Iroquois: People of the Longhouse

1. Iroquois:People of the Longhouse By: Meredith Lerch and Monica Wurster

2. Introduction You are a member of the Iroquois Nation!  Your clan needs a new longhouse. You and another member of your clan will create a long house, working together to ensure the successful construction of your new home and design of the surrounding environment.

3. Task • With a partner, use the links provided to research longhouses. • Create a model longhouse, keeping in mind the specific features that it should have. • On your own, write a 1-2 paragraph description of your longhouse. • Prepare a five minute presentation to discuss your longhouse and the process of building it.

4. Resources • Long house Virtual Tour • Using only the first four pages • The Longhouse • Mohawk Iroquois Village: Introduction

5. Process • While you and your clan member are constructing your new home, use these questions to guide you: • What do the longhouses look like inside and out? • How are the longhouses built? • What would be in the surrounding area of the longhouse?

6. Process, cont. • Each pair will receive a foam rectangle as a base on which to build their model of a longhouse.  The model must include a longhouse structure and the land around the structure.  You are encouraged to add as many details as you and your clan member can create. • Possible materials: • sticks • popsicle sticks • actual bark • fabric • toothpicks • brown paper bags • twist ties • string

7. Process, cont. • Each clan member will write a 1-2 paragraph description of your longhouse. • As clan members, share for five minutes how you went about constructing your longhouse. • Your longhouses will be displayed in the classroom for all to see!

8. Evaluation of Your Model You will be evaluated on: • how your pair works together and shares responsibilities for the project • the amount of effort the longhouse model shows:  solid construction, addition of details, and use of entire foam space • how closely the longhouse and surrounding area represents actual Iroquois environment 

9. Evaluation of Your Writing You will be evaluated on: • The details of traditional longhouses that you’ve included and obtained from the websites. • Using proper punctuation, spelling and grammar.

10. Evaluation of Your Presentation You will be evaluated on explaining: • The process of research • The process of construction • Materials used • Building procedure • How you worked together and shared responsibilities

11. Conclusion We hope that you have enjoyed being a clan member of the Iroquois Nation. We anticipate that building your longhouse has helped you to see the effort and hard work that goes into constructing your family’s home.