Vocabulary & Definitions
Homes & Environment
Food & Resources
Culture & Beliefs
Thinking deeply
100
What does “cliff dweller” mean?
A person who built homes high up in canyon walls.
100
Where did the Cliff Dwellers build their homes?
In the sides of steep cliffs or canyon walls.
100
Name one food the Cliff Dwellers grew.
Corn, beans, and squash
100
What can we learn from the pottery of the Cliff Dwellers?
It shows creativity, skill, and cultural symbols.
100
Why was desert farming difficult for the Cliff Dwellers?
Because of heat, dry soil, and limited rainfall.
200
The term “Ancestral Puebloans” refers to which group of Native Americans?
The ancient ancestors of today’s Pueblo people who lived in the Four Corners region.
200
Why did the cliff dwellers choose to live high in the cliffs?
For safety from enemies, animals, and the hot sun.
200
How did the Northwest tribes get food from the ocean?
By fishing and whaling using canoes and harpoons.
200
What do totem poles represent?
Ancestors, family stories, and spiritual beliefs.
200
What do the cliff homes tell us about Ancestral Puebloan problem-solving?
They were engineers who adapted homes to harsh conditions.
300
What is adobe, and why was it useful?
A building material made of mud and straw; it kept homes cool in the desert.
300
What materials did the Northwest Natives use to build their plank houses?
Cedar logs and wooden planks.
300
What is a harpoon?
A long spear used to hunt whales or large fish.
300
Why was sharing important in potlatch celebrations?
It built respect and unity within the community.
300
What might have caused the Cliff Dwellers to leave their homes?
Drought, food shortages, or conflict.
400
A kiva was used for what purpose?
It was a round underground room for ceremonies and meetings.
400
How did the Cliff Dwellers reach their homes?
They used ladders to climb up and down.
400
How did the Cliff Dwellers store water?
In clay pots or carved rock basins.
400
How did teamwork play a role in Northwest whaling?
Many people worked together to hunt, share, and use every part of the whale.
400
What are some effects of European arrival on Northwest Natives?
Disease, loss of land, and disruption of traditions.
500
What does potlatch mean in the Northwest culture?
A large feast or celebration where people give gifts to show wealth and honor others.
500
What was one way both groups adapted to their environments?
Cliff Dwellers used stone/adobe for heat control; Northwest tribes used cedar for rain protection.
500
Why did the Makah people consider whaling important beyond food?
It was a spiritual and community-building practice.
500
How did both groups show respect for nature?
500
What lesson can modern people learn from the Cliff Dwellers and the Makah?
Communities survive by adapting, sharing, and respecting the environment.