The first Americans were hunter-gatherers who migrated from Asia to North America around 30,000 years ago during an ice age when lower sea levels exposed a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska. As the climate warmed, they adapted to different environments across North America by utilizing local natural resources for food, clothing, and shelter. While cultures developed distinct practices, most Native Americans shared a spiritual connection to nature and belief in limited resource use.

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

2. What happened when they came to America? How did they meet their new needs? America In The Beginning Hunter's in Asia who moved from place to place to find food or nomads followed the mammoths and spread out or migrating to the America's 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 environment in order to survive.

3. America In The Beginning How did Native Americans adjust to the new environments? What did they have in common? Living in many different parts of the Americas the Natives used the different natural recourses in their own different environments for food, clothing, and shelter. 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 and believe in many gods. 2. No one can own land. 4. Only use what is needed (no waste). 5. trade was important to most societies

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

5. 8 Cultural Regions

7. North West Coast W eather: long cold winters cool summers heavy rainfall Na tural Resources: ocean/beaches thick forests of fir, spruce, and cedar rugged mountains seafood/salmon deer, moose, bear, elk, beaver, mountain goats 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

8. California W eather: rainy winters hot dry summers Na tural 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 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

9. Great Basin W eather: little rain h ot 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 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

10. Plateau W eather: long cold winters comfortable summers Na tural 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 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

11. Great Plains W eather: cold winters hot summers Na tural Resources: mountains surrounding edges treeless grasslands in the center east more water and softer soil west drier dense grass Buffalo and smaller animals Culture: Tools: bow made of buffalo tendon, arrows, V shaped stone trap, fire, bone knives, shields, Clothing: Buffalo robes and hides Shelter: Houses called tipis

12. South West W eather: high temperatures little rain dry/arid Na tural Resources: mountains, canyons desserts, flat top mesas rivers, little water clay, brightly colored plants, cotton corn, beans, squash, peppers, rabbits Large thick walled houses made of bricks of adobe(sun baked clay). Up to 4 stories and had hundreds of rooms. Clothes were made of cotton that they grew. Using plants and minerals, they dyed the fabric Lived near naturally flooded areas. Men dug irrigation ditches, and also built dams to hold summer rain. Women spend most the day grinding corn kernels into cornmeal. They used clay pots to cook stews

13. Eastern Woodlands W eather: s nowy winters , rain Natural Resources: rivers, ocean/coast lots of lakes and streams Forests, plants, maple trees, elm, deer, bears, beavers, birds, fish corn, sunflowers, tobacco, vegetables, nuts, berries 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. Skirts, capes, and moccasins were made out of deer skins. Women ground corn with wooden sticks . Men often paddled on the rivers and streams in log and bark canoes . They trapped beavers, hunted deer, bear, caught birds, and speared fish. For farming land, men burnt small sections of trees and underbrush. Women did the hoeing and planting. They planted many different types of corn, beans and squash. Made maple syrup and wooden storage canisters.

14. South East W eather: l ong 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 were 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, first mounds were burial sights, but others were larger, and used as platforms for temples. It took many months, even years, to build these mounds, because they moved the dirt 1 basket full at a time. Simple clothing was made of deer skin. Jewelry made of stones, shells, feathers, pearls, bones, and clay. Women used hoes made of stone, shell or animal shoulder blades. Men hunted using small blow guns, and bows and arrows.