Tribal Regions Worksheet
Indigenous Cultures & Geography Social Studies • North American History
Tribal Regions Worksheet
Investigating Environment, Geography, and Indigenous Ways of Life
Name
Date
Period
1
Cultural Regions Map Study
Match the 7 major regions to the numbered zones on the map.
Region Word Bank
Arctic Northwest Coast California Southwest Plains Eastern Woodlands Southeast
PACIFIC OCEAN ATLANTIC OCEAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N
2 Regional Environment & Identification Chart
Write region name matching each map number.
Region Name
Geography & Climate
Key Natural Resources
1
Frigid tundra, permafrost, treeless ice plains
Seals, whales, caribou, polar bears, walrus
2
Temperate rainforest, coastal fjords, heavy rain
Red cedar trees, salmon, seals, berries, otters
3
Mild coastal valleys, oak woodlands, marshlands
Acorns, shellfish, deer, tule reeds, small game
4
Arid desert, steep canyons, mesas, dry heat
Clay/adobe mud, corn, beans, squash, sandstone
5
Vast open grasslands, rolling prairies, few trees
Bison (buffalo), prairie grass, chokecherries
6
Dense deciduous forests, lakes, rivers, 4 seasons
Birchbark, timber, deer, Three Sisters, beaver
7
Warm humid climate, coastal plains, rich rivers
Fertile soil, wild turkey, alligators, tobacco, cane
Turn over for Culture, Shelter & Environmental Adaptations Page 1 of 2
Part II: Cultural Adaptations & Analysis Tribal Regions Study Guide
Shelter, Diet & Ecological Ingenuity
Indigenous nations engineered distinct lifestyles tailored precisely to the ecosystems around them.
3
Architecture & Ecology Matching
Match each indigenous dwelling type to its environmental reasoning by writing the correct letter.
Traditional Dwelling
1. Adobe Pueblos (Southwest)
2. Cedar Plank Houses (NW Coast)
3. Buffalo-Hide Tipis (Plains)
4. Birchbark Longhouses (Eastern Wood.)
5. Igloos & Tupiq Tents (Arctic)
Environmental Adaptation Reason
A. Sun-dried clay insulates against intense desert heat by day and cold nights.
B. Snow blocks insulate against winter freezes; seal hides serve summer hunting tents.
C. Huge rot-resistant cedar trees built permanent clan lodges along rich waterways.
D. Lightweight cones disassembled fast to follow migrating bison across grasslands.
E. Sturdy timber sheathed in waterproof birchbark sheltered extended families.
4
Environmental Synthesis & Case Studies
Case 1: Mobility vs. Permanence (Great Plains vs. Northwest Coast)
Explain why Plains tribes lived a nomadic lifestyle following game, while Northwest Coast tribes built permanent coastal villages. How did their natural food sources dictate these choices?
Case 2: Agricultural Engineering ("The Three Sisters")
In the Eastern Woodlands and Southwest, farmers interplanted corn, beans, and squash together. How did this companion planting help soil fertility and provide balanced human nutrition?
Case 3: Environmental Modification (California vs. Southwest)
Choose either California tribes (using controlled burning to maintain acorn groves) OR Southwest Puebloans (building desert irrigation canals). How did they shape their natural environment?
Respecting indigenous sovereignty, diversity, and ecological heritage across Turtle Island. Page 2 of 2
