Name:_______________________
Date:________________ Homeroom: _______________________________
Aim: What is prehistory? Who were the first people?
Human Origins
Do Now: Watch the video and answer the following questions.
What do you think prehistory means?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What is this video describing?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Guided Notes
Definition of Prehistory:
Scientists Search for Human Origins: Defining Prehistory ________________________________________________
To study prehistory, historians must rely on the work of _______________________________________________,
_____________________________________________, and ____________________________________________________.
Archaeologists study _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Anthropologists study _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Paleontologists study ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Early Bones Found

Archeologist, _______________________________________ made important ________________________________ about
_____________________________________.

She found ____________________________ in East Africa that were more than ___________________ years old.

She believed that bones belonged to an early ________________________________ and turned out to be the
bones of an _____________________________________, one of the earliest ______________________ of humans.
Definitions:
Hominid:
Ancestor:
Discovery of Lucy
 Anthropologist, Donald Johanson found bones of another ancestor, named ___________________________.

__________________________ lived ______________________ years ago and ________________________ on two legs,
showing the ability to __________________ which was a major ____________________________________________________.
Stop and Jot: What can ancient bones tell us about human ancestors?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What other evidence did human ancestors leave behind?
______________________________________________
________________________________________
How would you describe the pieces of evidence above?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hominids and Early Humans: Watch the video and answer the following questions.
What continent were the earliest traces of humans found?
According to the video, what is the name of the earliest hominid?
How long ago did these early hominids live?
Where did early hominids migrate?
Activity:
There are four major groups of hominids that appears in Africa. Each group became more advanced than the
one before it and could use better tools.
Fill in the following chart describing the four major groups. Use the bottom on pages 30-31 to do this.
Name
1. Australopithecines
Descriptions
Name:
Appeared:
Description:
2. Homo habilis
Name:
Appeared:
Tools used:
Description:
3. Homo erectus
Name:
Appeared:
Tools used:
Description:
4. Homo sapiens
Name:
Appeared:
Tools used:
Description:
Answer the following questions based on the videos, notes, and your classwork above in COMPLETE
SENTENCES.
Question
Answer
What kinds of
evidence do
archaeologists,
anthropologists, and
paleontologists study
to find out how
prehistoric people
lived?
What are the major
differences between
the Australopithecus
and Homo sapiens?
(name at least 3).
Why is early history
called “prehistoric”?
Explain.
Which early hominid
learned to control
fire and use the hand
ax? How are these
new tools and skills
helpful to their lives?
Bonus Activity: We have all seen the picture of how humans evolved from Chimpanzees to humans. Draw
your own picture in which you show some sort of evolution. Example: from baby to an adult, from a ballerina
to a soccer player, from a tomboy to a girly girl, etc
Name:_______________________
Date:________________ Homeroom: _______________________________
Aim: What is prehistory? Who were the first people?
Complete the following table.
Vocabulary Word
Prehistory
Hominid
Ancestor
Anthropologist
Archaeologist
Paleontologist
Human Origins Homework
Definition
Picture
Fossils
Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1.
What is the role of an archeologist? An anthropologist? A paleontologist? How can all of their information be
put together to teach us about the past?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. In what ways have fossils provided important clues about the past?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Early Hominids
3. How was Lucy similar to modern humans? In what ways was Lucy different?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What significant advancements did Handy Man and Upright Man make?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Describe the first modern humans. Discuss what they looked like, how they lived, and how they expressed themselves.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Name:____________________________________
Date:__________________________ Homeroom: _______________________________
Aim: What is prehistory? Who were the first people?
Human Origins Day 2
Do Now: Look at the Early Humans Timeline below and answer the questions below.
3 million B.C.E.
Australopithecus
afarensis (or “Lucy”)
lived in modern-day
Africa.
3 million B.C.E.
35,000 B.C.E.
Homo sapiens sapiens (or Early
Modern Humans) lived in
modern-day Africa and created
cave paintings.
1.8 million B.C.E
Homo erectus learns
to make fire.
1.8 million B.C.E.
1.5 million B.C.E.
230,000 B.C.E.
created
35,000 B.C.E.
paintings.
1. What was the first hominid?
___________________________________________
2. How are the dates labeled?
3. Guess: What do you think these labels stand
for?
