17
Chapter 2
17
American Indians
USI.3 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 settled, with emphasis on Arctic (Inuit),
Northwest (Kwakiutl), Plains (Lakota), Southwest (Pueblo), and Eastern
Woodland (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.
18
Brainmapping
10 pictures, 10 terms, 5 colors
19
Vocabulary: Chapter 2
archaeology
Learning how people lived in the
past
resource
something you can use
culture
Best things from a group of
people
technology
Using what you know
specialization
being the best at something
interdependence
two or more people needing each
other
inhabited
to live somewhere
interaction
two or more things changing each
other
20
20
Identify the Native Americans from each area below, and then add images
that describe the climate, geography, and resources from that area.
21
GEOGRAPHY
present-day Alaska and
northern Canada, and in
Arctic areas where the
temperature is below
freezing
Pacific Northwest coast,
characterized by a rainy,
mild climate.
Southwest in presentday New Mexico and
Arizona.
The interior of the United
States, called the Great
Plains, which is
characterized by dry
grasslands.
northeast North America,
called the Eastern
Woodlands, which is
heavily forested.
SHELTER
Inuit
Kwakiutl
Pueblo
Lakota
Iroquois
Houses made of stone,
ice, or animal skins
longhouses
they lived in desert areas
and areas bordering
cliffs and mountains
Tents made from buffalo
skins
Longhouses made of
wood.
22
Iroquois
Lakota
Pueblo
Kwakiutl
Inuit
Area
Human
Resources
Natural
Resources
Capital
Resources
23
They prefer to live in
an area where the
temperature is below
freezing most of the
year.
Inuit people fished,
hunted caribou, built
snow or stone
houses.
Kwakiutl people hunt
deer, gather berries,
and made
plankhouses out of
wood.
They prefer to live in
desert areas and
areas that border
cliffs and mountains
Pueblo people grow
corn, beans, and
squash. They built
adobes.
They prefer to live in
a dry area with lots of
grass.
They grow corn and
beans.
They hunt buffalo.
They made teepees
out of animal skins
Iroquois
Pueblo
They prefer to live in
a rainy mild climate.
Human
Resources
Lakota
Kwakiutl
Inuit
Area
They prefer to live in
a well forested area
with lots of trees.
They live in
longhouses made out
of wood.
They grow corn and
beans.
They hunt deer.
Natural
Resources
They eat and use
seals, fish, whales,
and caribou.
They live in snow or
stone houses in the
winter and animal
skins in the summer
They eat and use fish,
deer, berries, roots,
and wood.
They live in
plankhouses made
out of wood.
They eat and use
corn, beans, squash,
and clay.
They live in adobes,
which are houses
made of dried mud
and clay
Capital
Resources
They built kayaks,
and dog sleds.
They made spears for
hunting.
They built canoes.
They made spears
and bows for hunting.
They made kilns
(ovens) to make
pottery.
They eat and use
buffalo, corn, and
beans.
They built canoes.
They made spears
and bows for hunting.
They eat and use
corn, beans, deer,
and wood.
They built canoes.
They made spears
and bows for hunting.
24
Select your artifacts from the Artifacts page
You Become the Archaeologist!
Take each artifact you find, and fill in the chart below.
Drawing
Written
Description
Tribe
Location
Type of
Resource
NATURAL
HUMAN
CAPITAL
NATURAL
HUMAN
CAPITAL
NATURAL
HUMAN
CAPITAL
NATURAL
HUMAN
CAPITAL
NATURAL
HUMAN
CAPITAL
25
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
One of the
oldest
archaeological
sites in North
America
Cactus
Hill
Evidence that
humans lived
at Cactus Hill
as early as
18,000 years
ago
Site of preClovis
artifacts
Located 45
miles south
of
Richmond,
Virginia
26
American Indian Team Review
Question
Answer
What group of American Indians inhabited present
day Alaska and Northern Canada?
Inuit
What group of American Indians inhabited the
eastern part of the North America?
Iroquois
What group of American Indians inhabited the
Pacific Northwest coast?
Kwakiutl
What two present day states are where the Pueblo
lived?
Arizona and New Mexico
What group of American Indians inhabited the
Great Plains?
