Grade 5 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 4, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
America Will Be

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 4, Lesson 1: People Come to the Americas (pp. 80-83)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Change For about the past 25,000 years, changes in the environment have affected how people live and where people live in the Americas.

Begin by asking students to discuss how they think climate affects where they live, what they do, and what they eat. Then show students a globe, pointing out the Bering Strait. Tell them that at one time, long ago, it was so cold that most of the ocean was frozen. Glaciers made the oceans sink low, and so there was a piece of land that connected Asia and the Americas. Ask students to imagine what life was like when people had few weapons and it was so cold.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Organize a classroom panel discussion. Include in the panel one student for each of the periods of history in the Americas from the time people crossed the Bering Land Bridge to A.D. 1500. Encourage the rest of the class to ask the experts what life was like during those times.
Draw a timeline on butcher paper labeled with the four epochs. Have students draw pictures to illustrate how people lived in each time period.

Social Studies Center | Houghton Mifflin Social Studies | Grade 5 Home
Education Place | Site Index

You may download, print, and make copies of Lesson at a Glance pages for use in your classroom, provided that you include the copyright notice shown below on all such copies.