Tipi: Heritage of the Great Plains, houses more than 160 objects from the Plains material collection at Brooklyn Museum (and more!) plus three full sized tipis. When your kids do enter a Tipi, the are asked to follow Native American rules: walk behind, not in front of, a person seated in the tipi; walk in a clockwise direction; and note that Native Americans kicked out rude or disruptive kids.

Tipis, or teepees, visitors will learn, are tents; wigwams are more permanent structures. Two other full-size tipis are tricked out in Native American objects like bearskin rugs and tools, but you can’t enter these. Also on exhibit, see the dolls girls played with, and the play hunting tools boys had. Even then, gender rules were defined.

Children can see a colorful headdress, beaded moccasins and the cradles used to carry babies.

This month, the Sunday art program, Arty Facts, explores the homes in the museum, from those permanent historic rooms to the tipis. The hour and a half classes, for ages 4 - 7, are at 11am and 1:30pm, and cost $10 per family, in addition to museum admission.

At the free Target First Saturday, March 5, the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers perform a family-friendly dance at 5:30pm. Parents and kids can get free timed tickets for a hands-on art project where you make a parfleche, a Native American pouch, out of  hide.

And on March 19, enjoy family-friendly Tipi Storytelling. Award-winning storyteller, author, and recording artist, Dovie Thomason, who is of Apache and Lakota descent, performs at 2pm.

The Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718-638-5000
The suggested museum admission is $10 for adults; children under 12 are free.
The exhibit is good for all ages; elementary school kids who are studying Native Americans will be particularly jazzed.

For other great exhibits for kids, check out our Museum Guide.