This document provides an overview of historical information about Native Americans. It includes chapter summaries that describe how early humans made tools, the geography during the ice age, Native American tribes like the Inuit and Anasazi, and how different tribes lived in places like the Arctic, Southwest, Plains, and Eastern forests. The summaries highlight aspects of Native American culture like housing, tools, hunting practices, and farming techniques used in different environments across North America.

1. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
Native Americans Chapter Walk-Through
The goal is simple. Use the page numbers provided, preview the questions or prompts and
locate the captions, graphics, maps, photos, pictures, or charts to help you respond to
the questions/prompts. This is a short, fun way to learn interesting stuff! Enjoy your walk!
CHAPTER 2 AWAY WITH TIME
1. (p. 12) How did early humans make axes?
_________________________________________________________________
2. What does Homo Sapiens mean?
__________________________________________________________________
3. Homo Sapiens Sapiens are like ________________________________________.
4. What does the Neanderthal skull show?
__________________________________________________________________
5. When & why were dogs domesticated?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
6. (p. 13) How did mammoths use their tusks?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 3 IN THE BEGINNING
1. (p. 15) Describe the earth’s geography during the ice age?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. How did humans use the ice age to their advantage?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. What did archeologists dig up in Folsom, New Mexico in 1927?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. (p. 16) What is an archeologist?_________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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2. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
5. What really cool thing did 2 college students find in Washington State in 1996?
______________________________________________________________________
6. “Kenny” travel from____________________________________________________.
7. (p. 18) What ancient animal is still around, even evading (escaping) humans
(hunters)? _____________________________________________________________
8. What is the llama descended from?_______________________________________
9. Camels are originally from_________________and got to the middle-east by
crossing the________________________________________________________.
CHAPTER 4 HOW THE FIRST AMERICANS BECAME INDIANS
1. (p. 19) Who grew tomatoes 1st?
___________________________________________________________________
2. According to some historians, what was the population of Native Americans in
North and South America before Columbus arrived?
___________________________________________________________________
3. (p. 21) What do you think of the contest between the deer and the hunter?
___________________________________________________________________
*Ainu of Japan hunted bears the same way
4. What would you do if you were that deer?
___________________________________________________________________
5. (p. 22-23) What was the name of the supercontinent?_____________*200 million
yrs ago
6. Describe what North America looked like 75 million years ago?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
7. Who inhabited North America 75 million years ago?__________________________
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3. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
CHAPTER 5 PUT ON YOUR EARMUFFS
ARcTIc/Subarctic regions in Alaska, Greenland, & siberia
1. (p. 24-25) What is the best way to get around in soft snow?___________________
2. What do the Inuit hunt?________________________________________________
3. Inuits ate __________________ _________________ for vitamins and minerals.
“_________________________” means eater of raw flesh.
4. What cool type of house do Inuits live in when they travel in winter?
___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. Why is there a flap on the woman’s deerskin coat?
__________________________________________________________________
6. (p. 28) How did Inuits make snow goggles?
___________________________________________________________________
7. Describe the subarctic regions where the Inuits live:
tundra_____________________________________________________
taiga_______________________________________________________
winter_________________________summer______________________
8. _________________made the clothing with fur and birdfeathers
9. Inuits mean the ______________________.
CH. 6 CLIFF-DWELLERS & OTHERS
1. (p. 30) Where did the clay for the Anasazi’s pottery come from?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Who are the ancestors of the Pueblo people?_____________________________________
3. (p. 31) Why did Anasazi farmers climb to the flat top of Mesa Verde every day?
__________________________________________________________________________
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4. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
4. (p. 32) In the 1200s the Anasazi experienced a severe draught. During the good years the
Anasazi did not practice conservation and cut down trees and overplanted. As a result the
people starved and those that survived moved to the Rio Grande. How do WE know about
the draught in 1276?_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. The SW was a hard place to grow crops (too hot and too dry). However, the Native
Americans depended on farming for survival. How did the Natives deter birds from the
planted fields?______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
CH. 7 THE SHOW-OFFs
1. (p. 33) Native Americans in the NW carved animal and human figures on tall fir poles,
called “totem poles.” The poles displayed a family’s power and rank. In Europe,
important families also have symbols of power. What is the name for the European
picture symbols that families placed on castles and armor? ______________________
2. (p. 34) Why was English sailor, Captain Cook, horrified in 1778 when he visited the
NW?
_______________________________________________________________________
3. Why may some call Captain Hook a hypocrite?
_______________________________________________________________________
4. How did some Natives keep dry in the rainy coastal region of the NW?
______________________________________________________________________
5. (p. 35) What is the origin of the word potlatch?
_____________________________________________________________________
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5. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
CH. 9 PLAINS INDIANS ARE NOT PLAIN AT ALL
1. (p. 42) List the 3 Plains tribes that states are named after:_
________________________________________________________________________
2. (p. 43) List at least 3 natural elements that Native American used to build housing:
________________________________________________________________________
3. Read Coronado’s (he was a Spanish explorer – not a nice guy!) journal entry and
highlight at least 8 things Native Americans do with a buffalo after eating the meat:
With the shins they build their houses; with the skins they clothe and show themselves;
from the skins they make ropes and also obtain wool. With the sinews they make
threads, with which they sew their clothes and tents. From the bones they shape awls
(small tools for making holes in leather). The dung (animal droppings…think Everybody
Poops) they use as firewood, since there is no other fuel in their land. The bladders they
use as jugs and drinking containers.
4. (p. 44) What are the best Native American Knives made from?
________________________________________________________________________
5. Why did the Native Americans trade the white men for their knives?
________________________________________________________________________
6. (p. 45) How were the Plains Natives able to sneak up on the buffalo before they had
horses?
________________________________________________________________________
7. How did Plains Natives record stories?_________________________________________
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6. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
CH. 11 INDIANS OF THE EASTERN FORESTS
1. (p. 52) What group was the Huron’s enemy?________________________________
2. (p. 53) The NE Woodland Natives practiced “slash and burn” farming. Explain the
process:______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Who did the planting and what types of crops were
planted?_______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. (p. 54) Why did the NE Woodlands natives invent succotash?____________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. Do you like succotash?________
6. Look at the picture and read its description. Do you think the deer were fooled by the
Natives under the deerskin?_______________________________________________
CH. 12 PEOPLE OF THE LONG HOUSE
1. (p. 56) The United States has a patrilineal society because we trace our lineage
through our fathers (most of the time) and we take their last names. The Iroquois
traced their lineage through their mothers and the women led the family clans. This is
known as a________________________ society.
2. Why is the drawing of longhouses incorrect?__________________________________
3. (p. 57) According the drawing what did Natives in the NE Woodlands eat?
______________________________________________________________________
4. Why do you think the European didn’t draw the Natives as they appeared?
______________________________________________________________________
5. (p. 58) What does the wampum belt depict (show)?
______________________________________________________________________
6. How did the Iroquois record the constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy?
______________________________________________________________________
7. (p. 59) Why did many Natives in the NE Woodlands have to move?
______________________________________________________________________
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7. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
Native Americans Chapter Walk-Through
The goal is simple. Use the page numbers provided, preview the questions or prompts and
locate the captions, graphics, maps, photos, pictures, or charts to help you respond to
the questions/prompts. This is a short, fun way to learn interesting stuff! Enjoy your walk!
CHAPTER 2 AWAY WITH TIME
6. (p. 12) How did early humans make axes?
By chipping at flints with stone
7. What does Homo Sapiens mean?
Thinking man
8. Homo Sapiens Sapiens are like us.
9. What does the Neanderthal skull show?
Had flatter heads and squarer chins
10. When & why were dogs domesticated?
No one knows exactly but around 14000 yrs ago; dogs as companions & food
supply
7. (p. 13) How did mammoths use their tusks?
Like snow plows to dig for grass in ice/snow; tusks were 16 ft long
CHAPTER 3 IN THE BEGINNING
3. (p. 15) Describe the earth’s geography during the ice age?
