How did people manage to survive and thrive tens of thousands of years ago?
What factors contributed to the development of civilization?
1.1 Discovering Prehistory
The evidence uncovered by scientists helps us learn about our early human history
1.2 The Elements of Culture
Studying the culture of Homo sapiens in the Paleolithic Age helps reveal how people lived
1.3 Changing Environments
A changing climate forced Paleolithic people to move to new places and develop new tools to survive
1.4 Moving into New Environments
Between 70,000 and 10,000 B.C. Paleolithic people migrated from Africa and settled throughout the world
1.5 Tracking Migration Out of Africa
Jeffrey Rose has found evidence to support a new theory about which Paleolithic people first left Africa and what route they took
1.6 Cave Art
Cave paintings reveal much about Paleolithic people and their world
2.1 Nomadic Hunter-Gatherers
Paleolithic people were constantly on the move to find food
2.2 The Beginnings of Domestication
Early humans tool control of their environment by raising useful plants and taming animals
2.3 The Agricultural Revolution
Humans settled down and farmed along river valleys and developed new farm tools and methods
2.4 Studying the Past
Archaeologists, historians, and other specialists gather and study evidence to tell the story of human history
explain what scientists have uncovered about our early history
identify cultural elements of Homo sapiens in the Paleolithic Age
describe the impact of climate change and the challenges of new environments on Paleolithic people
identify where Paleolithic people migrated and some of the food they found there
evaluate a theory about which Paleolithic people first left Africa and what route they took
describe what cave art reveals about the lives and culture of Paleolithic people
describe how Paleolithic people moved with the seasons and followed herds of animals to hunt and gather food
explain how early humans took control of their environment by raising plants and taming animals
identify how humans settled down and farmed along river valleys and developed new farm tools and methods
describe how archaeologists, historians, and other specialists gather and study scientific data and historical sources
1.1 Centers of New Ideas
Cultural hearths promoted the spread of new ideas, practices, and technology in different parts of the world
1.2 Southwest Asia: Catalhoyuk
Catalhoyuk was an advanced settlement and an early cultural hearth in Southwest Asia
1.3 China: Banpo
The Yangshao culture developed as a cultural hearth in northern China
1.4 Mesoamerica: Oaxaca
Maize domestication helped make Mesoamerica an important cultural hearth
1.5 North Africa: Faiyum
Early farmers established the Nile River Valley as an important cultural hearth
2.1 Paths to Civilization: Gobekli Tepe
Throughout history, different cultures have traveled different paths to civilization
2.2 Traits of Civilization
A civilization is a complex society that is defined by five key traits
2.3 New Technology
One characteristic of civilization is the development of new and better technology
explain how new ideas, practices, and technology spread from cultural hearths to different parts of the world
describe the settlement of Catalhoyuk, an early cultural hearth in Southwest Asia
determine how the Yangshao culture developed as a cultural hearth in northern China
describe how the domestication of maize helped Mesoamerica develop as a cultural hearth
analyze how early farmers along the Nile River established a cultural hearth in Egypt
determine how cultures follow different paths as they develop into civilizations
analyze the characteristics of civilizations
identify the new technology that emerged from cultural hearths
Performance Tasks:
• Project-Based Learning Digital Hands-On Chapter Project
• Project-Based Learning Hands-On Chapter Project
Other Evidence:
• Participation in Project-Based Learning Activities
• Contribution to small-group activities
• Interpretation of slide-show images and special purpose maps
• Analyze DBQ documents
• Participation in class discussions about the lesson
• Lesson Reviews
• Chapter Assessments
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies
KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS
RH.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
RH.6-8.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
CRAFT AND STRUCTURE
RH.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary
specific to domains related to history/social studies.
INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS
RH.6-8.7 Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
RH.6-8.8 Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.
RANGE OF READING AND LEVEL OF TEXT
RH.6-8.10 By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
TEXT TYPES AND PURPOSES
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF WRITING
WHST.6-8.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
RESEARCH TO BUILD AND PRESENT KNOWLEGE
WHST.6-8.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.