__________________________________________________
4. Which is the most modern hominid?
_________________________________________________
5. Which hominid learned how to make fire?
______________________________________________
1.5 million B.C.E.
Homo habilis used
tools in modern-day
Africa.
230,000 B.C.E.
Homo sapiens
neanderthalensis (or
Neanderthals) lived in
modern-day Europe.
cave
Timeline Mini-Lesson
When labeling ancient civilizations and hominids we label dates like shown above and in the Do Now.
The Old Stone Age:
The first humans and their ancestors lived during a period called the __________________________________________.
Archeologists divided the Stone Age into three periods based on the kinds of __________________________________
used during that time period.
Definition:
Tool:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The first part of the Stone Age is called the ____________________________________________________ or Old Stone Age and
lasted until about _______________________________ years ago.
During this time people used ________________________________________________.
Early Tools:
The oldest tools were found in __________________________________, Africa.
They were sharpened _______________________________ which were used mostly to cut and chop ____________________
or scrape bones, roots, or ____________________________. These tools were called ________________________________.
Later Tools:
Over time people made _________________________ tools.
Examples: ________________________________________ to break tree limbs, dig, and cut animal hides.
People attached ___________________________________ to their tools which led to the invention of the
___________________________.
These inventions led to advancements in hunting because people could hunt from __________________________ away
and hunt _________________________________ like deer, horses, and bison.
Stop and Jot: How did tools improve during the Old Stone Age?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Homework: Compare and Contrast early tools and later tools. How are the similar/different? Why are the
later tools better?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Review:
What does B.C.E. stand for? _____________________________________________________________________________________________
What does C.E. stand for? _______________________________________________________________________________________________
What does A.D. stand for? _______________________________________________________________________________________________
How would we label this year? _________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe how to read this timeline to someone who does not know?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Where would the Paleolithic Age be labeled? ___________________________________________________________________________
Describe two of the four hominid groups below (Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo
sapiens)
Hominid:
Hominid:
Description:
Description:
Name:_______________________
Date:________________ Homeroom: _______________________________
Aim: How did the first people live?
Human Origins Day 3
Do Now:
1) The Old Stone Age is as known as the ____________________________________.
2) During this time people created _______________________ to help them chop, cook, and hunt.
3) An example of an early tool is _______________________________ and an example of a later tool
is _________________________.
4) How does the picture to the right relate to the Old Stone Age?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Guided Notes:
How did people live?
I.
Hunters and Gathers
a. Hunters and Gatherers lived during the ___________________ Era
b. This was _______________________ years ago.
Definition: Hunter-gathers
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
II.
Lifestyle
a. As early humans developed tools and new hunting techniques, they formed
______________________ which developed cultures with _________________, religions,
and _____________.
Definition:
Society: _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
a. Homes
i. Hunters and gatherers did not have ______________
ii. They moved around following ___________________
iii. They lived in _______________ or just ___________ on the ground.
iv. They moved every few ___________________ to a new place to sleep.
People who are constantly moving are called _________________________.
b. Family
i. Hunters and gatherers traveled with their __________ (or small group).
ii. They lived in ____________________ and ______________ together.
c. Weapons and tools
i. Paleolithic means ____________________________
ii. This is the first time humans used _______________ as
_____________________.
d. Language, Art , and Religion
i. Most important development of the early Stone Age Culture was
_____________________________.
Stop and Jot: Why was this the most important development?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ii. This wasn’t the only way people expressed themselves. They also created _________.
People carved figures out of stone, ivory, and ______________ and also painted on
__________________________.
iii. Very little is known about ______________________ during this time, however,
archeologists have found __________________________ that included food and
artifacts which some conclude as __________________ of religion during this time.
Activity: DBQ’s are document-based questions.
Hunters & Gatherers DBQ Directions: Read the following document-based questions. CIRCLE
important words and phrases. INTERPRET the passage by writing the main idea in your own words.
ANALYZE the passage by answering the questions.
Hunters and gatherers were wandering groups of people that lived thousands of years ago. They are
called hunters and gatherers because that is how they found food to eat. They followed animals and
hunted them for meat. They fished in lakes and rivers. They also gathered berries, leaves, and other
fruits that grew in the wild. Hunters and gatherers did not stay in one place, but they moved around
because of the weather and because their food source moved.
