In this Grade 5 Social Studies lesson from Chapter 1 of Pengi Social Studies, students compare the nomadic lifestyle of Plains peoples — who depended on bison for food, clothing, and shelter — with the settled agricultural societies of the Eastern Woodlands. Students also explore Three Sisters farming (corn, beans, and squash), the structure of the Iroquois Confederacy, and daily life in longhouses.
Section 1
Plains Peoples and the Buffalo
Life on the vast grasslands of the Great Plains revolved around the bison (buffalo). For nomadic tribes like the Lakota and Cheyenne, the buffalo provided meat for food, hides for clothing, and bones for tools.
To follow the buffalo herds, these groups lived in cone-shaped homes called tepees, which were made of buffalo skins and wooden poles. Tepees were durable and easy to move.
Section 2
The Woodlands Provide for Early Peoples
The Eastern Woodlands was a vast region of forests, rivers, and lakes. This environment provided early American Indian peoples with everything they needed, including food, water, and materials for shelter and tools.
Life in the woodlands followed the seasons. People planted crops like corn and squash in the spring. They hunted deer and other animals in the fall to prepare for winter. Fishing and gathering nuts and berries were also important activities.
Because the region was so large, the climate and resources varied. Peoples in the warmer south developed different cultures and lifestyles than those in the colder north.
Section 3
Southeastern Peoples Built Farming Communities
In the warm Southeast, peoples like the Cherokee and Creek were expert farmers. They grew the Three Sisters—corn, beans, and squash—which provided a steady food supply. This allowed them to build permanent villages and towns.
Families lived in sturdy homes made from wattle and daub, a mix of river cane, sticks, and clay. These homes were often arranged around a central plaza. The plaza was the heart of the village, used for ceremonies and community gatherings.
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Section 1
Plains Peoples and the Buffalo
Life on the vast grasslands of the Great Plains revolved around the bison (buffalo). For nomadic tribes like the Lakota and Cheyenne, the buffalo provided meat for food, hides for clothing, and bones for tools.
To follow the buffalo herds, these groups lived in cone-shaped homes called tepees, which were made of buffalo skins and wooden poles. Tepees were durable and easy to move.
Section 2
The Woodlands Provide for Early Peoples
The Eastern Woodlands was a vast region of forests, rivers, and lakes. This environment provided early American Indian peoples with everything they needed, including food, water, and materials for shelter and tools.
Life in the woodlands followed the seasons. People planted crops like corn and squash in the spring. They hunted deer and other animals in the fall to prepare for winter. Fishing and gathering nuts and berries were also important activities.
Because the region was so large, the climate and resources varied. Peoples in the warmer south developed different cultures and lifestyles than those in the colder north.
Section 3
Southeastern Peoples Built Farming Communities
In the warm Southeast, peoples like the Cherokee and Creek were expert farmers. They grew the Three Sisters—corn, beans, and squash—which provided a steady food supply. This allowed them to build permanent villages and towns.
Families lived in sturdy homes made from wattle and daub, a mix of river cane, sticks, and clay. These homes were often arranged around a central plaza. The plaza was the heart of the village, used for ceremonies and community gatherings.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter