The first in a series of Native American instructional materials, this booklet introduces elementary students to the culture and history of woodland, plains, desert, and coastal Indians. It presents an overview of philosophies common to most Native American cultures, differentiates the four Indian culture areas, and guides students in identifying their own culture and recognizing similarities and differences among cultures. Background information, legends, classroom activities, and discussion and evaluation questions are provided. Written in simple language, the booklet describes various types of Indian shelters, the extended family, the significance of Indian names, oral traditions, music and dance, languages (including manual signs and pictographs), tribal leaders, and a variety of Indian calendar systems. Student activities include completing a chart to show comparisons and contrasts among culture areas, constructing model shelters using materials available in the four culture areas, and finding the origin of English words that were borrowed from Indian languages. Directions and illustrations teach the Round Dance of the plains and desert cultures. The text includes references to films, books, and records containing related information. (JH)