The first Americans crossed into North America from Siberia over a land bridge that connected Asia to North America during the last ice age approximately 30,000 years ago. As the climate warmed, sea levels rose and the land bridge disappeared under water. These early peoples adapted to various environments across North America, developing distinct cultural practices related to tools, clothing, shelter and more depending on available natural resources. Though cultural practices varied regionally, Native Americans also shared some common beliefs like respect for nature and limited consumption of resources.

1. America In The Beginning Who were the first Americans? This land bridge is known as Beringia Animals like mammoths crossed the bridge or migrated to the America's. This caused ocean levels to rise and expose land In the Bering straight a land bridge appeared connecting Siberia (Asia) & The Americas 30,000 years ago During a period of low temperatures called an ice age The world was covered in glaciers or sheets of ice. How and why did they come here?

2. America In The Beginning What happened when they came to America? The ice age ended warming up glaciers causing water levels to rise covering up the land bridge . Some animals died off like mammoths. Living in many different parts of the Americas the Natives needed to adjust or adapt to every thing in the new surrounds that made up each of their own environments in order to survive. Hunter's in Asia who moved from place to place to find food or nomads followed the mammoths and spread out or migrated to the America's How did they meet their new needs?

3. How did Native Americans adjust to the new environments? America In The Beginning Different groups in different environments developed their own beliefs and ways of life or culture. Groups in the same environments adapted similar life styles, and language creating cultural region. Many Native American have these things in common. 1. Nature has a spirit. 2. No one can own land. 3. Only use what is needed (no waste). 4. Trade was important to most societies Living in many different parts of the Americas the Natives used the different natural resources in their own different environments for food, clothing, and shelter. What did they have in common?

4. 8 Cultural Regions California Great Basin Great Plains South East North West Coast Plateau Eastern Woodlands South West

5. North West Coast Weather: long cold winters cool summers heavy rainfall Natural Resources: ocean/beaches thick forests of fir, spruce, and cedar rugged mountains seafood/salmon deer, moose, bear, elk, beaver, mountain goats Culture: Tools: Used cedar canoes to hunt Fenced in salmon laying eggs used cedar to make rope, mats and baskets, shell needles used wedges, sledge hammers, drills, and knifes to carve wooden masks Clothing: Cedar water proof clothing like capes with decorative shell buttons Shelter: lived near the coast cedar Long Houses with cedar bark roofs

6. California Weather: rainy winters hot dry summers Natural Resources: ocean/coast foothills valley's deserts mountains acorns, oak trees grass, and plants redwood trees salmon/seafood/shellfish deer, rabbits, ducks, roots berries, pine nuts Culture: Tools Used Bows& arrows, snares, and nets used cooking stones to heat acorn meal tools from antlers Clothing: grass/leather aprons and skirts Shelter: Cone shaped made of redwood bark, pole, and reeds woven into mats

7. Great Basin Weather: little rain hot during the day cold at night Natural Resources: mostly dessert low areas surrounded by mountains at the edges with valleys that had seasonal lakes and streams plants that need little water like grasses, sagebrush, pinon trees, at the outer edges pine trees, and willow small animals rabbits, lizards, grasshoppers, snakes sometimes ducks , duck eggs during certain seasons seeds, berries pine nuts, roots, cattail Culture: Tools: water baskets sealed with tree sap. Floating duck decoys, nets, sharp sticks, flat baskets for catching seeds Clothing: rabbit robes in winter Shelter: Nomadic temporary cone shelters of willow, brush and reeds

8. Plateau Weather: long cold winters comfortable summers Natural Resources: mountains with dense forests in areas flatter in the center with drier grass lands rivers driftwood, mud, dirt, grass and sage brush fish, antelope, deer, seeds onions, carrots, camas roots, salmon Culture: Tools: woven baskets, willow digging sticks, wooden fishing platforms, nets, and spears for salmon Clothing: antelope and deer hides leggings, dresses and skirts, woven hats, seed and shell designs Shelter: near rivers, partly under ground out of driftwood, mud, sap, and reeds

9. Great Plains Weather: cold winters hot summers Natural Resources: mountains surrounding edges treeless grasslands in the center east more water and softer soil west drier dense grass Buffalo and smaller animals Tools: bow made of buffalo tendon, arrows, V shaped stone trap, fire, bone knives, shields, Clothing: Buffalo robes and hides Shelter: Houses called tipis (plains word for dwelling)

10. South West Weather: high temperatures little rain dry/arid Natural Resources: mountains, canyons desserts, flat top mesas rivers, little water clay, brightly colored plants, cotton corn, beans, squash, peppers, rabbits Houses: made of bricks of adobe(sun baked clay). Up to 4 stories and had hundreds of rooms. Clothes: made of cotton. Using plants to dyed the fabric Tools: Lived in flooded areas. Men dug irrigation ditches, and dams to hold summer rain. Women were grinding corn kernels into cornmeal. They used clay pots to cook chili pepper stews

11. Eastern Woodlands Weather: rainy winters hot dry summers Natural Resources: ocean/coast foothills valley's deserts mountains acorns, oak trees grass, and plants redwood trees salmon/seafood/shellfish deer, rabbits, ducks, roots berries, pine nuts House: Long house sturdy, log-framed houses covered with elm bark, about 20 feet wide and over 100 feet long. Several related families live in sections of the house. clothing: Skirts, capes, and moccasins made of deer skins. tools: Ground corn with wooden sticks , used wooden canoes, speared fish. For farming land, men burnt small sections of trees and underbrush. Women used hoes for planting. Made maple syrup and wooden storage canisters.

12. South East Weather: long warm humid summers mild winters Natural Resources: rivers, ocean/coast Fertile coastal plains mountains, swamps Trees, clay, shells, corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, sunflowers, sweet potatoes squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, deer, alligators, turtles, wild rice, persimmons Houses: made from strips of young trees woven into a rectangular frame, then plastered with clay. These houses had pointed roofs made of leaves. Towns included many mounds which as burial sights and used as platforms for temples. clothing: made of deer skin. Jewelry made of stones, shells, feathers, pearls, bones, and clay. Tools: used hoes made of stone, shell or animal shoulder blades. Hunted using small blow guns, bows and arrows.