The Creek also lived in rectangular homes, but __________________________ so that breezes could blow through.
During the summer, the Cherokee lived in long, rectangular houses with __________________________ .
The Cherokee and the Creeks both had __________________________ for the summer and winter months.
Georgia’s Indians also __________________________ , flint knives and arrowheads, and stone axes.
They used materials from the environment to create blowguns, __________________________ , traps, and fishing spears and hooks.
Both the Cherokee and the Creek Indians had __________________________ and tools.
Georgia’s Indians also gathered __________________________ , and they grew crops like squash, corn, and beans.
They hunted wild animals like __________________________ , and they caught and ate fish and mussels from Georgia’s waterways.
Both the Creek and the Cherokee depended on Georgia’s __________________________ for food.
The Cherokee and Creek both built their towns around a central plaza that held a __________________________ where government meetings took place.
Villages were part of larger towns that were protected by a __________________________ called a palisade.
The Georgia Indians settled in __________________________ .
The two tribes had __________________________ and ways of life.
The Creek Indians lived in __________________________ , while __________________________ lived in the northern part of the state.
When Europeans really started exploring Georgia __________________________ , there were two major indigenous tribes left in the state.
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American Indians CLOZE Notes 2

6. American Indians CLOZE Notes 1
Mississippian
Shelter
Weapons & Tools
Food
Culture
Georgia
Mississippian Indians were alive when Europeans discovered America, but soon after their culture began to disappear.
Villages were protected by guard towers and moats.
Mississippian settlements contained thousands of families.
The Mississippian Indians lived in towns governed by chiefs, who lived in religious centers on top of large earthen mounds.
The Mississippian Indian groups traded tools, weapons, pottery, and other goods with one another.
They were accomplished craftsmen, creating pottery, pipes, instruments, and jewelry.
The Mississippian Indians used stone, wood, and bone to create weapons and farming tools.
They also hunted animals, fished, and gathered nuts and berries.
They grew maize, squash, beans, tobacco, etc.
Mississippian Indians were the first of Georgia’s early inhabitants to begin farming on a large scale.
The dead were buried in fine cloths with feathered headdresses and the bodies were tattooed and painted.
Mississippian Indians built flat-topped burial mounds and had religious ceremonies.
Mississippian Indians inhabited Georgia from about 800 to 1600 CE, and were around when Europeans began exploring the area.
Some of the earliest indigenous groups were Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian Indians.
For thousands of years, American Indians have inhabited the land that is now Georgia.
© Brain Wrinkles
American Indians CLOZE Notes 1

7. American Indians CLOZE Notes 2
Shelter
Weapons & Tools
Food
Culture
Early Georgians
The “hothouse” roofs were constructed with bark and grass-covered clay.
During the winter, the Creeks lived in rectangular homes with walls made of clay and moss.
They were known as “hothouses” because they were built over a fire pit and had a cone-shaped roof that trapped the heat inside.
Cherokee winter homes were smaller, rounder structures with bark roofs.
The Creek also lived in rectangular homes, but they had no walls so that breezes could blow through.
During the summer, the Cherokee lived in long, rectangular houses with clay walls and thatched roofs.
The Cherokee and the Creeks both had separate homes for the summer and winter months.
Georgia’s Indians also crafted woven baskets, flint knives and arrowheads, and stone axes.
They used materials from the environment to create blowguns, bows and arrows, traps, and fishing spears and hooks.
Both the Cherokee and the Creek Indians had similar weapons and tools.
Georgia’s Indians also gathered berries and nuts, and they grew crops like squash, corn, and beans.
They hunted wild animals like turkey and deer, and they caught and ate fish and mussels from Georgia’s waterways.
Both the Creek and the Cherokee depended on Georgia’s wildlife and plants for food.
The Cherokee and Creek both built their towns around a central plaza that held a council house where government meetings took place.
Villages were part of larger towns that were protected by a huge wall of logs called a palisade.
The Georgia Indians settled in villages near rivers.
The two tribes had similar cultures and ways of life.
The Creek Indians lived in southern Georgia, while the Cherokee lived in the northern part of the state.
When Europeans really started exploring Georgia in the mid 1500s, there were two major indigenous tribes left in the state.
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American Indians CLOZE Notes 2

8. American
Indians
in Georgia
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9. Georgia
For thousands of years, American Indians have inhabited the land that is now Georgia.
Some of the earliest indigenous groups were Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian Indians.
Mississippian Indians inhabited Georgia from about 800 to 1600 CE, and were around when Europeans began exploring the area.
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10. © Brain Wrinkles

11. Culture
Mississippian Indians built flat-topped burial mounds and had religious ceremonies.
The dead were buried in fine cloths with feathered headdresses and the bodies were tattooed and painted.
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12. © Brain Wrinkles

13. Food
Mississippian Indians were the first of Georgia’s early inhabitants to begin farming on a large scale.
They grew maize, squash, beans, tobacco, etc.
They also hunted animals, fished, and gathered nuts and berries.
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14. Weapons & Tools
The Mississippian Indians used stone, wood, and bone to create weapons and farming tools.
They were accomplished craftsmen, creating pottery, pipes, instruments, and jewelry.
The Mississippian Indian groups traded tools, weapons, pottery, and other goods with one another.
© Brain Wrinkles

