Ancient Pathways Worksheet
Early Americas & Regional Geography
Ancient Pathways Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Class:
Key Vocabulary & Cognates (Palabras Clave)
Beringia
Puente de tierra de Bering
Dry land bridge connecting Asia and North America during the Ice Age.
Migration
Migración
Movement of human populations to settle into new geographic regions.
Geography
Geografía
Physical landforms, water systems, climate, and vegetation of a territory.
Adaptation
Adaptación / Cultura
How communities adapt shelter, tools, and diet to survive their environment.
1
Background Reading: Cultural Regions of North America
Read in pairs or small groups (Lectura en grupos)
After crossing Beringia, early peoples spread across North America. Different climates and natural resources led indigenous groups to develop distinct cultures, homes, and ways of life. Read the profiles below to prepare for the prediction questions on Page 2:
The Arctic
El Ártico
Geography & Climate: Extremely freezing, flat permafrost tundra, ice sheets, and barren landscape with no tall trees.
Culture & Survival: People relied on sea mammals (seals, walruses, whales) and caribou. They built temporary snow igloos on hunts, sod/stone winter homes, and crafted thick animal-fur parkas and dog sleds.
Northwest Coast
Costa Noroeste
Geography & Climate: Mild, wet coastal climate with heavy rainfall, rugged Pacific coastlines, and towering cedar forests.
Culture & Survival: Oceans and rivers provided endless salmon, halibut, and shellfish. Huge red cedar trees supplied wood for ocean canoes, multi-family plank longhouses, and carved totem poles.
The Great Plains
Grandes Llanuras
Geography & Climate: Massive open grasslands, few trees, hot summers, bitter cold winters, and few major rivers.
Culture & Survival: Life centered on massive herds of bison (buffalo). Bison provided food, clothing, tools from bone, and hides to construct portable cone-shaped teepees for nomadic tracking.
The Southwest
El Suroeste
Geography & Climate: Hot, arid deserts, high mesas, canyons, and dry river valleys with very little rainfall.
Culture & Survival: Mastered irrigation farming to cultivate maize (corn), beans, and squash. They built multi-story stone and adobe (sun-dried clay brick) pueblos tucked into canyon walls to keep cool.
Eastern Woodlands
Bosques Orientales
Geography & Climate: Four distinct seasons, rich fertile soil, abundant freshwater lakes, rivers, and dense hardwood forests.
Culture & Survival: Balanced farming ("Three Sisters": corn, beans, squash) with hunting white-tailed deer and freshwater fishing. They built permanent wooden longhouses and wigwams covered in birch bark.
Active Reading Strategy / Estrategia
As you read with your partner, underline the main food source and circle the shelter/housing type for each region. You will need these details on Page 2!
Next Step: Choose two regions from the reading above, then proceed to Page 2.
Page 1 of 2
Part 2: Regional Cultures & Exit Ticket
Geography Shapes Culture
Grade 7 Social Studies
Regions Selection Menu (review details on Page 1)
Pick any 2 distinct regions
Arctic
Tundra / Seals / Igloos
Northwest Coast
Cedar / Salmon / Plank Houses
Great Plains
Grassland / Bison / Teepees
Southwest
Desert / Corn / Adobe Pueblos
Eastern Woodlands
Forest / Deer / Longhouses
Sentence Starter: "Because the geography of [Region] has [climate/land/water], the people who settled there had to [describe housing, clothing, or food source]."
2 Region Choice 1:
Select from menu above
Write one sentence predicting how its geography (climate, land, water) shaped the culture of its people:
3 Region Choice 2:
Select a different region
Write one sentence predicting how its geography (climate, land, water) shaped the culture of its people:
Extension Challenge (Pregunta de Extensión)
Why might migrating groups along the Pacific Northwest Coast have built permanent wooden settlements, while groups on the Great Plains lived a nomadic, mobile lifestyle?
Exit Ticket: Check for Understanding
Independent Work
"In one to two sentences, explain why the Bering Land Bridge was important for the peopling of the Americas."
Starter: The Bering Land Bridge was important because it allowed...
Turn this worksheet into your teacher or class collection bin when finished. Page 2 of 2
