EARLY HOMINIDS

Social Studies 10| A. Morrison

[Adapted in part from S. Saunders & A. Champion]

OUTCOME

1.2 Identify the physical characteristic which increased human ability to adapt and survive.

NOTES

•Handout| Early Hominids• As we go through the following information, keep

track of it on your Early Hominids notes chart.

HUMAN ANCESTORS

•Human evolution has taken about eight million years.•Our earliest ancestors were hominids.

•Hominid| the earliest human-like creatures.• They did not look like modern humans – they were

ape-like.

•We can trace our evolution through the following ancestors:

AUSTRALOPITHECUS

aka “Southern Ape”

Evolution: Eastern Africa c. 3.9 million years ago

Physical features:

Ape-like handsBrain the size of an orange

Size: Adults about 4ft tall

Walking: Upright, but still climbed trees

AUSTRALOPITHECUS

Tools: May have used branches

Food: Mostly vegetarian, scavenged some meat

Fire: Unable to use it; probably afraid of it

CASE STUDY: LUCY

•How do we know this?• Lucy, Ethiopia 1974

• As you watch the video: what evidence does Lucy provide us about early hominids?

• Lucy: 3.2 million year old mother of man [BBC] (2:03)| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3U5KkOYRkA

HOMO HABILIS

aka “Handy Man”

Evolution: c. 2 million years ago

Physical features:

Larger brainHands could grasp tools

Size: Adults about 4.5ft tall

Walking: Upright

HOMO HABILIS

Tools: Made stone tools

Food: Hunter-gatherersFollowed food sources

Fire: Used it (took it from natural fires), but could not make it

HOMO ERECTUS

aka “Upright Man”

Evolution: c. 1.6 million years ago

Physical features:

Brain 2/3 the size of a modern human

Size: Similar to modern human

Walking: Fully upright

HOMO ERECTUS

Tools: Made stone toolsEarly hand axes

Food: Hunter-gatherersFollowed food sources

Fire: Learned to make fire

CASE STUDY: PEKING MAN

• China, 1927• As you watch the video: what

evidence does Peking Man provide us about early hominids?

• Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian [UNESCO] (2:57)| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5KEsQP5i6M

HOMO SAPIEN SAPIEN

aka “Wise Man”

Evolution: c. 50 000 years ago

Physical features:

Human

Size: Same as modern human

Walking: Bipedal – always upright

HOMO SAPIEN SAPIEN

Tools: Weapons, bone needles, fish hooks, clothing

Food: Hunter-gatherersHunted in groups

Fire: Made and used fire

SUB-CATEGORIES

• Homo sapiens became briefly sub-categorized… but Neanderthals didn’t survive.

ßNeanderthal

Cro-magnon à

CASE STUDY: CHEDDAR MAN

• UK, 1903• As you watch the video: what

evidence does Cheddar Man provide us about early humans?

• Cheddar Man: DNA shows early Briton had dark skin [BBC News] (1:31)| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWDWVDu01P0

ACTIVITY

• Facts About Human Evolution (12:31)|

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROwKq3kxPEA

• As you watch the video, fill in the handout “Early Hominids – Evolutionary Advantages”

DISCUSSION

•What feature of evolution was the most important in the survival of early hominids? Why?•Discuss with a partner or group of 4.•Give evidence to support your answer.

• Be prepared to share.

END