Ancient Northern Plains Native American Engineers (HS)
Ancient Northern Plains Native Americans were engineers with equal design capabilities used by modern day engineers but without the available technology: instruments, equipment, and computers. The Hidatsa, Arikara, and Mandan Indians designed low earth lodges in pre-Columbian times. The low earth lodges were built with a 30 to 40 ft circular floor below the earth’s surface and an upper frame 10 to 15 ft above earth’s surface in the center and 5 to 7 ft at the eaves (outer frame). The low earth lodges frame covering consisted of clay soils and grass cuttings to provide insulation during the cold season, wet season, warm season and protection from the wind.
objectives
• Students will construct an ancient earth lodge and surface earth lodge using both modern and pre-Columbian material
• Students will test how the design of a dwelling affects the strength of the structure
• Students will learn the importance of the slope of the roof when designing a dwelling.
• Students will explore how slight changes in the design of a dwelling can affect the dwelling
Topic(s)
Engineering
type
High school lesson
9-12
Grade(s):
time needed
6 hours
author
NATURE
national next gen standards
north dakota standards
• HS-G-CO.1 Know precise definitions of angle, circle, perpendicular, parallel line and line segment, based on the undefined notions of points, line, and planes
• HS-G-CO.12 Basic geometric construction with a variety of tools and methods
• 9.10.2.7 Maintain clear and accurate records of scientific investigations
• 9.10.8.3 Explain how individuals and groups, from different disciplines in and outside of science, contribute to science at different levels of complexity
• 11-12.7.4 Explain how science and technology can influence personal, industry, and cultural decision making (e.g. organ transplant, cloning, stem cell, research, genetic manipulation, use of genetic profile, archeological discoveries, land management, resource management