Introducing the First Americans

Chapter 1: The First Americans
Part 2

All American Indians had a great love of the land. They used it to meet their needs.

​

Multiple Choice

American Indians used ____ to meet their needs.

• money

• buffalo

• the land

• credit cards

Over time, the American Indian groups moved farther apart. They learned different ways to do things. There were many different cultures, or ways of living.

​Cultures

Multiple Choice

What is culture?

• Culture is a type of bacteria.
• Culture is a type of food.
• Culture is a way of living.

• Culture is a type of clothing.

American Indian groups lived all over what is now the United States. Each group had to find the best way of living in its own area.
For example, Indians in coastal regions needed to know how to build canoes.

​Culture Regions of the US

Multiple Choice

Which of these would be most needed by a group living in the desert?

• Warm clothing.

• A way to climb trees.

• A canoe for fishing.

• A way to save water.

Eastern Woodlands
Plains
Southwest
California Intermountain
Northwest Coast

​5 American Indian Cultural Regions

American Indians of the Northwest Coast

​American Indians of the Northwest Coastal Region got a lot of fish and shellfish from fishing near the coast

​​Fishing in the ocean

​The region has thick forests, so they used them to hunt for animals.

​​Hunting in the forest

​The Northwest Coastal American Indian used wood from the forests to make tools, boxes, houses, and canoes.

​​Wood from the forest

Multiple Choice

Which of the following did the American Indians of the Northwest Coast not do for food?

• farming

• fishing

• hunting

• collecting nuts and berries

The mild climate gave cool summers and cold winters, as well as lots of rain.
This group believed that animal spirits called totems protected their families. They carved tall totem poles showing these animal spirits.

​Totem Poles

Multiple Choice

What are totems?

• Totems are musical instruments used in ceremonies.
• Totems are types of food eaten during celebrations.
• Totems are vehicles used for transportation.
• Totems are animal spirits believed to protect families.