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Most Native Americans residing in Tennessee lived a Stone-Age lifestyle. Hunting, gathering, and growing crops took up most of the lifestyle. The people also lived in wattle and daub houses. These houses were made from river cane, mud, wood, and vines. These houses could actually fit up to eight people inside. As far as weapons, the most common remained as the knife, the bow, the arrow, and an axe.
The resource below is a brief video of teaching students about specific types of homes Native Americans lived in during this time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU_4JIr26W4

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When the Europeans arrived, they introduced new ideas, customs, ways of life, religions, weapons, etc. to the Native Americans in Tennessee. For example, the horse, the wheel, livestock, and sadly, disease.
Below, is a resource in which students can visit to read/annotate several primary sources (and answer coordinating questions) of the direct effects of initial European contact with the Native Americans. (Each source includes a transcript for better understanding).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/native-north-americans/

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The Europeans not only brought new, exciting things to introduce to the Native Americans, but also brought deadly diseases and turmoil. Diseases brought upon the Indians included, tuberculosis, chlorea, influenza, measles, and smallpox. Because the Native Americans had not been able to build immunization to these diseases, massive declined in population occurred. Also, with European expansion, taxes, forced labor, and even enslavement were brought upon the Native Americans. Below, I have included an online resource from PBS.org, that students can visit to read more about smallpox and its effect on the Native Americans.
https://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/variables/smallpox.html

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The Shawnee originated in Tennessee around the Cumberland River. The food of the Shawnee people included, mostly buffalo, beaver,  bear, wild turkey, pumpkin, squash, and corn. As far as clothing, the Shawnee mostly wore breechcloths and fringed tunics, until they began adopting several types of clothing from white settlers. The Shawnee is actually the most famous of the Great Plain Native American Indian tribes. Below, I have found a very interesting and informative video on the Shawnee and their history. This would be a great introductory tool in the teaching of this tribe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jU4-20fn28

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The Choctaw Indians were descendants of Mississippian mound builders from the Mississippi River Valley. The Choctaw people established villages all throughout the South and use canoes to trade with other tribes. Stickball, a Choctaw version of lacrosse, was famous among the tribe. The opposing team would paint themselves white (pictured below); 100-1,000 men would participate in this game. The main enemies of the Choctaw tribe was the Chickasaw. Below, is an image that I have located of Choctaw Stickball. However, I have also found an article discussing how Stickball is still played today. Sharing this with students, reading the article, showing the current and past pictures of the game could be an exciting interest to them.
https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/choctaw-stickball-a-game-of-history-passion-and-pride-L4tYhhheoUKit4eYYLgDVQ/

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The Yuchi people were one of the earliest tribes in Tennessee, originating from the eastern Tennessee Valley area. They were driven out by the Cherokee in the early eighteenth century; "Tanasi", where Tennessee got it's name, is actually a Yuchi word. The Yuchi tribe was known for cooking their food into soups, cornbread, or hominy. They also focused their hunting on smaller game, such as, rabbits, fox, deer, or turkey. This resource is from Tennessee Encyclopedia. It could be printed out and used as a whole group read-aloud or individually. Students can be given highlighters to annotate important information about the Yuchi people.
https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/yuchi-indians/

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Also known as the Muscogee tribe; The Creek tribe were descendants of Mississippian mound builders. In 1813-1814, the Creek participated in the Creek War to prevent further American settling/expansion onto Creek lands. The wars were lost and the Creek, along with several other tribes were forced to relocate. The Creek grew crops.  such as, corn, beans, squash, and sweet potatoes.  They also made their clothes from bark fabric and deer skin. Below, is a map of the Creek War, as well as, another short article that could be used to introduce the Creek War to students, who it involved, and how it effected the tribes.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/creek-war-in-the-southeast-1.htm

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The Chickasaw Indians were known as the "unconquered" tribe of the Southeast. The Chickasaw tribe were descendants from the Chickemicaws, who were the first inhabitants of the Mexican Empire. The diet of the Chickasaw included wild hog, raccoon, squirrel, and deer, as well as, supplemented with nuts, herbs, and fruit. The Chickasaw were best known for their military strategies and unexpected war tactics.
Below is an excellent resource in furthering explaining what types of warriors the Chickasaws really were. There is an article, as well as, a film to watch. War tactics and military gain was a huge part in who the Chickasaw tribe was and it is very important to emphasize that through the use of this resource.
https://www.chickasaw.tv/videos/the-chickasaw-warrior-identity

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The Cherokee was, and still remains, one of the biggest and most powerful Indian tribes from the South. The Cherokee language and ancient history was none like the rest of the tribes that resided in Tennessee. The Cherokees were both hunters and farmers. The Cherokee Indians are also famous for the "booger mask" or the "booger dance". This mask was a  carved mask with different features and expressions and was used to represent animals or non-Indians. As time passed, the Cherokee moved from hunter-gathering to raising domesticated animals, such as, cattle, hogs, and chickens.
This resource is a video example of the Cherokee "booger dance" and the incorporation of the "booger mask". After showing students this video, and allowing them a visual after instruction, the teacher could ask them to construct their own mask using various craft supplies.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ_9j7OZqLA

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Indian Tribes Residing in Pre-colonial Tennessee 

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Indian Tribes Residing in Pre-colonial Tennessee 

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Indian tribes residing in pre-colonial Tennessee included: the Cherokee, Chickasaw,  Creek, Yuchi, Choctaw, Seneca, and Shawnee. As an introduction or even as a closing, teachers could use this resource for displaying that it is still important to learn about the Native Americans today. This resource is from the Native American Museum in North Carolina. By simply showing students that there are resources for learning more about these tribes could spike interest.
https://www.cherokeemuseum.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAiZPvBRDZARIsAORkq7eo9gqQYWVADBNn0ihXaSWtXBrBf4Rcdp8X_1tuoYrMcSinMJRjb94aAhk4EALw_wcB