Glaciers (ice blankets) – more land & less ocean
4. How did humans use the ice age to their advantage?
Used the land bridge (Bering Strait) to follow migrating animals
4. What did archeologists dig up in Folsom, New Mexico in 1927?
_bison with a flint spear stuck in its ribs (10,000 yrs old)
6. (p. 16) What is an archeologist? scientists who study materials from the past like
primary sources – artifacts, bones, etc.
7. What really cool thing did 2 college students find in Washington State in 1996?
Bones of a 45 yr old man that was 9,000 yrs old; called the “Kennewick Man” aka
“Kenny”
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8. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
6. “Kenny” travel from_Asia
7. (p. 18) What ancient animal is still around, even evading (escaping) humans
(hunters)? Musk ox
10. What is the llama descended from?_ancient Amenrican Camel
11. Camels are originally from_AMERICA and got to the middle-east by crossing
the_Bering Land Bridge/Strait to other continents
CHAPTER 4 HOW THE FIRST AMERICANS BECAME INDIANS
4. (p. 19) Who grew tomatoes 1st?
First Americans
5. According to some historians, what was the population of Native Americans in
North and South America before Columbus arrived? 75 million about 1/3 of US pop.
Today
6. (p. 21) What do you think of the contest between the deer and the hunter?
Strategic hunting – answers will vary
*Ainu of Japan hunted bears the same way
8. What would you do if you were that deer? answers will vary
9. (p. 22-23) What was the name of the supercontinent?_Pangea*200 million yrs ago
10. Describe what North America looked like 75 million years ago?
Huge inland sea (present day great plans)
11. Who inhabited North America 75 million years ago? dinosaurs
CHAPTER 5 PUT ON YOUR EARMUFFS
ARcTIc/Subarctic regions in Alaska, Greenland, & siberia
5. (p. 24-25) What is the best way to get around in soft snow? snowshoes
6. What do the Inuit hunt? fish & marine mammals; coastal seals, walrus, whales;
inland: nomads reindeer (caribou) & musk ox
7. Inuits ate raw meat for vitamins and minerals. “Eskimo_” means eater of raw
flesh.
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9. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
8. What cool type of house do Inuits live in when they travel in winter?
Snow block house built on top of iced over sea
6. Why is there a flap on the woman’s deerskin coat?
Sitting on
7. (p. 28) How did Inuits make snow goggles?
Walrus ivory
7. Describe the subarctic regions where the Inuits live:
tundra: frozen deserts
taiga: pine, spruce, aspen forests
winter: dark summer: sunny all day & night
10. Women made the clothing with fur and birdfeathers
11. Inuits mean the the people.
CH. 6 CLIFF-DWELLERS & OTHERS
1. (p. 30) Where did the clay for the Anasazi’s pottery come from? Nearby stream
2. Who are the ancestors of the Pueblo people? ANASAZI
3. (p. 31) Why did Anasazi farmers climb to the flat top of Mesa Verde every day?
TO WORK IN THEIR FIELDS
4. (p. 32) In the 1200s the Anasazi experienced a severe draught. During the good years the
Anasazi did not practice conservation and cut down trees and overplanted. As a result the
people starved and those that survived moved to the Rio Grande. How do WE know about
the draught in 1276?__SCIENTISTS STUDIED TREE RINGS – WIDE = MOIST – NARROW =
DROUGHT
5. The SW was a hard place to grow crops (too hot and too dry). However, the Native
Americans depended on farming for survival. How did the Natives deter birds from the
planted fields?_____ZUNI SCARECROWS & DEAD BODIES OF CROWS
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10. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
CH. 7 THE SHOW-OFFs
6. (p. 33) Native Americans in the NW carved animal and human figures on tall fir poles &
SOMETIMES CEDAR, called “totem poles.” The poles displayed a family’s power and
rank. In Europe, important families also have symbols of power. What is the name for
the European picture symbols that families placed on castles and armor? CREST
7. (p. 34) Why was English sailor, Captain Cook, horrified in 1778 when he visited the
NW?