15. © Brain Wrinkles

16. Shelter
The Mississippian Indians lived in towns governed by chiefs, who lived in religious centers on top of large earthen mounds.
Mississippian settlements contained thousands of families.
Villages were protected by guard towers and moats.
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17. © Brain Wrinkles

18. Mississippian
Mississippian Indians were alive when Europeans discovered America, but soon after their culture began to disappear.
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19. © Brain Wrinkles

20. Early Georgians
When Europeans really started exploring Georgia in the mid 1500s, there were two major indigenous tribes left in the state.
The Creek Indians lived in southern Georgia, while the Cherokee lived in the northern part of the state.
The two tribes had similar cultures and ways of life.
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21. © Brain Wrinkles

22. Culture The Georgia Indians settled in villages near rivers.
Villages were part of larger towns that were protected by a huge wall of logs called a palisade.
The Cherokee and Creek both built their towns around a central plaza that held a council house where government meetings took place.
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23. © Brain Wrinkles

24. Food
Both the Creek and the Cherokee depended on Georgia’s wildlife and plants for food.
They hunted wild animals like turkey and deer, and they caught and ate fish and mussels from Georgia’s waterways.
Georgia’s Indians also gathered berries and nuts, and they grew crops like squash, corn, and beans.
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25. © Brain Wrinkles

26. Weapons & Tools
Both the Cherokee and the Creek Indians had similar weapons and tools.
They used materials from the environment to create blowguns, bows and arrows, traps, and fishing spears and hooks.
Georgia’s Indians also crafted woven baskets, flint knives and arrowheads, and stone axes.
© Brain Wrinkles

27. © Brain Wrinkles

28. Shelter
The Cherokee and the Creeks both had separate homes for the summer and winter months.
During the summer, the Cherokee lived in long, rectangular houses with clay walls and thatched roofs.
The Creek also lived in rectangular homes, but they had no walls so that breezes could blow through.
© Brain Wrinkles

29. Shelter
Cherokee winter homes were smaller, rounder structures with bark roofs.
They were known as “hothouses” because they were built over a fire pit and had a cone-shaped roof that trapped the heat inside.
During the winter, the Creeks lived in rectangular homes with walls made of clay and moss.
The “hothouse” roofs were constructed with bark and grass-covered clay.
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30. Cherokee Hothouse
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31. Creek Hothouse
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32. Print off the following slide for each student.
TEACHER INFO:
Print off the following slide for each student.
They should complete the chart after discussing the presentation.
Check answers as a class when finished.
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33. American Indians in Georgia
Directions: Complete the chart below after discussing the presentation.
Culture
Food
Weapons & Tools
Shelter
Mississippian
Cherokee & Creek
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34. TEACHER INFO: A Piece of Pottery
Print off the A Piece of Pottery handout for each student.
Have the students design a piece of pottery to represent the American Indians in Georgia.
The design should include symbols or facts that relate to the American Indians’ culture, food, tools, weapons, shelter, etc.
In the textbox, they will write a description that explains the symbols used in the pottery’s design.
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35. Pottery’s Description:
A Piece of Pottery
Directions: Design a piece of pottery to represent the American Indians in Georgia. Draw images on the pottery that pertain to their culture, food, tools, shelter, etc. In the textbox, write a description of what the symbols on the pottery represent.
Pottery’s Description:
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36. TEACHER INFO: Caricatures
Print off the American Indians Caricatures handout for each student.
Have the students create a caricature for the American Indians in Georgia.
The students will write a statement from each of the groups that describes a typical day in the American Indian’s life.
They will draw clothes/jewelry, belongings, and facial expressions to represent the culture.
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37. American Indians Caricatures
Directions: What would the different Native Americans say? Create a caricature for each of Georgia’s American Indian groups that shares something about a typical day in his or her civilization. Also, draw clothes/jewelry, belongings, and facial expressions to represent the culture.
Mississippian
Cherokee
Creek
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38. TEACHER INFO: Comprehension Check
Print off the Comprehension Check for each student.
The students will complete this handout at the end of the lesson. You can count this as a quiz!
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39. American Indians Comprehension Check
1. Which of Georgia’s American Indians first began farming on a large scale?
2. Which two American Indian groups were present in Georgia when Europeans began exploring the area in the mid 1500s?
3. What was the purpose of the council house for the Cherokee and Creek Indians?
4. What were palisades?
5. Why did Georgia Indians settle near waterways?
6. Why did the Creeks and Cherokee have similar weapons and eat similar foods?
7. What did both groups of Indians do for food?
8. What type of weapons and tools did both groups use?
9. Describe the summer and winter homes of the Cherokee.
10. Describe the summer and winter homes of the Creek.
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American Indians Comprehension Check

40. TEACHER INFO: TICKET OUT THE DOOR
Print out the exit slip for each student. (There are two-per-page.)
The students will answer the question inside of the thought bubble.
Collect the slips at the end of class, spend some time quickly reading over them, and choose a few to share the following day.
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41. Pick Your Brain Pick Your Brain
Name:
Name:
Pick Your Brain
Pick Your Brain
Describe the characteristics of American Indians living in Georgia at the time of European contact:
Describe the characteristics of American Indians living in Georgia at the time of European contact:
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