Indigenous Peoples of NYS

Students share what they already know

“It was just the Corn Moon!” “They also had a Wolf Moon!” “And a Strawberry Moon!” Sharon Paige’s Katonah Elementary School fourth graders were bursting with information about Native Americans of New York—and not just their practice of naming full moons to reflect the rhythms of the natural world.

Their study was part of fourth grade social studies focus on New York State’s history and its indigenous peoples.

The social studies lesson began by Paige showing the class a big map of New York State, and where the Algonquin and the Iroquois peoples lived. The students were excited to locate Katonah, too.

Learning more through independent reading

  • reading

Collaboration with a partner

  • collaboration

All Class Share about the Algonquin and Iroquois peoples

After independent reading and collaborating with a partner, the students shared what they learned about the Algonquin and Iroquois peoples, including food, dress and leadership.

Algonquian lived with their family in wigwams, and many Iroquois families lived together in a longhouse, the students said.

Paige introduced the word Haudenosaunee, which means “people of the long house.” The name refers to the six Native American nations who joined together as the Iroquois Confederacy. “

"They joined together because they wanted peace,” the students agreed.