Early Humans

Unit Highlights

In this unit, students will analyze primary and secondary sources to:

  • Describe what is known through the archaeological study of the early physical and cultural development of humankind from the Paleolithic era to the Agricultural Revolution what hunter-gather societies were like and the importance of tools and fire.

  • Sequence the process of how early humans migrated across the world.

  • Explain the causes of the domestication of plants and animals and their effect on human life.

  • Classify the development of agricultural techniques and their effects on civilization.

Unit Vocabulary

  • Agricultural Revolution

  • Agriculture

  • Archaeology

  • Domestication

  • Farming

  • Granary

  • Homo Sapiens

  • Human Modification

  • Hunter-Gatherer

  • Labor Specialization

  • Irrigation

  • Migration

  • Nomadic

  • Paleolithic Era

  • Plow

  • Society

  • Surplus

  • Tools

Activity 1: Early Humans Pre-Test

Using your prior knowledge, brainstorm, list, and/or draw what you know about early humans in a thinking map. Complete this assignment on the Thinking Maps Learning Community or on paper. You may include:

  • Information you know or kind of know about early humans.

  • Guesses about early humans.

  • Questions you have about early humans.

  • Information you would like to know about early humans.

  • What comes to mind when you think of early humans.