What words did you CIRCLE?
INTERPRET – Write the main idea in your
own words.
Analyze: Answer the questions below.
What are two things that hunters and gatherers ate?
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
What are two reasons that hunters and gatherers always moved around?
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
Hunter Gather DBQ #2
Directions: Read the following document-based questions. CIRCLE important words and phrases.
INTERPRET the passage by writing the main idea in your own words. ANALYZE the passage by answering
the questions.
Hunters and gatherers lived and hunted in families called tribes. They hunted in groups to stay safe and
to get more food. They helped each other trap more food and then they would split the food. Early
humans invented the bow and arrow during the Paleolithic Era around 50,000 B.C. The bow and arrow
helped early humans improve their hunting skills. The hunters and gatherers became better and better
hunters. They could travel in larger tribes because they had more food. Better hunting skills helped the
hunter-gatherer population grow.
What words did you CIRCLE?
INTERPRET – Write the main idea in your own
words.
Analyze: Answer the questions below.
What invention helped the hunter-gatherer population grow? Why did it help?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Name ___________________________
Date ____________________________
Directions: Read the following document-based questions. CIRCLE important words and phrases.
INTERPRET the passage by writing the main idea in your own words. ANALYZE the passage by
answering the questions.
Archaeologists found bones from bones that prove the idea that modern humans spread out of
Africa around 50,000 years ago. This idea is called the “Out of Africa” idea.
The same kind of
human bones from the Paleolithic Era (or the Old Stone Age) were found both in Africa and Asia.
Scientists believe that early humans followed food out of Africa and into Asia. They follow the
bones that they find as new clues to learning more about the migration of the Early Humans.
What words did you CIRCLE?
INTERPRET – Write the main idea in your
own words.
Analyze: Answer the questions below.
How do archaeologists know that early humans moved out of Africa?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Read the following document-based questions. CIRCLE important words and phrases.
INTERPRET the passage by writing the main idea in your own words. ANALYZE the passage by
answering the questions.
The Paleolithic Era is also called the Old Stone Age. This period is from 40,000 years ago to 10,000
years ago. It is a very important time in human history. Humans learned how to make and use new
stone tools such as hammers and axes. They also learned to make new weapons such as the bow and
arrow. Humans also began creating cave paintings and drawings during this time. The Paleolithic Era
changed the way that humans lived forever.
What words did you CIRCLE?
INTERPRET – Write the main idea in your
own words.
Analyze: Answer the questions below.
Name 2 inventions of humans during the Paleolithic Era:
1.
2.
Why is the Paleolithic Era so important to human history?
Name:_______________________
Date:________________ Homeroom: _______________________________
Aim: How did the first people live?
Human Origins Day 4
Activity: Read the following information and answer the questions.
Early Humans: Background Reading & Questions
Prehistoric Humans
Little is known about the lives of early human beings. What we do know has been gathered through the study of
ancient caves that scientists called archeologists believe early humans probably lived in.
The evidence suggests that the first human beings lived in caves along the Southern coast of Africa. This region
provided ample supplies of food, as well as a warm climate. It is believed that the men probably traveled in hunting
packs or groups into the mainland looking for big game, while the women stayed near the coast.
Anthropologists
Another type of scientist that studies human history are anthropologists. Anthropologists study humans and other
human-like creatures known as hominids. They compare the bones, of these creatures to one another, looking for
changes in brain size, and posture.
Mankind begin keeping a written history about 5,500 years ago. Much of what we think of as human history
happened between then, and now. However, in reality this is just the scratch on the surface.
Anthropologists and archeologists have traced human history back some 4.4 million years.
Dating Fossils and Artifacts
How do scientist such as anthropologists or archeologists determine how long ago an artifact was created, or how
long ago a fossilized creature lived?
In today’s society the products we consume often come with an expiration date. A date that tells us when we
should use the product by. Best if used by… Ancient artifacts and fossils do not come with dates stamped on
them. Thus scientists must use detective work to determine their date of origin.
Radiocarbon Dating
One method that scientists use to date ancient fossils and artifacts is called radiocarbon dating. All living things on
Earth are made up of a high percentage of an element called Carbon. Carbon combines with other elements in
complex ways to form the molecules that make up our bodies. Most carbon on Earth is not radioactive, but a very
small percentage is. Thus, as living things take in carbon, they inevitably will take up a small amount of radioactive
carbon into their bodies.
