The first Americans crossed into North America from Siberia via a land bridge that connected Asia to North America around 30,000 years ago during an ice age. As the ice age ended and temperatures warmed, sea levels rose and covered the land bridge. These early peoples adapted to various environments across North America, developing distinct cultural practices and ways of life. Native American cultures shared some common beliefs, including that nature has spirit, land cannot be owned, only use necessary resources, and trade was important.

1. America In The BeginningWho were the first Americans?This land bridge is known as BeringiaAnimals like mammoths crossed the bridge or migration to the America's. This caused ocean levels to decrease and expose land.In the Bering straight a land bridge appeared connecting Siberia (Asia) and the Americans30,000 years ago During a period of low temperatures called an ice ageThe world was covered in glaciersor sheets of ice. How and why did they come here?

2. America In The BeginningWhat 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 environmentin order to survive. How did they meet their new needs?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

3. How did Native Americans adjust to the new environments?America In The BeginningDifferent 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 &believe in many gods.2. No one can own land.4. Only use what is needed (no waste).5. trade was important to most societiesLiving 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 RegionsCaliforniaGreat BasinGreat PlainsSouth EastNorth West CoastPlateauEastern WoodlandsSouth West

6. 8 Cultural Regions

7. North West CoastWeather:long cold winterscool summersheavy rainfallNatural Resources:ocean/beachesthick forests of fir, spruce, and cedarrugged mountainsseafood/salmondeer, moose, bear, elk, beaver, mountain goatsTool:Used cedar canoes to hunt fenced in salmon laying eggs used cedar to make rope hats and baskets, shell needles used wedges, sludge hammers, drills, and knives to carve wooden masks. Clothing: Cedar water proof clothing like capes with decorative shell buttonsShelter: lived near the coast cedar long houses with cedar bark roofs

8. CaliforniaWeather: rainy wintershot dry summersNatural Resources:ocean/coastfoothillsvalley'sdesertsmountainsacorns, oak treesgrass, and plantsredwood treessalmon/seafood/shellfishdeer, rabbits, ducks, roots berries, pine nuts Culture:ToolsUsed bows & arrows, snares, and nets used cooking stones to eat meal tools from antlersClothing: grass/leather aprons and skirtsShelter: cone shaped made out off red wood bark, pole , and reeds woven into mats

9. Great BasinWeather:little rainhot during the day cold at nightNatural Resources:mostly dessertlow areas surrounded by mountains at the edgeswith valleys that had seasonal lakes and streamsplants that need little water likegrasses, sagebrush, pinon trees, at the outer edges pine trees, and willowsmall animals rabbits, lizards, grasshoppers, snakes sometimes ducks , duck eggs during certain seasons seeds,berries pine nuts, roots, cattailCultures:Tools: water baskets sealed with tree sap, floating duck decoys, nets, sharp sticks , flat baskets for catching seeds.Clothing: rabbit robes in the winter.Shelter: nomadic temporary cone shelters of willow, brush and seeds

10. PlateauWeather:long cold winterscomfortable summers Natural Resources:mountains with dense forests in areasflatter in the center with drier grass landsriversdriftwood, mud, dirt,grass and sage brushfish, antelope, deer, seedsonions, carrots, camas roots, salmonCulture:Tools: woven baskets, willow digging, sticks, wooden fishing platforms, nets and spears for salmonClothing: antelope and deer hides leggings, dresses and skirts, woven hats, seed and shell designsShelter: near rivers partly underground out of driftwood, mud, sap, and, reeds .

11. Great PlainsWeather:cold winters hot summersNatural Resources:mountains surrounding edgestreeless grasslands in the centereast more water and softer soilwest drier dense grassBuffalo and smaller animalsTools: bow made of buffalo tendon, arrows, v shapes stone trap, fire, bone, knives shieldsClothing: buffalo robes and hidesShelter: houses called tipis (plains word for dwelling)

12. South WestWeather:high temperatureslittle rain dry/aridNatural Resources:mountains, canyonsdesserts, flat top mesasrivers, little waterclay, brightly colored plants, cottoncorn, beans, squash, peppers, rabbitsHouses: made of bricks and adobe( sun baked clay). Up to 4 stories and had hundreds of rooms.Clothes: made of cotton. Using plants to dye the fabricTools: lived in flooded areas. Men dug irrigation ditches, and dams to hold summer rain.Women were grinding corn into cornmeal. They used clay pot to cook chili pepper stews

13. Eastern WoodlandsWeather:snowy winters , rainNatural Resources:rivers, ocean/coastlots of lakes and streamsForests, plants, maple trees, elm,deer, bears, beavers, birds, fishcorn, sunflowers, tobacco, vegetables,nuts, berriesHouses: long houses sturdy, log- framed houses covered in elm bark about twenty 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 section of trees and underbrush. Women used hoes for planting. Made maple syrup and wooden storage canisters.

14. South EastWeather:long warm humid summersmild wintersNatural Resources:rivers, ocean/coastFertile coastal plainsmountains, swampsTrees, clay, shells, corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, sunflowers, sweet potatoessquirrels, rabbits, turkeys, deer, alligators, turtles,wild rice, persimmonsHouses: made from strips of young trees woven into a rectangular frame, then plastered with clay. These houses pointed roofs made of leaves.Towns included mounds which has burial sightsAnd used has platforms for temples.Clothing: made of deer skin. Jewelry made of stones, shell, feathers, pearls , bones, and clay.Tools: used hoes made of stone shell or animal shoulder blades. Hunted using small blow guns, bow and arrows.