Early Humans The Stone Age Reading Comprehension Passages Questions Activities

Early Humans Worksheets - The Stone Reading Comprehension Passages, Questions, and Annotations

Archeology and Paleolithic Era - Neolithic Era

This resource contains 5 Engaging, Non-Fiction Reading Comprehension Passages with Directions for Student Annotations! Reading Comprehension Questions also included!

Questions & Answer Keys for Each of the 5 Reading Passages!

COMMON CORE ALIGNED!

Quick overview of topics covered in this resource include:

1.) The Earliest Humans and the Stone Age

-Overview of the Stone Age timeline: Three Phases - Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (New Stone Age)

-Paleolithic Period – Old Stone Age

-cave paintings (first recorded expressions), period of the hunters and gatherers,

-Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and Homo sapiens

-Mesolithic Period – Middle Stone Age

Early beginnings of domesticating animals and farming.

-Neolithic Period – New Stone Age

-semi-nomadic lifestyle, some villages with raised animals and crops

Keywords: Stone Age, Paleolithic Period, Mesolithic Period, Neolithic Period, Homo Habilis (handy man), Homo Erectus (upright man), Homo Sapiens (intelligent man)

2.) Archaeology and Important Findings

-Overview of Archaeology and the role of an archaeologist.

-Discoveries of artifacts (human-made objects) and fossils (human teeth, skull, and bones) and the discovery of how prehistoric people live.

-Louis and Mary Leakey

-1974 – Discovery of Lucy in Africa

-1978 – Laetoili site in Tanzania, hominid footprints preserved in volcanic ash

-1984 – Richard Leakey finds a nearly complete skeleton of a Homo erectus boy

3.) The Tools and Artifacts of the Stone Age

-Brief overview of how the early humans learned to make and control fire, as well as other important tools and discoveries. New technology and tools allowed for more control over their environment.

-The use of fire

-The use of wooden spears

-Prehistoric clothing created with fur, leaves, leather, or grass approx 200,000 BC

-sewing needles approx.. 30,000BC (made of tiny bones and ivory)

-Early humans also created hunting bows, drills, axes, awls (pierces holes in wood and leather)

- Utilized and experimented with bone, ivory, antler, and stone.

4.) Hunters, Gatherers, and Early Societies

-Overview of lifestyle – hunter and gatherers were nomads. In their nomadic lifestyle, they migrated and followed animals to hunt.

They lived in small bands (20-50 people, including children), made up of several families.

-Men hunted, women gathered berries, fruits, seeds, and nuts from wild plants. Children also worked.

-With the development of spears and specialized fishing tools, the hunters were able to catch larger amounts of prey to feed their small bands or families.

-Approx. 70,000-100,000 years ago, early humans migrated from Africa to parts of Asia and Europe. (They most likely migrated due to a depletion of resources and food)

Keywords: hunters, gatherers, small bands, migration

5.) Climate Change, Domestication of Animals, and Agriculture

-Overview of how global warming/climate change melted the ice glaciers, allowing early humans to move to new areas.

-Overview of domestication of animals

Approx. 8000-9000 BC – learned to domesticate animals and grow plants, modifying their environment to address their needs

Sheep and goats 9000BC – raised them for clothes and food

-milk and meat products as well as clothing and shelter with skin. Used bones for weapons, needles, and other tools

-Overview of Agriculture

8,000 BC early humans began planting seeds to raise crops

-Agricultural Revolution

-Slash-and-burn agriculture

-Irrigation – African farmers along the Nile were the first to use irrigation, built canals

Keywords: domestication, global warming, climate change, settlements, slash-and-burn agriculture, agricultural revolution, agriculture

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