Early Humans
Lesson 1 - Studying History
North Carolina Essential Standard
• Standard- (6.H.1) –Use Historical Thinking to
understand the emergence, expansion and
decline of civilizations, societies and regions
over time.
• Lesson question:
• How do we learn about prehistoric societies?
Warm-Up
Warm UP
1. Copy homework into agenda! book. (put
today’s date)
Homework: review today’s notes, study guide
and map.
Thank you 
Essential Questions
In your composition Book
Copy each question/ skip 3 lines in between
1. What is the difference between an
archaeologist and an anthropologist?
2. What is the difference between a fossil
and an artifact?
3. What is the difference between primary
and secondary sources?
LOOK OVER our Vocabulary FOR TODAY
1. Social Studies – 5 elements of Social Studies geography, history, *economics, *government, and
culture
2. Geography – the study of the earth
3. History – the study of the past
4. Culture – the knowledge, beliefs, customs, and
values of a group of people; the way of life. Ex:
religion
Values - ideas that people hold dear and try to live by.
6. Anthropology - a science that specializes in the
study of people and cultures
7. Archaeology - a science that studies artifacts in
order to learn about other cultures
8. Fossil - the preserved remains of something that
was once alive
9. Artifact - an object that was made by people
10. Primary Source – an account of an event
created by someone who took part in or
witnessed the event
11. Secondary Source – information gathered by
someone who did not take part in or witness an
event
The Study of the Past
• Every step we take – in technology,
science, education, literature, and all
other fields – builds on what people did
long ago.
• We are who we are…. because of what
people did in the past.
• Social Studies. is a combination of 5
categories: geography, history,
economics, government, and culture
What is History?
• History is the study of the past.
• A battle that took happened 5,000 years ago and an
event that happened yesterday are both parts of history.
• Historians - people who study history.
• They are interested in how people once lived their lives.
To answer questions historians study people’s
• Culture – the knowledge, beliefs, customs, and values
shared by a group of people.
– Music, food, clothing, religion, art, etc.
– VALUES - ideas that people hold dear and try to live by.
Who studies People?
• Archaeology - is the study of the past based
on what people left behind. Archaeologists
examine the objects they find to learn what
they can tell about the past.
• Anthropology also helps historians
understand about past people. It is the study
of people. Anthropologists assist
archaeologists and historians by helping them
understand a culture’s beliefs and behaviors.
Why do we study History?
• Knowing Yourself
– If you do not know your history you will struggle with your
identity….history shapes our identity and teaches us the
values that we share……..and makes you who you are.
Values are ideas that people hold dear and try to live by.
• Knowing Others
– It helps you understand other people and the struggles they
have faced and what they are willing or unwilling to
accomplish.
• Knowing Your World
– Helps you understand what is happening now.
– Promotes good decision making skills.
– Give you the Mental skills that help you to understand what
is important.
Using Clues
• For information on the very first humans
we have fossil remains. A fossil is a part
or imprint of something that was once
alive. Bones and footprints preserved in
rock are examples of fossils.
• Human beings also made things which
have also helped us study the past. They
made artifacts, objects created by and
used by humans. Artifacts include coins,
arrowheads, tools, toys, and pottery.
Sources of Information
• About 5,000 years ago, people invented writing.
They wrote laws, poems, speeches, battle plans,
letters, contracts, and many others. These written
sources provide clues on how people lived.
• A Primary Source is an account of an event created
by someone who took part in or witnessed the
event.
– Treaties, letters, diaries, laws, autobiography, court
documents, audio and video recordings.
• A Secondary Source is information gathered by
someone who did not take part in or witness an
event.
– History textbooks, journal articles, encyclopedias.
Rise of Humans
How do we learn about prehistoric societies?
• Analyzing Artifacts
• Archaeologists use sophisticated technology to
investigate artifacts. What they find is evidence that
may change the way we look at or think about old
theories or ideas about our history.
• Early archaeologists were often "treasure hunters"
who kept few scientific records and did not exercise
care with dig sites.
• Today, archaeologists work in teams and follow strict
rules and methods in order to preserve both artifacts
and sites.
• Archaeologists study the technology and culture of
ancient civilizations to better understand how they
lived.
Partner work - Review Questions –
Respond to each one!
1. What is the difference between an archaeologist
and an anthropologist?
2. What is the difference between a fossil and an
artifact?
3. What is the difference between primary and
secondary sources?
Discovery Educaion
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User ID - your student #_cms
Password- your student #
Watch videos on archaeology!!!
Archaeologists as Detectives
• Bog Mummies
• http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/?assetGuid=DA55EAD3
-055A-425C-ACCE-C96272A9BC7D&layout=standalone
– Tools of the Craft
• Carbon 14 dating
• http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/?assetGuid=B53DF7AD
-101F-4B71-9056-B59EE05FB7C8&layout=standalone
– What Archaeologists learned about ancient people and
culture
• Cave painting @ Gilf Kabir
• http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/?assetGuid=21A97A035315-43D2-BD84-AC36FC5FD228&layout=standalone
Assignment - You are a Social Scientist!
• You are a Social Scientist. This is a person who studies
history, including people past and present.
• Determine what type of a Social Scientist you are.
Draw (stick people are fine) yourself as a Social
Scientist. Include the following:
– Who are you? An archaeologist, anthropologist,
experienced explorer, inexperienced explorer, or a
combination.
– What you would wear? Any special clothes, protective
gear, etc.
– Tools you would use? Brushes, shovels, axes, computers,
GPS devices, satellite phones, etc.
– Objects/Items you study or discover? Fossils, artifacts, a
combination, etc.
– Where do you work? In an office, museum, laboratory,
outside in “the field”, etc.?