Essential Knowledge for Unit Two (USI.3) -Early Cultures: The student will demonstrate knowledge of how early

cultures developed in North America by

The student will demonstrate

knowledge of how early cultures

developed in North America by

a) describing how archaeologists have

recovered material evidence of

ancient settlements, including

Cactus Hill in Virginia.

Archaeologists study human behavior

and cultures of the past through the

recovery and analysis of artifacts.

Scientists are not in agreement about

when and how people first arrived in

the Western Hemisphere.

Cactus Hill is located on the Nottoway

River in southeastern Virginia. Evidence

that humans lived at Cactus Hill as early

as 18,000 years ago makes it one of the

oldest archaeological sites in North

America.

b) locating where the American

Indians lived, with emphasis on the

Arctic (Inuit), Northwest

(Kwakiutl), Plains (Lakota),

Southwest (Pueblo), and Eastern

Woodlands (Iroquois). American Indians lived in all areas of

North America.

Inuit inhabited present-day Alaska

and northern Canada. They lived in

Arctic areas where the temperature

is below freezing much of the year.

Kwakiutl homeland includes the

Pacific Northwest coast,

characterized by a rainy, mild

climate.

Lakota people inhabited the interior

of the United States, called the Great

Plains, which is characterized by dry

grasslands.

Pueblo tribes inhabited the

Southwest in present-day New

Mexico and Arizona, where they

lived in desert areas and areas

bordering cliffs and mountains.

Iroquois homeland includes

northeast North America, called the

Eastern Woodlands, which is

heavily forested.

Members of these tribes live in their

homelands and in many other areas of

North America today.

c) describing how the American Indians

used the resources in their environment. In the past, American Indians fished,

hunted, and grew crops for food. They

made clothing from animal skins and

plants. They constructed shelters from

resources found in their environment (e.g.,

sod, stones, animal skins, wood).

Types of resources

Natural resources: Things that come

directly from nature

Human resources: People working to

produce goods and services

Capital resources: Goods produced and

used to make other goods and services

Natural resources

The fish American Indians caught, wild

animals they hunted, and crops they grew

were examples of natural resources.

Human resources

People who fished, made clothing, and

hunted animals were examples of human

resources.

Capital resources

The canoes, bows, and spears American

Indians made were examples of capital

resources.

Essential Questions to Answer

Why is archaeology important?

Where is one of the oldest archeological sites in the United States located?

In which areas did the American Indians live?

Where do American Indians live today?

How did geography and climate affect the way American Indian groups met their basic needs?

How did American Indians use natural, human, and capital resources?

Native American VOCAB

Terms not English?

Definitions not English?

archaeology recovery of material evidence remaining from the past

archaeologist people who study human behavior and cultures of the

past through the recovery and analysis of artifacts

artifact an object made by human beings; often refers to a

primitive tool or other relic from an another period

primary source original diaries, journals, letters,etc. written during an

event

history record of the past

culture the customs, arts, and conveniences of a nation or

people at a given time

environment all the surrounding things, conditions, and influences

affecting living objects

adaptation a change to fit different conditions

land bridge two pieces of land joined by land acting as a bridge

migrate to move from one place to another

climate weather conditions in an area over a long period of

time

drought A long period of time without rain

natural

resources

resources that come directly from nature, raw

materials

human

resources

people working to produce goods and services, also

brain resources

capital

resources

items produced that are used to make other things

Essential Understanding: Prior to the arrival of Europeans, American Indians were dispersed across different environments in North America.

- 5 Native American Tribes | SOL USI. 3b American Indians lived in all areas of North America 1. Inuit ______________________ present-day ___________________ and northern Canada. They lived in _______________________ areas where the temperature was below __________________ for much of the year. 2. Kwakiutl homeland includes the _______________ Northwest coast, characterized by a __________________, ______________________ climate. 3. Lakota people inhabited the interior of the United States, called the _____________________ and characterized by __________________________ grasslands. 4. Pueblo tribes inhabited the _________________ in present-_________________ and ___________________________, where they lived in desert areas and areas bordering cliffs and __________________. 5. Iroquois homeland includes ________________ North America, the ___________________ Woodland, which is heavily ______________________________.

Members of these tribes live in their homelands and in many areas of North America today.

Essential Understanding: Prior to the arrival of Europeans, American Indians were dispersed across different environments in North America

- Archaeology | SOL USI. 3a Archaeologists study __________________ behavior and culture through the recovery and analysis of _______________________. Scientists are not in agreement as to when and how people entered the ___________________________________________. ________________________________ is located on the Nottoway River in ________________________________ Virginia. Evidence that human lived at Cactus Hill as early as 15,000 years ago makes it one of the __________________________ sites in

__________________________.

Essential Understanding: Archaeology is the recovery of material evidence remaining from the past. Archaeological discoveries of early Indian settlements have been made in southeastern Virginia.

American Indians in North America

Long before the first Europeans arrived, American Indians lived in the eight geographic regions of North America. These

different Indian groups used the resources that were available to them in their different environments. These resources

included natural resources, human resources, and capital resources.

Natural resources come directly from nature. American Indians fished in the rivers, hunted animals, and grew crops.

