Hunter-Gatherer SocietiesSocial StudiesChapter 1Section 2

Standards H-SS 6.1.1 Describe the hunter-gatherer

societies, including the development of tools and the use of fire.

E-LA Reading 6.2.1 Identify the structural features of popular media (e.g., newspapers, magazines, online information) and use the features to obtain information.

Anticipatory Set

Objective You will read about the societies that

hunter-gatherers formed and developments that improved their chances for survival.

Input Chapter Key Terms

Hunter-gatherers Innovation Nomad Culture Neanderthals Homo sapiens

Input Background Knowledge

Archaeologists believe that human beings first appeared in Africa millions of years ago.

The early humans were hunter-gatherers who lived by hunting small animals and gathering plants.

Input Archaeologists know very little about

hunter-gatherers like Lucy. All they know is that life was difficult and groups appeared for a time and died out.

The Development of Tools About 2.5 million years ago early humans

began making tools out of stone. This new way of doing things called

innovation started the Paleolithic Era or the Old Stone Age

Input At first tools were simple, split stones

which were used for cutting, chopping, and scrapping.

Overtime tool makers became more skillful and started making thinner, sharper blades.

These thinner tolls made spears and arrows.

Tool makers also began using bones and antlers, and some added decoration and color to their work.

Input The Use of Fire

The Stone Age lasted about 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 years ago.

During this period they learned how to use fire

With fire people could use light, cook, and use flames to scare off dangerous animals

It also allowed them to live in places where it would have been too cold to survive.

Input Wandering Bands

Stone Age hunter-gatherers lived in small groups or bands.

Bands had ten or twelve adults and their children.

Most of these people were called nomads who moved from place to place with the seasons.

They used caves and shelters and sometimes built tents to stay in when moving from campsite to campsite after gathering food.

Input Hunter-gatherers lived a simple culture, or way of

life. Most of their time was spent looking for food. Women usually gathered fruit, grains, seeds, and

nuts. They collected eggs, honey, and caught small

animals like lizards or fish. For medicine they also picked herbs. Men started off hunting small animals and when

their skills improved they caught large animals such as deer.

Input A late Stone Age group called the

Neanderthals appeared in Europe and parts of Asia 200,000 years ago.

Their name comes from the Neander Valley in present-day Germany, where their fossil remains were first found.

First people to bury their dead. Buried the body with food and tools. Believed in life after death.

Input Modern Humans

Last group of humans. Scientific name for this group is Homo

sapiens which means wise people. First modern humans Just like the Neanderthals but were taller

and more athletic. They had a powerful new tool-complex

language.

Input Language

Modern humans could better communicate their ideas.

They could organize a hunt or pass knowledge to the younger ones in the group.

Words and symbols gave them an advantage to survive.

For thousands of years Neanderthals and Modern Humans lived near each other, but the Neanderthals eventually disappeared.

Checking for Understanding 1. What new skills did the early humans

develop during the Stone Age? A. How to use stone tools. B. How to use fire. C. How to look for food. D. Both A and B.

Answer D

Checking for Understanding 2. What new advantage did modern

humans develop? A. The wheel. B. Complex language skills. C. Complex hunting skills. D. New means of survival.

Answer B

Checking for Understanding 3. When did modern humans appear?

A. 100,000 years ago. B. 10,000 years ago. C. 1,000,000 years ago. D. 1, 000 years ago.

Answer A

Guided Practice/ Independent Practice

Guided Practice: Check your Progress Comprehension and Critical Thinking

#1 A and B #2 A and B

When you are done put your pencil in the air. Ms. Graham will give you a stamp to move to Independent Practice.

Independent Practice Imagine you are stranded on an uninhabited island.

What kind of problems would you encounter that are similar to the early humans?

COMPLETE SENTENCES!