Essential Knowledge for Unit Two (USI.3) -Early Cultures: The student will demonstrate knowledge of how early
cultures developed in North America by
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 lived, with emphasis on the
Arctic (Inuit), Northwest
(Kwakiutl), Plains (Lakota),
Southwest (Pueblo), and Eastern
Woodlands (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.
Essential Questions to Answer
Why is archaeology important?
Where is one of the oldest archeological sites in the United States located?
In which areas did the American Indians live?
Where do American Indians live today?
How did geography and climate affect the way American Indian groups met their basic needs?
How did American Indians use natural, human, and capital resources?
Native American VOCAB
Terms
Definitions
not English?
not English?
archaeology
recovery of material evidence remaining from the past
archaeologist
people who study human behavior and cultures of the
past through the recovery and analysis of artifacts
artifact
an object made by human beings; often refers to a
primitive tool or other relic from an another period
primary source
original diaries, journals, letters,etc. written during an
event
history
culture
record of the past
the customs, arts, and conveniences of a nation or
people at a given time
environment
all the surrounding things, conditions, and influences
affecting living objects
adaptation
a change to fit different conditions
land bridge
two pieces of land joined by land acting as a bridge
migrate
to move from one place to another
climate
weather conditions in an area over a long period of
time
drought
A long period of time without rain
natural
resources that come directly from nature, raw
resources
materials
human
people working to produce goods and services, also
resources
brain resources
capital
items produced that are used to make other things
resources
Essential Understanding: Prior to the arrival of Europeans, American Indians were
dispersed across different environments in North America.
- 5 Native American Tribes | SOL USI. 3b
American Indians lived in all areas of North America
1. Inuit ______________________ present-day ___________________ and northern Canada. They
lived in _______________________
areas where the temperature was below __________________ for much of the year.
2. Kwakiutl homeland includes the _______________ Northwest coast, characterized by a
__________________, ______________________ climate.
3. Lakota people inhabited the interior of the United States, called the _____________________
and characterized by __________________________ grasslands.
4. Pueblo tribes inhabited the _________________ in present-_________________ and
___________________________, where they lived in desert areas and areas bordering cliffs
and __________________.
5. Iroquois homeland includes ________________ North America, the ___________________
Woodland, which is heavily ______________________________.
Members of these tribes live in their homelands and in many areas of North
America today.
Essential Understanding: Prior to the arrival of Europeans, American Indians were
dispersed across different environments in North America
- Archaeology | SOL USI. 3a
Archaeologists study __________________ behavior and culture through the
recovery and analysis of _______________________.
Scientists are not in agreement as to when and how people entered
the ___________________________________________.
________________________________ is located on the Nottoway River in
________________________________ Virginia.
Evidence that human lived at Cactus Hill as early as 15,000 years
ago makes it one of the __________________________ sites in
__________________________.
Essential Understanding: Archaeology is the recovery of material evidence remaining
from the past. Archaeological discoveries of early Indian settlements have been made in
southeastern Virginia.
SOL USI.3b,3c
Notepage for Student
Page 1
American Indians in North America
Long before the first Europeans arrived, American Indians lived in the eight geographic regions of North America. These
different Indian groups used the resources that were available to them in their different environments. These resources
included natural resources, human resources, and capital resources.
Natural resources come directly from nature. American Indians fished in the rivers, hunted animals, and grew crops.
Human resources are the people working to produce goods and services. American Indians fished, made clothing and
hunted for animals. Capital resources are the goods produced and used to make other goods and services. American
Indians made canoes, bows, and spears. Let’s learn how the Inuit, the Kwakiutl, the Lakota, the Pueblo, and the
Iroquois Indians lived and how they used their resources.
SOL USI.3b,3c
Notepage for Student
Page 2
American Indians in North America (cont’d)
The Inuit Indians lived in what is now northern Canada and Alaska.
Temperatures in these Arctic areas are below
freezing much of the year. The Inuit Indians used the natural resources from this frozen environment to meet their basic
needs. In the past, their lives depended on the animals that lived in this region. They followed the roaming herds of
caribou, seals, fish, and migrating birds such as ducks and geese. These animals were their main source of food and
were also used for clothing and shelter. Their homes were often a simple lean-to made out of animal skins and plant
materials or igloo structures made out of ice and snow.