Lakota
What affected the way American Indians met their
basic needs? (list two)
Geography and climate
What is the eastern area of North America called
that was inhabited by the Iroquois?
Eastern Woodlands
American Indians used animal skins and plant
fibers to make_____________
clothes
American Indians used the resources of mud,
stones, animal skins, and wood to make
________
Shelter/homes
What group of Indians lived in plank houses made
from cedar wood?
Kwakiutl
Which Indian tribe depended on the buffalo to meet
most of their basic needs?
Lakota
Which three foods were grown in America by the
Indians? (three sisters)
Corns, beans and squash
What best describes the environment of the Inuits?
Near the Arctic, freezing temperatures most of the year
What kind of climate did the Kwakiutls live in?
Rainy and mild
What ocean did explorers from Europe cross to
reach America?
Atlantic
What type of shelter did the Iroquois live in?
longhouses
Which Indian tribe made adobes from clay and mud
bricks?
Pueblo
Which Indian tribe lived in teepees and moved from
place to place?
Lakota
Which Indian tribe lived in igloos made from snow
and ice?
Inuit
Which Indian tribe lived in the hot deserts of the
Southwest?
Pueblo
Which Indian tribe carved totem poles from big
logs?
Kwakiutl
27
Which Indian tribe was the “least” likely to farm?
Inuit
What two Indian tribes were “most” likely to have
homes made of wood?
Iroquois and Kwakiutl
What tribe is located in the Coastal Range?
Kwakiutl
What tribe is located in the Appalachian Highlands?
Iroquois
What tribe is located in the Basin and Range?
Pueblo
The study of ancient people is called _______
Archaeology
During what time period did the First Americans
come to America?
11,000-20,000
Evidence found at a Virginia archaeological site
now indicates some early native
Americans lived there __________ many
years ago.
18,000
Early Americans crossed a land bridge from what
continent to reach North America?
Asia
The land bridge is now covered with water and is
called ______________________
Bering Strait
Where is one of the earliest archaeological sites in
the US?
Cactus Hill
List three natural resources
Trees, fish, berries
Why did the Iroquois live in wooden homes?
Lots of trees where they live
What tribe would be associated with the following:
Arizona, New Mexico, cacti, mountains,
clay and mud houses?
Pueblo
Essay: Be prepared the answer the following questionIf you could belong to any American Indian tribe out of the five we have been introduced
to, which one would it be and why? What aspect of the tribe’s lifestyle most appeals to you?
(1 point for naming tribe, 2 points for two reasons for selecting it, and 1 point for aspect of
lifestyle that appeals to you)
28
27
Author: ___________________________#_____
CH. 2: Notebook Check - Grade 6 U.S. History
NATIVE AMERICANS
27
Author: ___________________________#_____
CH. 2: Notebook Check - Grade 6 U.S. History
NATIVE AMERICANS
Unless otherwise noted by an asterisk (*), all pages must be completed to
receive full credit for class participation and class work completion.
Each item is worth 1 points. 15items total.
Unless otherwise noted by an asterisk (*), all pages must be completed to
receive full credit for class participation and class work completion.
Each item is worth 1 points. 15items total.
_______ Page 17 American Indian SOL Page
_______ Page 17 American Indian SOL Page
_______ Page 18 American Indian Preview Page
_______ Page 18 American Indian Preview Page
_______ Page 19 Vocabulary
_______ Page 19 Vocabulary
_______ Page 20 American Indian Map
_______ Page 20 American Indian Map
_______ Page 21 Geography/Shelter Notes
_______ Page 21 Geography/Shelter Notes
_______ Page 22 Resource Illustrations
_______ Page 22 Resource Illustrations
_______ Page 23 American Indian Resource Notes
_______ Page 23 American Indian Resource Notes
_______ Page 24 You Be the Archaeologist
_______ Page 24 You Be the Archaeologist
_______ Page 25 Cactus Hill Notes
_______ Page 25 Cactus Hill Notes
_______ Page 26 Study Guide
_______ Page 26 Study Guide
TOTAL Score:__________/10
TOTAL Score:__________/10
Signature: Notebook Inspector
Signature: Notebook Inspector
Signature: Teacher
Signature: Teacher


29