1
Name: Key
Unit 1: The First Americans
Essential Questions:
★ How did thephysical environment and natural
resources of North America influence the
development of the first human settlements and
the culture of Native Americans?
★ How much does geography affect people’s lives?
Objectives:
1. Using a map, we will describe how (we think!) the Native Americans arrived in
North America.
2. W e will compare and contrast the cultures of the first indigenous groups that
settled in North America.
3. Using primary and secondary sources, we will explain the impact of the
Iroquois way of life on what is today, New York State.
Table of Contents
Date Lesson # and Title Page #
9/19/24 Lesson #1: The Bering Land Bridge 2 -3
9/20/24 Lesson #2: The Aztecs 4
9/23/24 Lesson #3: The Anasazi 5
9/24/24 Lesson #4: PEEL Paragraph 6 -7
9/25/24 Lesson #5: The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) 7 -10
9/30/24 esson #6: Native American Culture Regions of
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North America
2
he Bering Land
T
Bridge
During the_Ice Age_,t heE arth’s
c limate became colder.Large
amounts of water froze intohuge
m oving sheets of icecalledglaciers.
As a result, theocean levels dropped
m ore than 300 feet lower than they
are today. When the sea level dropped,
aland bridge was exposed. The strip
of land that connected Asia and North America is called the_Bering_Land Bridge.
Many scientists believe the first American_ nomads _m igrated(moved regions
according to the season)into the Americas duringt he last Ice Age, between 38,000 and
10,000 B.C. Scientists have named these nomadsPaleo-Indians.Nomads did not have
permanent homes.They werefollowing the animals thattheyhunted,w hich were headed
south to warmer climates.
Key Vocabulary
I ce Age:Earth lacier:Large
G igrate:t o move
M omads:People who
N
became colder, low moving sheets of ice regions according to don’t have
sea levels t he season permanent homes
hy did the nomads
W ● They were following the animals that they hunted.
migrate across the
Bering Land Bridge?
round 8,000 B.C. the earth slowly began to grow warmer and the______rising________
A
temperatures melted theglaciers.Water levels rose,and the Bering Land Bridge was slowly
coveredover with water. This warmerclimate(weatherover a long period of time)ended the Ice
Age.
Large herds of animals, such as deer and_mammoths_ate new short grasses that grew in the warmer
climate. Many of the Paleo-Indians___migrated__farthersouth, and settled inCentral and South
America.
3
★ K
EY POINT:In the Americas, these nomads wouldadapt(change) theirculture(way
of life) to theirclimateby using the natural resourcesthey had around them.
Key Vocabulary
limate:weather patterns
C Adapt:t o change Culture:way of life
over a long period of time
he Agricultural Revolution
T
Native American groups learned how to____farm__,
or grow crops for food. They planted seeds and used
animals to help with farming.Maize, or
____corn___, was one of their most important crops.
As they learned to grow crops, people were able to
grow______surplus_______(extra) crops and store
t he extra food.They stopped moving around looking
f or food like “hunter-gatherers,” and instead lived in
one place.
Native Americans were soon able to grow enough
f ood to feed large groups of people.Large groupsof
people settled together are called
“____civilizations____.”With extra (surplus) food,
Native Americans had time for more than just
growing food. They began to develop governments, writing, and temples in their
civilizations.
Key Vocabulary
unter-Gatherers:
H urplus:Extra
S M aize:Corn ivilization:Large
C
People who hunt for and crops groups of people
gather their food (meat + s ettled together
berries)
4
The FirstMESOamerican Civilizations
(Mesoamerica = Middle America)
The Aztecs
heAztecswere a group of Native Americans
T
located inCentral America (Mesoamerica).