When these life forms die, they stop taking in new carbon. The carbon in their bodies at the time of their death will
remain in their bodies until they decompose, or if they become fossilized, then forever.
Radioactive carbon decays at a known rate. This allows scientists to look at the amount of decay in a fossil’s
radioactive carbon, and determine a relative date.
Radiocarbon dating is only effective for objects and fossils that are less than 50,000 years old. However, scientists
can look at the decay of other elements in these objects allowing them to date them up to 2.2 billion years. These
dating techniques are by no means perfect, but they are always improving, and they are the best methods that we have
at this time.
Early Hominids
Human like animals that walked upright were known as hominids. It is believed that the earliest hominids lived
around 4.4 million years ago in the humid forests of eastern and southern Africa.
These animals, known as Australopithecus are believed to have been around three to five feet tall, and
probably fed on leaves, fruits, and the remains of dead animals. There is no evidence that Australopithecus
made their own tools. There is however strong evidence that they used sticks, and bones to help them dig, and
defend themselves.
Hominid Types
Scientists such as anthropologists divide hominids into three different types based on their body shapes, and
lifestyles. The first type of hominids are referred to as Homo habilis, which means ‘person with abilities’. It is
believed that Homo habilis lived until about 1.5 million years ago.
The second type of early human living on the Earth was Homo erectus which means ‘person who walks upright.’
Homo erectus lived on the Earth until about 150,000 years ago.
The final type of hominid living on the Earth are Homo sapiens. Homo sapien means ‘person who can think’. All
humans living on the Earth today are Homo sapiens.
Ice Ages Effect Human Evolution
During the last 2 million years the Earth has experienced four long periods of cold climate known as ice ages. During
each ice age, the average temperatures around the world has droped dramatically. While the middle latitudes near the
equator stay warm, the higher latitudes both in the North, and in the South get very cold, making life in these regions
more difficult.
During these periods, massive glaciers form, which can cover thousands of square miles. As ice sheets spread across
the landscape they freeze out plants and animals. As more and more water freezes the sea level decreases by as much
as 300 feet. As sea levels drop, land bridges appear between continents and islands.
Cooler temperatures forced change on early hominids. They either had to adapt to their new environments, migrate,
or perish. Land bridges allowed hominids to migrate to new lands such as the Americas, Japan, Malaysia, and
Australia. Cooler temperatures spawned the development of clothes, and the discovery and mastery of fire.
Tools And The Stone Age
One of the most important advancements in human history was the development and use of tools. Tools allowed
hominids to become the masters of their environments, to hunt, to build, and to perform important tasks that made life
easier for them. The first tools were made out of stone. Thus, historians refer to the period of time before written
history as the stone age.
Historians divide the stone age into three different periods, based on the sophistication and methods of tool design.
The first such period is referred to as the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. The Old Stone Age began about 2 million
years ago with the development of the first tools by Homo Habilis, and lasted until around 12,000 years ago.
The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age began around 12,000 years ago, and continued through about 8,000 years ago.
The Neolithic or New Stone Age lasted from 8,000 years until around 5,000 years ago.
Homo Habilis
It is believed that Homo habilis were the first hominids to create and use tools. These creatures lived in Africa from
about 1.5 million years ago until around 1.5 million years ago. Homo Habilis probably lived alongside
Australopithecus. However, their larger bodies, and brains would have given them a clear advantage.
Homo Erectus
Homo erectus inhabited Africa, Asia and Europe some 1.6 million years ago, and remained active in these areas until
around 250,000 years ago. Their large brains allowed them to easily adapt to a wide variety of environments. Fossils
of Homo erectus have been found in forests, planes, and grasslands.
Historians believe that Homo erectus began as gatherers but advanced over many generations into hunters. The
women likely stayed close to home, where they cared for children, and gathered nuts, fruit, and leaves for eating.
It is believed that the men went in hunting groups in search of meat. At first they only looked for animals that were
already dead. Over time, however, they developed tools such as clubs that allowed them to hunt and kill animals.
