Map Skill and Geographical Understanding
Which map symbol would most likely help you find the location of the Ancestral Puebloans (an Indigenous group of the Desert Southwest)?
a) A canoe in a large lake
b) A tipi on open grassland
c) A multi-story cliff dwelling symbol
d) A totem pole next to a river
c) A multi-story cliff dwelling symbol
The Eastern Woodland peoples often cleared small areas of forests to plant crops like corn, beans, and squash. What is this an example of?
a) Adapting to the environment by living in tipis.
b) Modifying (changing) the environment for agriculture.
c) Using the Great Plains for hunting bison.
d) Trading extensively with desert communities.
b) Modified their environment for agriculture.
Which of the following describes a way that Eastern Woodland peoples lived before Europeans arrived?
a) They lived only by hunting bison on wide open grasslands.
b) They built large pyramids in a dry desert climate.
c) They lived in villages and farmed in forests.
d) They fished for whales from large canoes in the ocean.
c) They lived in villages and farmed in forests.
Imagine you are a cartographer (mapmaker) prior to European contact. Describe two different Indigenous peoples you would include on your map and explain how their locations and primary ways of life demonstrate the diverse environments across North America.
"I would put the Eastern Woodland peoples on my map, showing them in the forest areas, often near lakes and rivers. I would also show the Hopi in the Desert Southwest, living in dry areas. This shows how different groups lived in different places."
If you were looking at a map of North America prior to European contact, in which region would you expect to find Indigenous peoples who primarily used canoes for transportation and lived in longhouses?
a) Desert Southwest
b) Great Plains
c) Eastern Woodland
d) Pacific Northwest
c) Eastern Woodland
How did the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains, who hunted bison, adapt to their environment differently from the Eastern Woodland peoples who lived in forests?
a) Great Plains peoples built large permanent villages, while Eastern Woodland peoples were nomadic.
b) Great Plains peoples developed irrigation systems, while Eastern Woodland peoples relied on rain.
c) Great Plains peoples developed ways to follow herds and use all parts of the bison, while Eastern Woodland peoples cleared land for farming and used forest resources.
d) Great Plains peoples relied on ocean fishing, while Eastern Woodland peoples relied on desert plants.
c) Great Plains peoples developed ways to follow herds and use all parts of the bison, while Eastern Woodland peoples cleared land for farming and used forest resources.
The governmental structures of some Eastern Woodland peoples, like the Iroquois Confederacy, involved:
a) A single powerful king ruling over all tribes.
b) Representatives from different clans or tribes coming together to make decisions.
c) Small, nomadic family groups making all decisions i
b) Representatives from different clans or tribes coming together to make decisions.
Describe two key aspects of daily life for the Eastern Woodland peoples before European contact, focusing on either their family structures, governmental structures, or relationship to the land. Provide specific details to support your description.
"Eastern Woodland peoples lived in settled villages with longhouses where extended families lived together. Many groups also had systems of government where leaders made decisions together, like councils, showing how they organized their communities."
A map shows a diverse group of Indigenous peoples living along the Columbia River and coastal areas, primarily focused on fishing and whaling. This distribution most strongly suggests the region is where?
a) Great Plains
b) Pacific Northwest
c) Eastern Woodland
d) Desert Southwest
b) Pacific Northwest
Compare the environmental modifications made by the Eastern Woodland peoples (e.g., slash-and-burn agriculture) with those made by the Indigenous peoples of the Desert Southwest (e.g., complex irrigation canals). Which of the following statements best explains the primary reason for these different modifications?
a) Eastern Woodland peoples modified land for large-scale bison hunting, while Desert Southwest peoples built mounds for ceremonies.
b) Both regions focused on developing extensive trade networks with European explorers.
c) Eastern Woodland peoples modified forests to create farmland and hunting grounds, while Desert Southwest peoples modified dry landscapes to grow crops with limited water.
d) Eastern Woodland peoples primarily built large cities, while Desert Southwest peoples focused on building boats.
c) Eastern Woodland peoples modified forests to create farmland and hunting grounds, while Desert Southwest peoples modified dry landscapes to grow crops with limited water.
Which statement best describes the complex and reciprocal relationship Eastern Woodland peoples had with their land, extending beyond simple resource use?
a) They viewed land as property to be bought and sold, much like European settlers.
b) They believed the land was a living entity that provided for them, and in return, they had a responsibility to care for it.
c) They completely avoided modifying the land, fearing any change would disrupt natural harmony.
d) Their relationship was primarily focused on exporting all natural resources for trade with distant empires.
b) They believed the land was a living entity that provided for them, and in return, they had a responsibility to care for it.
Compare how Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest and the Desert Southwest adapted to or modified their very different environments to obtain food.
"The Pacific Northwest peoples adapted to their environment by fishing for salmon in the rivers and ocean, and sometimes hunting whales, because they lived near the water. The Desert Southwest peoples adapted to their dry environment by building irrigation ditches to bring water to their farms so they could grow corn and beans."