The Aztecs were fierce warriors and had the
strongest military in the region. They used
their____powerfulmilitary__to take food,
jewelry, and slaves from neighboring tribes.
he Aztec often used these slaves as human
T
____sacrifices_____as brutal, bloody and daily
gifts to their gods (they believed in polytheism). This
made the Aztecs very unpopular with other nearby
tribes.___Polytheism___means to worship
___many___gods.
One reason why the Aztecs
had such a strong military is because they allowed
warriors to move up the__social pyramid_to a
higher social class by
conquering other tribes.
In 1325, the Aztec founded their capital,
____Tenochtitlan_____, on an island in
Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs built raised roads
to meet the island, and they also built
___chinampas__, which meansfloating
gardens.
Key Vocabulary
ztecs:Group of
A olytheism:
P T enochtitlan:Aztec C
hinampa:floating
Native American Worship many gods capital built on Lake garden
who lived in Texcoco
Mesoamerica
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The FirstNORTHAmerican Civilizations
The Anasazi :
The “Ancient People”
TheAnasaziwere a group of Native Americans who livedin the
AmericanSouthwest, mainly Arizona and New Mexico.The
climateof the American Southwest is verywarmanddry.
he Anasazi lived incliff dwellingsmade ofadobe(a mix of sand, water, and clay formed
T
into sun-dried bricks). Adobe is ideal for adesertclimatebecause it insulates against
daytime heat and nighttime cold. This was because of themountainous river valley
environment. The Spanish later called these groupsof housespueblos.
rchaeologists study the Anasazi using artifacts, such as theMesa Verdecliffdwellings
A
in Southwest Colorado and thecave drawings
that were left behind.
he Anasazi were one of the first to develop
T
anirrigationsystemforfarming. These
irrigation systems made agriculture possible,
despite having a dry climate with limited
rainfall. TheAnasazigrewstaple cropslike
corn (maize), beans, and squash.
Key Vocabulary
nasazi:Group of
A ueblos:Group of
P dobe:mix of
A esa Verde:cliff
M
N ative Americans Anasazi houses - water, sand, clay dwelling where
who lived in the cliff dwellings formed into cave drawings were
American Southwest sun-dried bricks found
L ist TWO ways the 1.) dobe homes → sand, water, clay formed into sun-dried bricks, insulates against
A
daytime heat and nighttime cold in desert climate
Anasazi adapted to 2.) Irrigation systems → water crops, grow staple crops in dry climate with limited
their environment: rainfall
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PEELGraphic Organizer
The Anasazi
irections:You will need to complete aone (1) paragraphPEEL Essay. Each
D
paragraph must havetwo (2) pieces of evidence with(2) explanations. Finish the
paragraph withone (1)link statement.Complete thechart below.
Question:How did the Anasazi adapt to their
environment?
Examples (select 2):
● Adobe Housing= adobe, (mix of sand, water, clay) sun dried clay bricks
insulated against daytime heat and nighttime cold
● C liff dwellings = protection from harsh climate, enemies, and wildlife
● I rrigation system = helped farm staple crops (corn, beans, squash) in warm
and dry climate
Point - The Anasazi adapted to their environment by
T
● opic sentence constructing insulated shelters and
● What will you prove?
● Restate the question
Evidence or example, the Native Americans built adobe
F
“ For example”
● houses.
● “For instance”
Explanation his shows that the mix of clay, water, and sand
T
“ This shows…”
● helped insulate against daytime heat and nighttime
● “This demonstrates” cold.
Evidence or instance, the Native Americans also
F
“ For example”
● constructed irrigation systems.
● “For instance”
Explanation his demonstrates that they used these systems to
T
● “ This shows…” farm in a dry climate with little rainfall.
● “ This demonstrates”
● “ This quote proves
Link learly, the Anasazi changed their way of life in
C
“ In conclusion”
● order to survive in the American Southwest.
● “In summary”
● “As has been proven”
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______________________________________________________________________________
he FirstNORTHAmerican
T
Civilizations
The Iroquois:
(A.K.A. THE “H AUDENOSAUNEE” -“people who buildahouse” … pronounced
hoh-dee-no-show-nee)
IN SUMMARY:
H ousing F ood Beliefs Government
roquois
I ived in
L unted, fished, L
H and is shared, Iroquois
Culture longhouses gathered, e veryone Confederacy
with clans farmed works (SCOOM-T),
lived in E.