Human resources are the people working to produce goods and services. American Indians fished, made clothing and

hunted for animals. Capital resources are the goods produced and used to make other goods and services. American

Indians made canoes, bows, and spears. Let’s learn how the Inuit, the Kwakiutl, the Lakota, the Pueblo, and the

Iroquois Indians lived and how they used their resources.

SOL USI.3b,3c Notepage for Student

Page 1

American Indians in North America (cont’d)

The Inuit Indians lived in what is now northern Canada and Alaska. Temperatures in these Arctic areas are below

freezing much of the year. The Inuit Indians used the natural resources from this frozen environment to meet their basic

needs. In the past, their lives depended on the animals that lived in this region. They followed the roaming herds of

caribou, seals, fish, and migrating birds such as ducks and geese. These animals were their main source of food and

were also used for clothing and shelter. Their homes were often a simple lean-to made out of animal skins and plant

materials or igloo structures made out of ice and snow.

The homeland of the Kwakiutl Indians includes the Pacific Northwest Coast in the Coastal Range Region of North

America. The climate in this area is surprisingly mild. Warm winds bring a lot of moisture from the ocean and as much as

100 inches of rain can fall each year. The land in this area is covered by vast forests of giant cedar trees and abundant

rivers, streams and springs. The Kwakiutl Indians used the natural resources from this rich environment to meet their

basic needs. In the past, the men hunted deer and moose in the forests, but their main source of food was fish and seals

from the rivers, streams, and ocean. The women gathered shellfish and berries to add to their diet. Many Kwakiutls lived

in longhouses also known as plank houses. Plank houses were similar to the longhouse except they were taller. These

houses and canoes were made from cedar wood. Their clothing was made mainly using animal skins and furs, but they

also made many articles of clothing from the bark of the cedar trees.

The Lakota people lived in the interior of the United States called the Great Plains region. This region has hot summers

and long, cold winters with very little rainfall. The land is covered by huge areas of grasslands, rolling hills, and flowing

streams. The Lakota used the natural resources from this dry environment to meet their basic needs. In the past, they

hunted buffalo and antelope, grew crops such as maize, beans, and pumpkins, and gathered wild berries and fruits. Their

homes included teepees made of buffalo skins held up by wooden poles and domed-shaped lodges covered by earth or

grass. The Lakota people made much of their clothing from the skin of deer and antelope. Men wore animal skin leggings

and buffalo furs over their shoulders while women wore dresses made of deerskin. On their feet they wore animal skin

moccasins.

SOL USI.3b,3c Notepage for Student

Page 2

American Indians in North America (cont’d)

The Pueblo tribes lived mainly in the southern Basin and Range region of North America, in the present-day states of

New Mexico and Arizona. The climate of this area is hot and dry. The land is covered by desert areas, bordering cliffs, and

mountains. The Pueblo used the natural resources from this hot, dry environment to meet their basic needs. In the past,

the men hunted wild animals like deer, rabbits, antelope and bear for food, while women and children collected wild

berries. The Pueblo also farmed. They raised corn, beans, and squash. Their homes were built out of a mixture of sun-

dried earth and straw called adobe. Many of their pueblos, or villages, were located on the flat tops of mesas, which were

elevated areas of land with a flat top, or in natural caves located on the steep sides of canyon walls. The clothes of the

Pueblos were made of leather, fur, and cotton. They were one of the few Indian groups who knew how to grow cotton

and weave it into cloth.

The homeland of the Iroquois Indians includes the northeastern part of North America called the Eastern Woodland.

This area is covered by thick forests, mountains, hills, rivers, lakes, and streams. It has cold winters with snow and warm

summers with plenty of rain. The Iroquois Indians used the natural resources from their environment to meet their basic

needs. In the past, they hunted deer and black bear, fished, grew corn, beans, and squash, and gathered nuts and

berries. Their homes were called longhouses and were made of bent wooden poles and sheets of elm tree bark. They

made most of their clothing from deerskin including long skirts, vests, leggings, moccasins and fur capes.

Today some members of these tribes still live in their native homelands where they continue to observe or follow ancient

traditions. Other American Indians, however, have chosen to leave tribal lands and now live in many areas across North

America.

SOL USI.3b,3c Notepage for Student

Page 3

Early Americans

Term Definition Picture

Archeologist

Archeology

Hunter/Gatherer

What?

So What? Now What?

Resources

Natural Resources

Human Resources

Capital Resources

Peoples

Name Location Remember?

Inuit

Kwakiutl

Lakota

Pueblo

Iroquois

Inuit Kwakiutl Pueblo Lakota Sioux Iroquois

Shelter Igloo plank houses adobe, cliff dwellings tepee

longhouse, wigwam

Clothing sealskin, fur,

hides fur, hides cotton, hides, plant fibers hides, furs hides, fur

Climate

arctic- cold, freezing

temperatures mild, rainy hot, dry desert moderate: warm, cold

moderate; seasonal

Transportation dog sled, kayaks canoes, walked walked walked

canoes, walked

Food whale, seal, polar bear

sea animals, salmon, game

beans, squash, corn

buffalo, deer, berries

corn, beans, squash, game

Area Alaska, Canada Northwest Pacific

Coast Southwest U.S.;

AZ, NM Great Plains Northeastern

U.S.

Interesting Facts