The first Americans crossed into North America from Asia over a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska around 30,000 years ago during the last ice age. As the climate warmed, glaciers melted and sea levels rose, submerging the land bridge. Native Americans adapted to their diverse environments across North America by developing different ways of life and cultures to make use of the varied natural resources available to them, such as food sources, materials for shelter and clothing. However, they also shared some common traits including a spiritual connection to nature, not owning land, only taking what was needed, and participating in trade networks.

1. America In The Beginning Who were the first Americans? This land bridge is known as beringia. Animals like mammoths crossed the bridge or migratedto the America's. This caused ocean levels to drop and expose land. In the Bering straight a land bridge_____________ appeared connecting siberia (asia)& the americans. 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 warningup glaciers causing water levels to landbridge covering up the mamoths. Some animals died off like starvation. 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 enviroments in order to _survive. How did they meet their new needs? Hunter's in Asia who moved from place to place to find food or nomadsfollowed the mammoths and spread out or migratedto the America's

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 ___cultraul region____ _________. Many Native American have these things in common. 1. Nature has a ___spirts &belives_____. 2. No one can own __land________. 4. Only use what is __needed (no waste)________. 5. __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. 8 Cultural Regions

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Eastern Woodlands Weather: snowy 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