Geography
This desert is hot and dry and covers much of northern Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States
Chihuahuan Desert
These homes were dug into the ground to use the earth’s insulation to stay cool.
pithouses
The three plants grown together in the Three Sisters method.
corn (maize), beans, and squash
This canyon became an important trade hub with many connecting roads.
Chaco Canyon
The word that means the first people to live in a land from earliest times or before colonists arrived
Indigenous
This elevated region with a very dry climate covers parts of the American Southwest and includes many canyons and mesas
Colorado
Plateau
These homes were made from dirt, rock, and straw and were common in desert areas where wood was scarce.
adobe houses
Explain one benefit of planting the Three Sisters together.
The corn provided a trellis for beans; beans added nitrogen to the soil; squash shaded the ground to keep moisture and stop weeds.
Give two items traded by Southwest Indigenous peoples mentioned in the slides.
Turquoise, feathers from exotic birds, shells (any two)
We mentioned planting in small areas rather than large fields because of changing weather. What phrase describes planting many small areas over time?
small plots
Name two major rivers or bodies of water listed on the slides that are important to the Southwest region.
Rio Grande and the Colorado River
These dwellings were built into the sides of cliffs or mesas so people could see enemies and overlook crops.
Cliff Dwellings
What is a waffle garden and why was it useful in the dry Southwest?
a grid of raised earth with planting holes that stores water and prevents evaporation, helping seeds grow in dry soil
Describe one role of men and one role of women in many Southwest tribes
Men often acted as farmers, herders, hunters, or leaders; women gathered food, made clothes, baskets and pottery, and cared for children
What is a hogan and which group lived in it?
It is a home made from bark, mud, and wooden poles used by the Navajo.
Explain one reason why the environment of the American Southwest made settlement challenging for Indigenous peoples
It was very dry with little rainfall, making farming difficult; extreme heat in deserts; rocky terrain and limited natural resources for some materials.
Name one way Navajo or Apache clothing adapted to their environment according to the slides
Navajo used wool and cotton like the Pueblo and faced hogans east or Apache wore animal skins because they were nomadic
Name two other farming methods used by Southwest Indigenous farmers besides the Three Sisters.
Pebble mulch, pumice planting areas, small plots, check dams, and irrigation canals.
How did religion and spiritual practices connect to everyday life for the Southwest peoples?
They held spiritual ceremonies and offered prayers to their gods for success in farming, hunting, and personal relationships.
Define "companion planting"
Planting different crops together (like corn, beans, and squash) so they help each other grow.
Locate on a map where the Chihuahuan Desert and Colorado Plateau are relative to each other
The Chihuahuan Desert lies primarily to the south/southeast of the Colorado Plateau; the Colorado Plateau is further north and higher in elevation across parts of the Four Corners region.
Compare how clothing needs differed between Pueblo people and nomadic Apache people.
Pueblo people used locally grown cotton, wool, and made manta cloth and wore buckskins and buffalo robes for warmth; Apache were nomadic so they relied more on animal skins and portable clothing.
Describe how pumice helped crops grow in dry soil.
Pumice stores water, reflects heat in summer to slow evaporation, and helps retain moisture for plants
Explain how trade networks (like roads from Chaco Canyon) helped Indigenous communities in the Southwest.
Trade networks allowed long-distance exchange of goods (turquoise, shells, feathers), ideas, and cultural practices, supporting economic and social connections across regions.
Explain what a check dam is and why Southwest farmers used them.
a small dam built to gather water and prevent soil from washing away; it helped retain water and protect soil in dry, erosion-prone areas.