FIRST AMERICANSFIRST AMERICANS

This Webquest is intended for 5This Webquest is intended for 5thth graders studying American graders studying American

History.History.

Introduction to BeringiaIntroduction to Beringia• Many scientists and archaeologists believe

thousands of years ago, when the seas were locked up in glaciers, a land bridge existed connecting present day Russia and Alaska. This land bridge is referred to as Beringia. Because most rain and snow fell in the Alaskan range before reaching Beringia, the weather was generally mild and plants and animals flourished there. Human beings followed the herds of game like Wholly Mammoth which they hunted for fur and meat. Because huge glaciers blocked their way south, game and human beings existed together on this bridge of land for centuries.

• Because of the ice, some scientists believe this group of people were isolated from their ancestors’ populations in Asia for at least 5,000 years. Then, after the ice melted, they moved south to populate the Americas. Many scientists agree that this occurred sometime after 13,000 years ago as the American glaciers, blocking the way southward, melted.

• Is it possible these early explorers traveled in some other way than walking?

The TaskThe Task• Imagine you’ve gone on summer vacation, with

your family, to Alaska. While there you visit the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Hiking the trails along the Chukchi Sea you discover an artifact .

You’re tempted to keep it, but you decide to take it to the ranger station. The ranger notices your interest in ancient history and offers you a summer job with an archeology crew working on a study of Beringia. You’re fascinated and stay after your family returns home.

Your job is to:• Draw 3 of the artifacts found in Beringia and to include the name

and description on each one.

• Next write a short paper about the theories related to First Americans; so be sure to keep notes as you do your research.

• Then you’ll create a mural with your fellow researchers. This mural will show 3-5 animals from 12,000 years ago grazing on the Beringia tundra. The animals will be described on the back of your mural piece.

Click these photos to find out more Click these photos to find out more about Beringia.about Beringia.

Use this link for information about the animals of Beringia.

The ProcessThe ProcessBefore you can begin you must learn about methods archeologists use in understanding artifacts. Click the link below. Read and remember the methods archaeologists use when determining how an artifact might have been used. Then move on to the Artifact Challenge. Read each question and examine the artifact. Ask yourself the questions an archeologist might ask. Be sure to guess what the mystery artifact might be. Support your answer with WHY. Record this information in your notebook.

ProcessProcess• Sketch 3 artifacts. Note if they are made of bone (tusk), wood, or

skin and describe their use.• Recreate these artifacts in clay. Use white clay for the bone or tusk

& brown/yellow for wood. • Label the artifacts with their descriptions.• Keep 2 column notes on the information that will be included in your

report. Use the Inductive Vocabulary Sort to make sure you are including the required vocabulary and write an essay describing Beringia and the theories regarding the First American people. Use the Six Traits rubric to score your essay. Remember others will be reading your essay; be sure to add details and write clearly.

• Create a piece for the mural. Include descriptions of the animals you’ve researched.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/11/1106_031106_firstamericans.html

CONNECT TO THE LINK BELOW TO LOOK AT 2 OTHER THEORIES ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF

HUMAN BEINGS IN AMERICA AND CONTINUE YOUR RESEARCH.

OTHER THEORIES-Ice Free Corridor & Coastal Route

Most Native cultures have origin stories. Most Native cultures have origin stories. Often these stories involve human beings Often these stories involve human beings being placed on Earth by their Creator (or being placed on Earth by their Creator (or

God).God).Rather than a group moving, or immigrating Rather than a group moving, or immigrating to an area, they believe they have always to an area, they believe they have always

existed on that spot.existed on that spot.Check the following link for Origin Stories Check the following link for Origin Stories

http://www.indigenouspeople.net/legend.htm

This website includes some interesting research and maps.

http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firstnations/theories.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/inatl/americas/feb/17/artifact.htm inatl/americas/feb/17/artifact.htm

This site includes an interesting article about in Monte Verde, Chili where artifacts are thought to be approximately 12,500 years old.

Here is a link to a site that describes points Here is a link to a site that describes points found on the channel islands off of found on the channel islands off of

California.California.http://uonews.uoregon.edu/archive/news-http://uonews.uoregon.edu/archive/news-

release/2011/3/california-islands-give-release/2011/3/california-islands-give-evidence-early-seafaring evidence-early-seafaring

Another TheoryAnother TheorySome scientists believe some Americans arrived on the east coast thousands of years before what was once believed.Here is a link from the History Channel describing another way the First American People may have come to this country.http://www.history.com/videos/early-humans-survive-the-ice-age#prehistoric-humans-cross-the-atlantic This link also has films about theories related to early climate change and human survival.

Follow this link for directions to create the Follow this link for directions to create the whole class mural.whole class mural.

Here is a link to several other activities related to the study Here is a link to several other activities related to the study of Beringia. This is also where you will find the silhouettes of Beringia. This is also where you will find the silhouettes for the Beringia class mural. They begin on page 10. I will for the Beringia class mural. They begin on page 10. I will

have copies available in class.have copies available in class.

EvaluationEvaluationClick this link for the assessment rubric-

CreditsCredits

• http://www.nps.gov/akso/beringia/whatisberingia2.htm

• http://www.pbs.org/beringlandbridge/explorations/search.html

• http://www.nps.gov/akso/ParkWise/Students/ReferenceLibrary/BELA/BeringiatheLostContinent.htm

Teacher PageTeacher Page

• This Webquest addresses curricular Standard 2, Benchmarks 2.1 (2.1.1. & 2.1.2), Benchmark 2.2 (2.2.1)

• Montana State Social Studies Content Standards 6.8.5 & 4.8.2, 4.8.4-5