Please read the notes provided below from Chapter 1:1
Early People
Journey From Asia
• The first Americans came thousands of years ago
• Millions of Native Americans lived in North and South America by 1500 AD
• Modern Scientists and archeologists are still trying to figure out how the first people came to North and South America by using artifacts left behind.
Crossing the Land Bridge
• During the Ice Ages, parts of the Earth were covered with large sheets of ice and glaciers making the sea levels much lower than they are today.
• Some scientists believe that during this time, a wide strip of land between Asia and North America (near Alaska) formed a land bridge called Beringia.
• The scientists believe that people from Asia crossed this land bridge and entered North America during the last Ice Age over 12,000 years ago.
In Search of Hunting Grounds
• Nomads move from place to place to gather (grains and fruit) and hunt for food.
• They migrated, or crossed the land bridge from Asia to North America in search of new places to hunt and gather
Hunting for Food
• Giant beasts such as woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and mastodons roamed the land and were hunted by the early Native Americans.
• The hunters used stone, bones, and poles to make their weapons for hunting.
• Eventually, when the Ice Age was over, the Beringia (land bridge) was submerged under the ocean so Asia was no longer connected to North America and the giant beasts died off. People needed to find new food sources.
Settling Down
Planting Seeds
9000 years ago in Mexico, people learned to plant maize (corn) and eventually other crops for food.
Early Communities
Early Americans in Mexico and Southwestern United States formed stationary communities since they could now farm for their food.
The Growth of Cultures
Farming allowed people to spend time on activities other than finding food.
People improved their lives in other ways
• Built permanent shelter
• Made pottery and cloth
• Developed more complex forms of government
As communities formed, Americans developed their own culture forming customs, beliefs and ways of protecting themselves.
Please watch the video as it reinforces the instruction from in class and the text book.
Source: Teacher's Domain
Please watch the video as it reinforces the instruction from in class and the text book.
Source: SciAmerican
Using the notes and videos provided above along with your text book, please complete the vocabulary worksheet that was given in class. Each students is to draw a picture of all of the key terms from section 1. These pictures will help students to remember the definitions in the near future.