With the discovery of fire, Homo erectus became even more adept at survival. Fire allowed them to cook their food,
to stay warm in cool environments, and to utilize caves as shelter.
In order to keep warm, Homo erectus began utilizing clothing. This began with individuals placing animal skins over
their bodies, and became more advanced as they learned to stitch animal skins together using stripes of leather.
Hominids Leave Africa
Due to the scarcity of evidence, there is a great deal of disagreement among scientists about exactly when prehistoric
peoples left Africa and migrated to other parts of the world.
Some evidence suggests that Homo habilis may have been the first to leave Africa. However, if they did, it is unlikely
that they remained very long. There is however strong evidence that Homo erectus migrated from Africa around 1.6
million years ago.
Fossil evidence shows that Homo erectus had arrived in Asia by around 460,000 years ago, and in Europe around
400,000 years ago.
Language Develops
The first simple languages spoken by Homo erectus likely developed around 500,000 years ago. Prior to spoken
languages, members of a group communicated with one another by grunting or through simple noises, and hand
gestures. Spoken language allowed group members to exchange complex thoughts and ideas, and pass on their
culture from one generation to the next.
Now groups could discuss plans, teach techniques, explain how to track animals, or where to go to find water, as well
as form religion and folklore.
The knowledge of one generation could now be passed down to the next, building from generation to generation,
expanding the human experience.
Homo Sapiens
Hominids evolved and developed for millions of years prior to the arrival of Homo sapiens on the Earth. This
evolution was slow. The development of a new skill, or tool often took thousands of years. With the arrival of Homo
sapiens, this all changed. The speed of advancements increased dramatically. Instead of thousands of years, great
progress was made in hundreds or even dozens of years.
Homo Sapiens Sapiens
It is believed that modern humans like you and I first originated on the Earth around 50,000 years ago in Africa.
These modern humans are referred to by historians as Homo sapiens sapiens. Within just a few thousand years these
modern humans had spread to every continent across the entire planet, and onto many islands.
As Homo sapiens sapiens migrated outward from Africa, it is believed that they wiped out Neanderthals, either by
absorbing them through intermarriage, or by destroying them through war and competition.
The Agricultural Revolution
For hundreds of thousands of years hominids depended on nature for their survival (known as “hunters and
gatherers”). Food came from wild plants and animals. A natural disaster could reduce the amount of food in the
environment, which might have a devastating effect on the peoples in nearby regions.
Around 8,000 years ago a new way of providing food emerged. This revolutionary advancement was that of farming.
Instead of hunting and gathering food from the environments where they lived, humans learned to simply grow their
own food.
Grains such as wheat, barley, rice, and corn were grown in different parts of the world. Wild animals were also
domesticated. Goats were utilized for their meat and milk, cattle, pigs, and chickens provided a steady source of food
for the support of a group of humans.
Questions: Answer the following questions. You must use complete sentences.
1.According to evidence, where did the first human beings live? What type of structures did they use as
structures?
2. How were the roles of men and women different during pre-historic times?
3. What do anthropologists do?
4. When did mankind begin keeping a recorded history?
5. How do scientists use radiocarbon dating to predict the age of a fossil or object? [use at least 3 sentences]
6. Where did the earliest hominids live? [Be specific]
7. How did the ice age affect the lives of early hominids?
8. What did hominids use tools for? And what were they made out of?
9. In the space below, identify the three periods of the Stone Age and the years that they began and ended.
1)
2)
3)
10. Describe how the Homo Erectus found and prepared their food. [At least two sentences]
11. When did the Homo Erectus migrate from Africa and where did they go?
12. How did early humans communicate prior to spoken languages?
13. Modern humans are referred to by historians as _________________________________.
14. What new way of providing food emerged 8,000 years ago?
15. What advantages did this technique give humans over their previous methods of getting food?
When complete with questions above find and define the following terms of the Pre-history and
Neolithic Revolution
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Find and Define bold and underlined terms:
AGRICULTURE
DOMESTICATION
HOMO-ERECTUS
HOMO-HABILLIS
HOMO-SAPIENS
HUNTER GATHERER
LUCY
MARY LEAKEY
NEANDERTHALS
NOMAD
PALEOLITHIC AGE
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When you finish all the
reading and questions
above and the word
search, read pages 36-39
in your textbook.