Name: The Inuit

G5.1 ©2013 Integrated Lessons.com 1

The Inuit

1 The Inuit people, or Eskimo, crossed into North America

thousands of years ago. They used an ice bridge of the Bering

Strait during the last ice age. The word Inuit means “people” and

this tribe speaks Inuit. This is one of two branches of the Eskimo

language.

2 Some of these ancient people went south to warmer parts of

present-day Canada, the U.S., and South America. The Inuit

stayed in the frigid arctic. Their homes are in Canada, Alaska,

and Greenland. They settled along the coastlines of the ocean,

lakes, and rivers. They are snowy and frozen yearlong. Life was

very hard due to the low temperatures, snow, and ice that never

melted. The freezing winters were very long and the summers

chilly and short. They became experts at finding food to survive.

3 The Inuit were great fishermen and hunters. Yet, they were never able to grow crops due to the arctic climate. Since ice

covers all water, they hunted by cutting holes into the ice. Then, they dropped fishing hooks into the water. They also

trapped seals and other mammals at these spots. As seals arose from the water for air, the Inuit speared them. They also

hunted arctic foxes, polar bears, caribou, and walruses.

4 They became experts at “reading” the ice and frigid waters. They knew when the ice was dangerous to walk on and its

thickness. This allowed them to hunt and fish safely. This knowledge was passed down from their ancestors. It also taught

them how to use their boats, or kayaks, to hunt whales. These kayaks were covered in waterproof sealskin and would be

steered around ice flows and icebergs to find prey.

5 They used every part of whales for survival. Whale fat and oil was burned for lighting simple lanterns! The bones and

ivory were used for tools and weapons, such as knives, harpoons, spears, and needles. The warm and dry animal hides

were used for clothing, blankets, and shelter.

6 Many Inuit lived in igloos during the coldest parts of the year. This was mostly the winter months when the howling wind

whipped across the snowy land. They first would form large blocks of snow. Then, they would stack them on one another

creating a circular, domed shelter. The huge amount of snow and ice made these shelters easy to make quickly. They

could also make a small fire inside the igloo without melting the blocks. For the warmer months, they would build tents

covered in animal hides. These skins were held up by frames made of wood or bones. These tribes knew that they had to

use all of their cold environment to survive.

7 While Inuit men hunted and made shelters, the women made clothing. In such a cold land, animal fur was perfect for

staying warm. Tribal members wore two layers in an anorak, or parka. Fur traps warm pockets of air against the body, so

the inner layer of fur was worn against the skin. The outer layer’s fur faced the wind. This layer was waterproof, keeping

the person dry. Pants were also made using this method. Boots also needed to be waterproof to keep out melting snow.

Seal skin was perfect to use since it kept out water very well and was tough. Also, polar bear and caribou pelts were

highly prized for the same reasons. The Inuit used every part of an animal!

8 Besides using kayaks to travel, the Inuit also had dogsleds. They preferred the large and rugged huskies. They were strong

enough to pull a sled, rider, and gear. These dogs were also used to the freezing air and could haul a rider for miles across

the ice. This was the easiest way to take supplies long distances.

The Inuit

G5.1 ©2013 Integrated Lessons.com 2

5. Why would two layers of fur be used to make anoraks?

A. both layers were needed to stay dry

B. the inner layer kept out water and the inner kept in warmth

C. both layers were needed to keep out the heat during summer

D. the inner layer kept in the warmth and the outer kept out the water

6. True or False. The Inuit ate more meat than plants.

A. True B. False

3. According to the article, how did kayaks float?

A. they were covered in seal skin

B. very light wood was used

C. whale oil kept out water D. animal bones formed the bottom

4. Which part of an animal was used for lighting?

A. fur B. whale oil C. ivory D. whale bones

Directions: read each question and circle the correct answer.

C. by hunting animals in their environment

D. by using every part of an animal

2. Which animal’s hide was perfect for making boots?

A. walrus B. polar bear C. seal D. caribou

B. by using all parts of their surroundings

A. by making warm clothing

1. How did the Inuit survive in the arctic?

The Inuit

G5.1 ©2013 Integrated Lessons.com 3

10. Which resource would most likely have detailed maps of the arctic region?

A. a book on ice fishing B. an atlas C. a thesaurus D. a dictionary

11. What is another word for anorak?

A. coat B. spear C. pants D. blanket

12. Which paragraph contains information about making boots?

A. paragraph 6 B. paragraph 3 C. paragraph7 D. paragraph 8

13. What would be a synonym for the word kayaks in paragraph 4?

A. harpoon B. boat C. skis D. water

9. What was the author’s purpose for writing this article?

A. to inform about Inuittraveling

B. to persuade you thatarctic life is extremely hard

C. to entertain you withstories about arctic life

D. to inform you about theInuit and how they lived

7. What can you infer about why the Inuit made igloos rather than stone homes?

A. they had plenty ofstone but those homeswere too hard to build

B. they had plenty of snowand igloos were easy tomake

C. they needed homes thatwere easy to move

D. they needed homes thatcould allow for fires to bemade inside

8. What does the word ancestors mean in paragraph 4?

A. friend B. father C. a dead earlier relative D. mother

Name: The Inuit

The Inuit *

1 The Inuit people, or Eskimo, crossed into North America thousands of years ago. They used an ice bridge of the Bering Strait during the last ice age. The word Inuit means “people” and this tribe speaks Inuit. This is one of two branches of the Eskimo language.