Woodlands
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The Iroquois Confederacy
(League of the Iroquois):
nalliance of the 6 tribesthat made up the Iroquois
A
Nation. These 6 Tribes are known as the SCOOM-T
tribes.
S.C.O.O.M. - T.= Seneca , Cayuga , Onondaga ,
Oneida , Mohawk _ andTuscarora.
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The Beginning of the Iroquois Confederacy
Hiawatha Video
t first, there was war among the 5 tribes of theSeneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga,
A
and Mohawk. Two men, namedHiawathaandDeganawida(the Peacemaker),wanted
to bring____peace_____to the tribes.Hiawatha gaveDeganawida a belt made of
purple and white wampum beads. The white
beads represented peace among the 5 nations,
while the purple beads represented war against all
others.
A woman namedJigonsasehhelped unite
all 5 nations.Womenwere keepers of theEarth
andleaders of the clans(a.k.a. “clan mothers”).
Clan mothers were responsible for choosing
chiefs, and the members of the Grand Council.The
Grand Council wasresponsible for keeping the
peaceamong the 5 nations.
The 5 tribes decided to makea
constitutioncalled the Great Law of Peace.This
was one of the very firstexamples ofdemocracyandrepresentative government-
wherethe people have avoice!
Key Vocabulary
Iroquois:Alliance of 6 COOM-T:Seneca,
S lan:Group of related
C
tribes Cayuga, Onondaga, families
Oneida, Mohawk,
Tuscarora
iawatha:Brought peace G
H rand Council:Chiefs reat Law of Peace:
G
to 5 tribes responsible for keeping Constitution between 5
the peace tribes
ist at least ONE
L ● Democracy
contribution of the
Iroquois to our culture:
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Using Artifacts to Learn About
Iroquois Culture
Directions:Use the infographic below to answer thecorresponding
questions.
1. Why was the flint sharpened until it had a sharp edge? What
does this tell us about the people that lived in New York?
- They hunted and fished.
2. What resources did early peoples find in abundance in New
York State?
- Wood, flint, plant fibers, birch bark, clay, sand, bones, shells, animals
3. How do archeologists study and learn about ancient peoples
that lived long before written records?
- Artifacts and oral histories
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Native American Culture Regions of
North America
irections:Use the link below to find informationabout each of the Native
D
American Culture Regions of North America. Complete each box in the chart
to receive full-credit.
○ LINK:CLICK HERE
Culture Area/ Environment Food Housing and Clothing Tools or Weapons Miscellaneous
orthwest Coast
N ish - halibut,
F Cedar plank houses ets, canoes, fishing
N
Lots of rivers, rainfall, and forests s almon, whales, gear, spears, bow and
s eals arrows, ax
alifornia, Great Basin & Plateau H
C unted, fished, amped in teepees
C askets and simple
B
Mostly dry, some mountains, some gathered berries, m ade of animal skins tools
flat pine nuts, rabbits,
buffalo, antelope
rctic & Sub Arctic
A unted seals, fish,
H it houses, furs,
P Harpoons
Very cold, lots of snow, few forests whales, large waterproof boots made
m ammals of seal skins
reat Plains
G Buffalo Buffalo hide tents Wolf pelts, bones
Very flat grasslands, cold winters,
hot summers
astern Woodlands
E armed, hunted
F eerskin clothes with
D Bow and arrow
Heavy forests with many streams deer, fished, painted shells and
and rivers gathered berries, embroidery
fruits and nuts
outheast
S Corn, farmed attle and daub
W unting and fishing
H Green Corn Festival
Abundant rainfall, mild houses equipment
temperatures
outhwest
S Farming Adobe houses dobe - sand, clay, water,
A
Dry, desert, few trees, little water Trees, irrigation system
