Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Human Feet Are Strange
Feet are neat! So, if you've already walked the path of examining animal footprints with your class, put them in the shoes of early humans! A well-designed activity incorporates video, discussion, and hands-on learning to demonstrate how...
University of California
Migration of Early Humans: Evidence and Interpretations
While much of prehistory is cloaked in mystery, ancient ancestors left evidence in DNA, languages, and materials from their time. Using photographs of items such as cave paintings and ancient tools, as well as maps of linguistic patterns...
American Museum of Natural History
What's This?: Early Humans
Early humans crafted shelters out of whatever materials they could find. A one-question quiz asks learners to identify the type of bones used to construct the hut pictured in a display.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Using the Scientific Process to Study Human Evolution
Did humans and dinosaurs coexist? How do we know? Scholars dig in to the tools and methods researchers used to study the process of human evolution by watching a slideshow with embedded video clips. Pupils learn the importance of asking...
Curated OER
Cave Art Revisited
Students research the sources of prehistoric cave paintings and engage in an activity of creating their own cave art. The lesson focuses on the design, composition style of the art, and importance of cultural contributions cave painting...
Curated OER
Pre-Columbian Civilizations in the Americas
Before you begin a unit on Christopher Columbus and the European explorers, take your class through the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Civilizations in this vivid and interesting presentation. With photographs of golden artifacts and ancient...
Curated OER
Primate Evolution
For this primate evolution worksheet, students will compare 3 characteristics that all primates share. Then students will compare the traits of current primates to early man by completing 5 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Early Humans
Sixth graders read about the different types of Humanoid. They examine the different cultural beliefs and their own personal beliefs about evolution. They research the species using the scientific theory about evolution.
Curated OER
Ardipithecus ramidus: A Prehistory Lesson Plan
Pupils discover details about the genus Ardipithecus. In this prehistory lesson, students listen to a lecture about the attributes of Ardipithecus. Pupils then conduct further research on either Ardipithecus ramidus or Australopithecus...
Curated OER
Early Human Progress: Writing Activity
In this early humans worksheet, students look at 2 pictures of early humans, then write an essay explaining what is different about the lives of the people shown in the 2 pictures. Students are given a list of terms to include.
Curated OER
Early Man Word Search
In this social studies worksheet, students find the words used to review the concept of early man and the answers are found at the bottom of the page.
Curated OER
PEOPLE OF THE STONE AGE
Sixth graders summarize how early people interacted to meet basic human needs. They observe how increased numbers of people and the search for food led to migration. Students analyze how the interactions among people led to the...
Curated OER
International Institute of Archaeology an Anthropology
Students research early humans and their cultures. They conduct Internet research, discuss their findings with their group, evaluate the information provided by artifacts, and create a report to present to a simulated archaeology institute.
Curated OER
Cave Painting in the Ice Age
Learners take notes and sketch during the Internet research. They take notes of the colors found in the cave paintings (black, browns, ochre, sienna). They create an initial full size comprehensive sketch on scrap paper and in their...
Curated OER
The Iceman
Pupils engage in a activity that deals with the finding to The Iceman. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Then students work together in order to create different questions about the Iceman. Then the information is used...
Other
Institute of Human Origins: Becoming Human
Multimedia-rich guide for anyone making their way through a study of human origin. Find information and analysis about the fossil record, comparative anatomy, theories, and the cultural adaptations of humans and their ancestors. With an...
Other
University of Tokyo: The Minatogawa Man
This Bulletin dates from 1982; nevertheless, it offers an excellent report and photographs of the skeleton and skulls found at Minatogawa in 1970.
Other
Bradshaw Foundation: Journey of Mankind
An interactive map that shows how early humans traveled out of Africa and spread throughout the world. Starts from pre-150,000 B.C. and shows the history of how humans were able to populate the world. At each step there is information...
Seeker
Seeker: Week of 8 25 14: Neanderthals, Humans Overlapped for 5,400 Years
Learn why recent discoveries are causing scientists to rewrite the timeline of modern humans and Neanderthals.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: African Voices: History
Trace Africa's history from the earliest humans to modern times using this thematic timeline. Learn about African trade, religion, empires, and technology. Vibrant pictures are included for each time period showcasing the African culture.
BBC
Bbc: Prehistoric Life: Cavemen
One page general information of A. robustus and A. boisei that accompanies the BBC series "Ape-Man". Includes a photo, a data table summary, and a shockwave video outlining anatomical details. Archived.
University of California
Ucmp: The Pleistocene
The UCMP Berkeley provides a brief overview of the Pleistocene Era, including links to more information.
BBC
Bbc: The Discovery of Fire
A brief but nice article which summarizes some of the theories concerning the discovery and use of fire by early humans.
PBS
Pbs: Evolution: Origins of Humankind: Homo Sapiens
Read a description of Homo sapiens as a species, learn about the variety of Homo sapiens fossils that have been found, and discover evidence of the culture of these early people.