2 Some of these ancient people went south to warmer parts of present-day Canada, the U.S., and South America. The Inuit stayed in the frigid arctic. Their homes are in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. They settled along the coastlines of the ocean, lakes, and rivers. They are snowy and frozen yearlong. Life was very hard due to the low temperatures, snow, and ice that never melted. The freezing winters were very long and the summers chilly and short. They became experts at finding food to survive.

3 The Inuit were great fishermen and hunters. Yet, they were never able to grow crops due to the arctic climate. Since ice covers all water, they hunted by cutting holes into the ice. Then, they dropped fishing hooks into the water. They also trapped seals and other mammals at these spots. As seals arose from the water for air, the Inuit speared them. They also hunted arctic foxes, polar bears, caribou, and walruses.

4 They became experts at “reading” the ice and frigid waters. They knew when the ice was dangerous to walk on and its thickness. This allowed them to hunt and fish safely. This knowledge was passed down from their ancestors. It also taught them how to use their boats, or kayaks, to hunt whales. These kayaks were covered in waterproof sealskin and would be steered around ice flows and icebergs to find prey.

5 They used every part of whales for survival. Whale fat and oil was burned for lighting simple lanterns! The bones and ivory were used for tools and weapons, such as knives, harpoons, spears, and needles. The warm and dry animal hides were used for clothing, blankets, and shelter.

6 Many Inuit lived in igloos during the coldest parts of the year. This was mostly the winter months when the howling wind whipped across the snowy land. They first would form large blocks of snow. Then, they would stack them on one another creating a circular, domed shelter. The huge amount of snow and ice made these shelters easy to make quickly. They could also make a small fire inside the igloo without melting the blocks. For the warmer months, they would build tents covered in animal hides. These skins were held up by frames made of wood or bones. These tribes knew that they had to use all of their cold environment to survive.

7 While Inuit men hunted and made shelters, the women made clothing. In such a cold land, animal fur was perfect for staying warm. Tribal members wore two layers in an anorak, or parka. Fur traps warm pockets of air against the body, so the inner layer of fur was worn against the skin. The outer layer’s fur faced the wind. This layer was waterproof, keeping the person dry. Pants were also made using this method. Boots also needed to be waterproof to keep out melting snow. Seal skin was perfect to use since it kept out water very well and was tough. Also, polar bear and caribou pelts were highly prized for the same reasons. The Inuit used every part of an animal!

8 Besides using kayaks to travel, the Inuit also had dogsleds. They preferred the large and rugged huskies. They were strong enough to pull a sled, rider, and gear. These dogs were also used to the freezing air and could haul a rider for miles across the ice. This was the easiest way to take supplies long distances.

G5.1* ©2013 IntegratedLessons.com 1

The Inuit

Directions: read each question and circle the correct answer.

C. by hunting animals intheir environment

D. by using every part ofan animal

2. Which animal’s hide was perfect for making boots?

A. walrus B. polar bear C. seal * D. caribou

5. Why would two layers of fur be used to make anoraks?

A. both layers wereneeded to stay dry

B. the inner layer keptout water and the innerkept in warmth

C. both layers wereneeded to keep out theheat during summer

D. the inner layer kept in thewarmth and the outer kept outthe water *

6. True or False. The Inuit ate more meat than plants.

A. True * B. False

G5.1* ©2013 IntegratedLessons.com 2

3. According to the article, how did kayaks float?

A. they were covered inseal skin *

B. very light woodwas used

C. whale oil kept out water D. animal bones formedthe bottom

4. Which part of an animal was used for lighting?

A. fur B. whale oil * C. ivory D. whale bones

B. by using all parts oftheir surroundings *

A. by making warmclothing

1. How did the Inuit survive in the arctic?

The Inuit

10. Which resource would most likely have detailed maps of the arctic region?

A. a book on ice fishing B. an atlas * C. a thesaurus D. a dictionary

11. What is another word for anorak?

A. coat * B. spear C. pants D. blanket

12. Which paragraph contains information about making boots?

A. paragraph 6 B. paragraph 3 C. paragraph7 * D. paragraph 8

13. What would be a synonym for the word kayaks in paragraph 4?

A. harpoon B. boat * C. skis D. water

G5.1* ©2013 IntegratedLessons.com 3

9. What was the author’s purpose for writing this article?

A. to inform about Inuittraveling

B. to persuade you thatarctic life is extremely hard

C. to entertain you withstories about arctic life

D. to inform you about theInuit and how they lived *

7. What can you infer about why the Inuit made igloos rather than stone homes?

A. they had plenty ofstone but those homeswere too hard to build

B. they had plenty of snowand igloos were easy tomake *

C. they needed homes thatwere easy to move

D. they needed homes thatcould allow for fires to bemade inside

8. What does the word ancestors mean in paragraph 4?

A. friend B. father C. a dead earlier relative * D. mother