This week, our 5th graders wrapped up an exciting project that helped bring history to life—Native American shelter dioramas! As part of our study of the cultural regions of the United States, students selected a specific tribe from one of the major regions: the Eastern Woodlands, Great Plains, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Arctic/Subarctic, or Southeast. Their mission? Research the tribe’s traditional shelter and create an accurate model that reflects how environment and culture shaped daily life.
Using materials like cardboard, craft supplies, paint, natural objects, and plenty of creativity, students recreated structures such as igloos, longhouses, teepees, plank houses, adobe dwellings, and more. Each diorama also included details from the tribe’s environment—trees, animals, landscape features, and seasonal elements—to show how geography influenced the way people lived.
One student proudly displayed a snowy scene complete with winter animals, sparkling “ice,” and a handmade igloo, representing how Arctic and Subarctic tribes adapted to incredibly harsh climates. Others crafted scenes from forests, plains, and deserts, each one unique and historically grounded.
Through this project, students strengthened their research skills, practiced creativity and problem-solving, and deepened their understanding of how Native American tribes used the resources around them to build homes suited to their environment. Most importantly, they gained an appreciation for the diversity, resilience, and ingenuity of the many Native cultures that shaped our nation.
We are so proud of their hard work and can’t wait to see what they create next!
Mrs. Lynndesa Rupard
Hazel Green Elementary School
Laurel County Public Schools
5th Grade
