Diné, the People
By Suzanne Eltsosie

Hogans

1.     Review Diné, the People (history & bibliography)  or present a related summary as needed.

2.     Read, study, and discuss The Navajo Hogan and look at other examples, if possible. From the story of “The First Hogan”, tell how the four sacred mountains are represented by the corner posts of the Hogan. How many different kinds of Hogans are there? What are they used for? Why does a Navajo Hogan or house always face east?

3.     Make a picture or model of a Hogan.

4.     Have any of your students ever lived in a Hogan (or other Native American dwelling)?

Worksheet: Homes for Diné

Name:                                  

Fill in the blanks from the word bank below.

When Diné first came, they lived in _______________.  They wanted to build good homes that would be _______________ in the winter and    ____________________ in the summer. They first went to the ____________________ People. ___________________ showed them how to make a home that was _______________________ like the sun.  First Woman gave him a _______________________ shell to wear.  They then went to Mrs._____________________ who showed them how to weave _________________________. Next they came to Hosteen _______________________ who taught them to make ___________________________ call the people to meetings.   Cliff Swallow then showed them how to make a home using _________________________ mud mixed with grass.   Some of the people liked these homes and stayed and they became _______________________.   The rest of the Diné went to talk to the ______________________________ People.  Hosteen ___________________, Hosteen ____________________ and ________________ Mink all had good homes but they were dark and damp, and smelled like  _________________.  The _________________________ People had a wonderful home and showed ____________________ how to make a dome roof. When Diné went to Mrs. Caterpillar, she showed the how to make a home from ____________________ threads from her body.

Next, they went to _______________  ______________.  She invited them in and then played a trick on them by swinging the _______________ as the Diné climbed down. Spider Woman promised to show them how to _________________________________    ____________________________________.   First Woman gave them some _________________   ________________ in a shell so they could use them to dye the threads for their pretty blankets. Next they saw a mound of earth. Mrs. _______________________ told them to come in.  The Diné liked the shape of the ant's home and that it looked like the ______________________ around it. Then they said, "Our homes will be round like the _______________________, with a dome-shaped ___________  ___________  with an opening to the sky, with a doorway facing ___________   _____________.  Our floor and walls will be plastered with ____________________ mud. It will ___________________ in the winter and __________________________________ in the summer.

 Word Bank