Native Americans

1. Native Americans of North America

2. Land Bridge • Ice Age –about 30,000years ago • Water frozen into glaciers and oceans levels dropped • Exposed a land bridge between Asia and North America=Beringia across Bering Strait • People followed mammoths and other animals from Siberia to Alaska across Beringia about 10,000-20,000 years ago

3. Land Bridge • Followed animals south in search of grasses • About 10,000 years ago, temperature warmed and glaciers melted • Ocean levels rose and Beringia was covered • Mammoths and other animals began to die off from disease, overhunting, climate • Native Americans had to adapt to environment to get food, shelter, clothing

4. Cultural Regions • People migrated south and lived from Alaska, into North America and down into parts of South America • People adapted to their region and found ways of living and surviving • Developed cultural regions=made up of people who share a similar language and way of life • By 1400’s, there were 1-2 million Native Americans north of Mexico • 8 Regions: Northwest Coast, California, Great Basin, Plateau, Southwest, Great Plains, Eastern Woodlands, Southeast

5. Environment Interaction • Strong connection to environment • Believed that each part of nature had its own spirit and each person had to maintain a balance with spirits • Did not believe land could be owned • Worked in harmony with environment only taking what they needed so the land could replenish itself

6. Project • Groups of 3 • I’ll assign you a Native American region • Create a poster, skit, monologue, brochure about your region including each topic below to present on Friday • Use History Alive! books to research your region and find: • Location • Climate • Food • Shelter • Clothing • Culture