The World Before the Opening of the Atlantic

Social Studies 7Mr. Donnelly

1. Climate changes allowed the Paleo-Indians to begin the first migration to the Americas

2. Early societies existed in Mesoamerica and South America

Today’s Big Idea:

Bering Land Bridge: A strip of land between Asia and present-day Alaska that was exposed by the lower sea levels of the Ice Age

Key Terms and People

Paleo-Indians: People believed to have crossed the Bering Land Bridge

The Paleo-Indians

Migration: movement of people or animals from one region to another

Migration

Hunter-gatherers: people who obtain food by hunting animals and gathering plants

Hunter-gatherers

Environments : climates and landscapes that surround living things

Environments

Culture: a group’s set of common values and traditions

Culture

Develop: the process of growing or improving

Develop

Many scientists believe that the first people arrived in North America during the last ice age

At that time the environment changed, and large amounts of water froze, forming ice glaciers

Water levels in the oceans dropped to more than 300 feet lower than they are today

A strip of land called the Bering Land Bridge was exposed between Asia and Alaska

First Migration to the Americas

No one knows exactly when or how people crossed into North America, but there is evidence that people called Paleo-Indians crossed the bridge to Alaska between 38,000 and 10,000 BC

The Paleo-Indian migration took place over a long period of time

The descendents of these migrants went as far as the southern tip of South America

The Paleo-Indians

The Paleo-Indians were hunter-gatherers They hunted animals and gathered wild

plants for food The environments the Paleo-Indians settled

in created Native American societies

Creation of Native American Societies

Question: How did the formation of the ice glaciers during the Ice Age allow for migration to North America?

Turn & talk with your partner!

Question: Why do you think scientists do not know exactly when the Paleo-Indians crossed into North America?

Think, pair & share!

Question: In two or three sentences, what is the significance of the Paleo-Indians?

Exit Slip