What happened to the people of Easter Island?
1. Easter Island is 2000 miles (3200 kilometres) from the nearest land
2. The Island is 8 miles wide x 8 miles long. (13kmx13km)
3. The Island was a tropical paradise - until humans arrived
4. The population of the Island grew to 10,000
5. Fantastic statues had been carved by people
6. These statues are standing up to 6 miles away from where they were carved.
7. These people must have been clever, talented and organised
8. Great technical knowledge would have been needed to move the statues.
9. An explorer arrived in 1722 and found people fighting and starving.
Year 8 Unit 2 Classwork/Homework:
Date issued: ………......….
Target grade/level I scored last time
Name……………………………...……
What I am aiming for this time
1. For many years tree roots helped the soil
to stay together and not be eroded
4. The first boats used by
the early people were
made from wood and
reeds
7. When food becomes scarce
– people try to move to other
places to find more food.
11. Roggeveen found a
group of people living
very basic lives in
caves and huts
15. It would take at least
100 fit and healthy men
to move each a small
statue.
2. Before the first people
arrived the island was
covered in tropical forest
5. For many years trees and their leaves
protected the soil from erosion by rain and water
8. Only 2000 - 3000
people were living the
island when Admiral
Roggeveen landed in
1722.
12. The first houses were
made from wood and
palm leaves
16. Some people think
the statues were moved
by being rolled along
something
9. Before 1722
there were
10,000 people
living on the
Island
13. In 1722 Admiral
Roggeveen found
that many statues
had been damaged
17. In the remains
of fires they found
human bones.
3. No trees could
be found on the
Island in 1722.
6. The volcanic soil was
at first very fertile (good
for growing food)
10. Later on, there
might not be
enough land for
everyone
14. The first people
to land there 1600
years ago - 400AD
were experienced
sailors
Task 1
What was the
island like
before the first
people
arrived?
What is the evidence
that the first
people were
clever, creative
and healthy?
_________________________
Describe what
the island
was like
when the
Admiral and
his crew
arrived?
_________________________
____________________
Task 2:
Timeline
Using the boxes 1- 17 on the
opposite page put what you
think happened in the right
order below.
Add extras ideas too!
Date
_________________________
____________________
_________________________
____________________
200AD
_________________________
____________________
_________________________
____________________
300AD
_________________________
What was the soil
like when the
first people
arrived?
____________________
_________________________
400AD
____________________
_________________________
____________________
_________________________
500AD
____________________
_________________________
____________________
_________________________
600AD
____________________
_________________________
____________________
700AD
_________________________
How long ago did
the first
people arrive?
____________________
_________________________
800AD
____________________
_________________________
____________________
900AD
____________________
How big is this
island?
Where is the
nearest other
place (land)?
What do people
sometimes do if
there’s not
enough land or
food to go
around.
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
people get
their food?
1100AD
1400AD
____________________
____________________
How did the first
1000AD
What did they use to
build their houses
and boats?
1700AD
____________________
____________________
1722AD
____________________
1
1 ________________
2
2 ________________
3
4
____________________
____________________
____________________
3 ________________
1800AD
____________________
____________________
1900AD
2012AD
What
happened
Task 3 : Answer these questions on the lined paper provided.
1.
What did humans do to Easter Island that altered its natural balance?
2.
What could the Islanders have done to live sustainably? Write a simple plan.
3.
If one Islander had worked out that it was dangerous to chop down all the trees what do you think the other
people may have said to this Islander and why would they have said it?
4.
Is what happened on the island similar to what is happening in the ‘global village’ called Earth?
Examine your sources carefully.
LEVELS
Level 2 (E)
You select information from the booklet to answer some of Task 1
You recognise that humans affected the environment of Easter Island in Task 2
You use geographical words correctly once .
Level 3 (D)
You select information from the booklet and answer most of Task 1.
You simply describe what you think happened to Easter Island in both Task 2 and Task 3 answers
You use some geographical words to explain what you mean
Level 4 (C) - All of ‘Level 3’ plus:
You simply explain how humans altered the natural balance of Easter Island and this could be the answer to the ‘mystery’ - Q1
You produce a simple plan for how the resources on Easter Island could have been used sustainably – Q2
You start to think about the way some people have different attitudes to the environment – Q3
You mention briefly links between Easter Island and what could happen globally – Q4
Level 5 (B) - All of ‘Level 4’ plus:
You explain how humans altered the natural balance of Easter Island and this could be the answer to the ‘mystery’. - Q1
Your plan is detailed and looks at ALL the resources available - Q2
You start to explain why some Islanders had different opinions about the environment – Q3
You have compared and given a brief conclusion – Q4
Level 6 (A) – All of ‘Level 5’ plus:
You understand that different cultures may have different attitudes to yours – Q3
You show you have researched extra evidence and you used it effectively (all questions)
Level 7 (A*) – All of ‘Level 6’ plus:
You appreciate we must plan and manage all environments (sustainable development) to make sure the world has a future
You evaluate your sources and explain how this affects your conclusions. – Q4
Level 8 (exceptional performance) see PDS
Overall level achieved
(Student) What went well:
Teacher comments
(Student) What did not go well: