Social StudiesGrade 6Ch. 1

“Digging Up the Past”

Click Mouse to Advance

Lesson 1

Beringia

A prehistoric “land bridge” that once connected Asia with North

America

PrehistoryThe long period of time before people

developed systems of writing and written language

ArchaeolgyThe study of past culturesthrough the

things that remain such as buildings, tools, or pottery

ArchaeologistA scientist

who uncovers

evidence,

or proof,

from the past

Artifact

An object made by people long ago

To move

from

one place

to another

Glacier

A huge ice sheet

A period of time when glaciers covered great stretches of land

FossilThe bone of a The bone of a long dead human long dead human or animal. or animal. Plants may also Plants may also become become fossilized.fossilized.

Lesson 2

The way in which humans produce

the items they use

DOMESTICATEDOMESTICATE

ToTo

tamtamee

Harvest

Togathe

r

Excation Site(or excavate)

A site

where

archaeologists

uncover

artifacts

Agriculture

The raising of plants and animals

for human use

SurplusAn

Extra Supply

(Extra grainis stored in

these buildings.)

NomadA person who travels from place to placewithout a permanent home

Social Division/Specialization

A group that does a certain type of work

Climate

The average

weather

conditions

of a place

over a long

span of time

Carbon DatingA method of estimating the age of something after it has died

Stone Age

The period of time when humans relied

primarily on stone tools

Old STone Age(Paleolithic)

The early, longer period of the stone agewhen little progress was made

New Stone Age(Neolithic)

The late period of the Stone Age when humans made great improvements in technology

Lesson 3

CultureThe way in which individuals and groups

react with their environment, including

their technology, customs, beliefs, and art

AnthropologyThe study of how people have lived and developed in a cultural group.

AnthropologistA person who studies how

people have developed

and live in cultural groups

LandformA natural feature of Earth’s surface

such as a valley, plain, hill, or mountain

GeographyThe study of the relationship between

physical features, climate, and people

Diverse

Different

CivilizationA group of people who have a

complex and organized society

within a culture