TREATMENT OF SLAVES OF THE KWAKIUTL & NOOTKA CLANS
8. Why may some call Captain Cook a hypocrite?
BECAUSE THE ENGLISH ENSLAVED AFRICANS
9. How did some Natives keep dry in the rainy coastal region of the NW?
TIGHTLY WOVEN BASKET HAT
10. (p. 35) What is the origin of the word potlatch?
NOOTKA WORD FOR GIVING
CH. 9 PLAINS INDIANS ARE NOT PLAIN AT ALL
8. (p. 42) List the 3 Plains tribes that states are named after:_
KANSAS, IOWA, MISSOURI
9. (p. 43) List at least 3 natural elements that Native American used to build housing:
ICE, WOOD, CLAY, THATCHED GRASS (SOD, BARK, ETC)
10. Read Coronado’s (he was a Spanish explorer – not a nice guy!) journal entry and
highlight at least 8 things Native Americans do with a buffalo after eating the meat:
With the skins they build their houses; with the skins they clothe and show themselves;
from the skins they make ropes and also obtain wool. With the sinews they make
threads, with which they sew their clothes and tents. From the bones they shape awls
(small tools for making holes in leather). The dung (animal droppings…think Everybody
Poops) they use as firewood, since there is no other fuel in their land. The bladders they
use as jugs and drinking containers.
11. (p. 44) What are the best Native American Knives made from?
Obsidian (VOLCANIC GLASS)
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11. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
12. Why did the Native Americans trade the white men for their knives? FOR STEEL KNIVES
WHICH ARE DIFFERENT AND SEEM BETTER
13. (p. 45) How were the Plains Natives able to sneak up on the buffalo before they had
horses?
WEARING WOLD SKINS (CAMOUFLAGED)
14. How did Plains Natives record stories?used BUFFALO SKINS
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12. Historical Era #1: Many Worlds Meet
CH. 11 INDIANS OF THE EASTERN FORESTS
7. (p. 52) What group was the Huron’s enemy?IROQUOIS
8. (p. 53) The NE Woodland Natives practiced “slash and burn” farming. Explain the
process:_1ST CLEARED THE TREES, THEN BURNED BRANCHES & LEAVES, HOED
9. Who did the planting and what types of crops were planted? WOMEN PLANTED
BEANS & CORN (MAIZE)
10. (p. 54) Why did the NE Woodlands natives invent succotash?_BEANS, CORN &
SQUASH PROVIDE MORE PROTEIN WHEN EATEN TOGETHER
11. Do you like succotash?_YES OR NO
12. Look at the picture and read its description. Do you think the deer were fooled by the
Natives under the deerskin?_SOME…IF SENSE OF SMELL PICKED UP
CH. 12 PEOPLE OF THE LONG HOUSE
8. (p. 56) The United States has a patrilineal society because we trace our lineage
through our fathers (most of the time) and we take their last names. The Iroquois
traced their lineage through their mothers and the women led the family clans. This is
known as a_MATRILINEAL society.
9. Why is the drawing of longhouses incorrect? TOO SMALL; SOME MEASURED 150 FT
LONG
10. (p. 57) According the drawing what did Natives in the NE Woodlands eat?
CORN, FISH, CLAMS, NUTS, SQUID
11. Why do you think the European didn’t draw the Natives as they appeared?
_EUROCENTRIC; EUROPEANS VIEWED THEMSELVES AS SUPERIOR
12. (p. 58) What does the wampum belt depict (show)? TELLS THE STORY OF
DEGANWIDAH, HIAWATHA & TODODAHO
13. How did the Iroquois record the constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy? WOVEN
INTO WAMPUM (BEADS) IN 1570
14. (p. 59) Why did many Natives in the NE Woodlands have to move? OVERFARMED &
SOIL WAS INFERTILE; DECREASE IN SUPPLY OF TREES FOR BUILDING & FIREWOOD;
PESTS LIKE CATERPILLARS & CENTIPEDED BECAME A PROBLEM
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