First Humans On American Continent Interactive Story

It is the end of the Ice Age.
You and your family have been traveling for months trying to find warmer lands where you can settle. You had almost forgotten how the world looks like when it is not white and cold.

The world feels heavy and frozen. The wind claws at your clothes.. You hear nothing but the crunch of snow under your feet and the distant groan of shifting ice. You have learned many important survival lessons along the way and managed to stay alive, but right now, you are just trying not to freeze.

Open Ended

Describe how your body feels, what you see, and what emotions you have as you arrive in this new, frozen world.

Your First Challenge

The cold is unbearable. It feels like the air itself is made of knives. Your fingers burn. Your legs shake. You find broken tree branches, scattered stones, and patches of frozen grass sticking up through the ice. The sky is turning purple. You have learned that this means night is coming soon. If you stop, the cold will swallow you. If you move, you risk getting lost.

Open Ended

What will you do? You must choose only one and explain why:

• Build a fire

• Make a stone tool

• Keep walking to find shelter

The Mammoth

THUD. THUD. THUD.
The ground shivers. Snow falls from nearby rocks. A giant shape appears. You will later know it as a mammoth, but you have never seen anything like it before. It's huge body is covered in frost-tipped fur. Its tusks shine like curved moons. Steam rises from its body like smoke from a sleeping dragon. You are hungry, but you wouldn't dare approach this beast. No one knows what to do.

Open Ended

What thoughts race through your mind? What dangers do you notice? What do you hope will happen next? What will you do?

The Cave

Hours later, you find a cave opening. The inside is pure darkness like a black mouth in the stone. A low growl echoes from within. Your heartbeat drums in your ears. This cave could be warm shelter… or a deadly trap. The wind pushes at your back like it wants you inside.

Open Ended

What will you do?

Describe your action. What sounds do you hear? What does your body feel like? What are others in your group saying? Who are you worried most about?

The World is Changing

As you make your way further south, the world around you gets a little warmer and your surroundings change a little. The ice is melting. Slowly, you start to see trees and water running through clear blue rivers. You see plants and animals you’ve never seen before. Every day is a lesson. Every mistake could be your last. What have you gotten yourself into?

Open Ended

• It is all a big risk. You don't really know what you are doing, but you need to survive. What will you do?

• Follow the river and try catching fish

• Hunt small animals in the forest

• Collect berries and seeds

  Explain what you choose and how it changes your life in this new land.