2. Using images of Homo erectus and Homo ergaster to solve the problem
Why so problematic?
Using images of Homo erectus and Homo ergaster to solve the problem
Picture: KNM-ER 3733 from
Grade 8
E.Bavery

3. Daily Agenda
KWL: What do you know? What do you want to know? What did you learn?
PowerPoint of Homo ergaster
News Activity
HW: finish News Activity Worksheet due Tomorrow
To be displayed on the projector, or Smart Board, or what ever type of technology you have in your classroom, when the students enter.

4. KWL What do you know about Homo ergaster?
What do you want to know about Homo ergaster?
What did you learn about Homo ergaster?

5. Image from Scholastic.com (KWL resource)

6. Homo ergaster Background
Dates: 1.8 million and 1.2 million years ago
Lived during the Lower Pleistocene Epoch
Contributed to living in Africa
Thinner cranial bones
Higher cranial vault
Less robust face
Lighter frame
Not associated with the use of fire
Picture: KNM-ER 992   Mandible from

7. Homo ergaster
Discovered by K. Kimeu, Alan Walker, and Richard Leakey at Nariokotome III, West Turkana, Kenya in 1984
KNM WT Partial Skeleton (1.5 million years ago)
Discovered by the Koobi Fora Research Project at East Turkana, Kenya in 1975
KNM ER 3733 Cranium
Picture: KNM WT Partial Skeleton from
Picture: KNM ER 3733 Cranium from and

8. Homo ergaster Controversy
Is Homo ergaster really Homo ergaster?
What do you think?
Some scientists have split Homo ergaster into 3 forms: H. ergaster (Africa), H. erectus (Asia), H. heidelbergensis (Europe)
Some scientists believe H. ergaster is just an earlier form of H. erectus from Africa

9. Homo ergaster Controversy
Homo ergaster vs. Homo erectus
Some researches deny H. ergaster and H. erectus are separate species
B. Wood’s list of differences
Increased cranial breadth across the parietal bones.
Increased occipital bone length.
Broader nasal bones.
Broader nasal opening.
Shorter cranial base.
Greater development of the mandibular symphysis.
Narrower M1s and lower canines. 
List from

10. Homo ergaster vs. Homo erectus
Using the cranial images, have students compare the images, and write the comparisons in their Venn Diagrams. What are the differences between the cranial images? What are some of the similarities?
Images (ER 3733) (H. erectus) (WT 15000) from

11. What’s in the News? Group Activity involving Homo ergaster
Split in reading groups, to read the two news articles
After reading, pick up the worksheet on the front table
Work on the worksheet independently at your desk
Homework: News Article Worksheet due Tomorrow