The homeland of the Kwakiutl Indians includes the Pacific Northwest Coast in the Coastal Range Region of North
America. The climate in this area is surprisingly mild. Warm winds bring a lot of moisture from the ocean and as much as
100 inches of rain can fall each year. The land in this area is covered by vast forests of giant cedar trees and abundant
rivers, streams and springs. The Kwakiutl Indians used the natural resources from this rich environment to meet their
basic needs. In the past, the men hunted deer and moose in the forests, but their main source of food was fish and seals
from the rivers, streams, and ocean. The women gathered shellfish and berries to add to their diet. Many Kwakiutls lived
in longhouses also known as plank houses. Plank houses were similar to the longhouse except they were taller. These
houses and canoes were made from cedar wood. Their clothing was made mainly using animal skins and furs, but they
also made many articles of clothing from the bark of the cedar trees.
The Lakota people lived in the interior of the United States called the Great Plains region. This region has hot summers
and long, cold winters with very little rainfall. The land is covered by huge areas of grasslands, rolling hills, and flowing
streams. The Lakota used the natural resources from this dry environment to meet their basic needs. In the past, they
hunted buffalo and antelope, grew crops such as maize, beans, and pumpkins, and gathered wild berries and fruits. Their
homes included teepees made of buffalo skins held up by wooden poles and domed-shaped lodges covered by earth or
grass. The Lakota people made much of their clothing from the skin of deer and antelope. Men wore animal skin leggings
and buffalo furs over their shoulders while women wore dresses made of deerskin. On their feet they wore animal skin
moccasins.
SOL USI.3b,3c
Notepage for Student
Page 3
American Indians in North America (cont’d)
The Pueblo tribes lived mainly in the southern Basin and Range region of North America, in the present-day states of
New Mexico and Arizona. The climate of this area is hot and dry. The land is covered by desert areas, bordering cliffs, and
mountains. The Pueblo used the natural resources from this hot, dry environment to meet their basic needs. In the past,
the men hunted wild animals like deer, rabbits, antelope and bear for food, while women and children collected wild
berries. The Pueblo also farmed. They raised corn, beans, and squash. Their homes were built out of a mixture of sundried earth and straw called adobe. Many of their pueblos, or villages, were located on the flat tops of mesas, which were
elevated areas of land with a flat top, or in natural caves located on the steep sides of canyon walls. The clothes of the
Pueblos were made of leather, fur, and cotton. They were one of the few Indian groups who knew how to grow cotton
and weave it into cloth.
The homeland of the Iroquois Indians includes the northeastern part of North America called the Eastern Woodland.
This area is covered by thick forests, mountains, hills, rivers, lakes, and streams. It has cold winters with snow and warm
summers with plenty of rain. The Iroquois Indians used the natural resources from their environment to meet their basic
needs. In the past, they hunted deer and black bear, fished, grew corn, beans, and squash, and gathered nuts and
berries. Their homes were called longhouses and were made of bent wooden poles and sheets of elm tree bark. They
made most of their clothing from deerskin including long skirts, vests, leggings, moccasins and fur capes.
Today some members of these tribes still live in their native homelands where they continue to observe or follow ancient
traditions. Other American Indians, however, have chosen to leave tribal lands and now live in many areas across North
America.
Early Americans
Term
Definition
Picture
Archeologist
Archeology
Hunter/Gatherer
What?
So What?
Now What?
Resources
Natural Resources
Human Resources
Capital Resources
Peoples
Name
Inuit
Kwakiutl
Lakota
Pueblo
Iroquois
Location
Remember?
Inuit
Shelter
Igloo
Kwakiutl
Pueblo
Lakota
Sioux
plank houses
adobe, cliff
dwellings
tepee
fur, hides
cotton, hides,
plant fibers
hides, furs
Clothing
sealskin, fur,
hides
Climate
arctic- cold,
freezing
temperatures
mild, rainy
hot, dry desert
moderate:
warm, cold
dog sled,
kayaks
canoes, walked
walked
walked
Food
whale, seal,
polar bear
sea animals,
salmon, game
beans, squash,
corn
buffalo, deer
berries
Area
Alaska, Canada
Northwest Pacific
Coast
Southwest U.S.;
AZ, NM
Great Plains
Transportation
Interesting
Facts