Throughout the month of October, Duanesburg's fourth-grade students studied Iroquois life in preparation for recreating this time in New York State history. Once the clans were assigned, and Chiefs and Clan Mothers were selected, the students got busy. And, after weeks of hard work, they were able to host a celebration to show off their work.

The students built a Native American longhouse village including a replica longhouse, fire circle, corn garden, look-out post and stockade fence.  This wonderful "hands on" experience provides students with many opportunities such as problem solving, cooperative work and how to use simple tools of long ago.  This project also welcomed and encouraged parents and grandparents to be involved in the process from the construction of the village to the closing ceremony. 

The celebration feast, hosted at the end of October, included foods the Iroquois would have eaten, such as "The Three Sisters Soup", turkey and corn muffins.  Throughout this project, students had a chance to experience a more peaceful and simple time, and live the life of the Haudenosaunee, or People of the Longhouse, even if only for a little while.