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Title:
| Native Americans: Origins |
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Description:
| Learn about how and why the ancestors of Native Americans came to the Americas. There is information about several theories, including theories as to why some modern day Native Americans think their ancestors migrated to America. Includes a link to an eTheme resource on Native American culture and another on Mound Builders. |
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Grade Level:
| 5, 6, 7, 8 |
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Resource Links:
| Native American History
Read this history of the Native Americans. Includes information about when and how Native Americans are thought to have migrated from Siberia.
PBS: Arctic Journey
Click on "Peopling the Americas" to read about the possible origins of Native Americans.
FactMonster: Major Pre-Columbian Indian Cultures in the United States
This graph includes information about the ancient people that lived in America before the Europeans settled. NOTE: The website includes pop-up and banner ads.
The Beginning
Read the theory that people might have come to America 25,000 years ago.
Ancient People in the Americas
This website includes a couple of theories of how and when people first came to the Americas. There is also a section called "Native American Perspective on Origins."
Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Paleoamerican Origins
This is an in-depth article about the origins of people in the Americas. There is a lot of information but no images.
National Geographic: By Land and Sea?
Read this article about new theories of when and how humans first arrived in North America.
Migration Theories
This website from Canada explains several theories of migration. There is in-depth information about the First Nations, archaeology, anthropology, and several maps. NOTE: Reading level is too advanced for younger students, but there is valuable background information for teachers.
Digital History: The First Americans
Here is a series of guided readings about the first inhabitants of North America, how they lived, and how they may have arrived on the continent.
Discovery Channel: The Earliest Immigrants
Students can investigate the origins of North America's first inhabitants in this lesson plan.
Map
This is a map image showing possible entry routes for humans into North and South America.
Native American History
This site has extensive information about Native American origins, including a creation myth. Explore the links at the bottom of the page to learn more. NOTE: Reading level is for older students.
PBS: Coming into America
This site contains a series of video segments from the documentary about new archaeological evidence about the earliest settlers of America, information about various techniques for dating artifacts, mitochondrian DNA, boat building, and more.
eThemes Resource: Native American Culture
Learn more about the cultures of various Native American tribes. Some sites emphasize that these are "live" cultures because there are more than a million American Indians living today. Watch videos of a powwow, read biographies of famous Native Americans, and view paintings and photographs. Includes population statistics on the largest tribes and information about the controversy over the use of Native Americans as school mascots.
eThemes Resource: Native Americans: Mound Builders
These sites are about ancient mounds built by a group of Native Americans referred to as Mound Builders. The tribes include the Mississippi, Hopewell, and Adena. View photographs of these mounds and find out how and why they were built.
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Education Standards:
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MO Standards:
1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 6
If you are an eMINTS teacher and standards have not been defined for your
state, click the button below to request that they be assigned to this resource.
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