1. Chapter 2 Ms. Mohamed 6th Grade
Early Hominids
Chapter 2
Ms. Mohamed
6th Grade

2. Objective
Students will learn about the types of early hominids scientists discovered, their characteristics, and how they evolved over time.

3. Objective
Students will learn about the ________________________ of early ________________________ scientists ________________________ , their ________________________ , and how they evolved over ________________________ .

4. Hominids Scientists call the prehistoric humans - hominids.
In this chapter you will learn about FIVE important groups of hominids.

5. Check For Understanding
What do scientists call early humans?

6. History Detectives
What three types of history detectives or social scientists did we learn about in Chapter 1?

7. History Detectives
What three types of history detectives or social scientists did we learn about in Chapter 1?
Archeologists
Historians
Geographers

8. Anthropologists study human development and culture.
Paleoanthropologist
Anthropologists study human development and culture.
Paleoanthropologists specialize in studying the earliest hominids.
The prefix paleo means ancient.

9. Check For Understanding
What does the prefix paleo mean?
What is a paleoanthropologist?
What is an anthropologist?

10. First Discovery of Hominid
1974 – Donald Johnson discovered a partial skeleton in Africa.
Johnson found a piece of a skull, a jawbone, a rib, and leg bones.
After careful analysis, Johnson concluded that the bones belonged to a female hominid who lived more that 3 MILLION years ago.
Johnson called her Lucy.

11. Aus-tra-lo-pi -the-cus Af-ar-en-sis
An African anthropologist called the earliest known group of hominids
aus-tra-lo-pi-the-cus which means southern ape.
The second part of the name refers to the Afar Triangle – the part of Africa where Lucy was found.
Scientists learned about early hominids by studying Lucy.
After assembling her bones, scientists discovered that Lucy was short compared to most humans .

12. Lucy Approximately three feet tall
Had a mix of ape like and human features
Long arms
Hands and feet were similar to modern humans
Large head
Forehead and jaw stuck out from head

13. Check For Understanding
What were some characteristics of Lucy?

14. Other remains similar to Lucy were found in Afar Triangle.
Lucy and Her Relatives
Other remains similar to Lucy were found in Afar Triangle.
Scientists guess that Lucy’s lived in Africa about 3 to 4 million years ago.

15. How Are Hominids Like Lucy Related to Later Hominids and Humans Today?
Anthropologists often disagree about the answer to this question.
One reason – there are very few clues available
Bones as old as Lucy’s are difficult to find
Scientists do agree that Lucy and her relatives are the very early forms of humans.

16. Discoveries About Lucy
After studying Lucy’s skeleton, scientists discovered that she was biped.
The prefix bi means two.
Biped means she walked on two feet.
This was an advantage for Lucy and her relatives.
With their hands free:
They were able to gather and carry food more easily.
They were also better able to defend themselves and their children.

17. Check For Understanding
What does the prefix bi mean?
What does biped mean?
What were two advantages of Lucy and her relatives having their hands free?

18. How Are Early Hominids Different From Modern Humans?
Lucy’s brain was one-third the size of ours.
Scientists have found no tools from Lucy’s time.
They also do not believe that these early hominids were able to talk.

19. Mini Assessment Review - 9-6-13
Complete on a separate sheet of paper.
Answer must be in a complete sentence.
What does the prefix paleo mean?
What does it mean to be biped?
How was being biped advantageous to the Australopithecus Afarensis?

20. Mini Assessment Review 9-6-13
Complete on a separate sheet of paper.
Answer must be in a complete sentence.
How are the Homo Habilis and the Australopithecus Afarensis similar?
How are the Homo Habilis and the Australopithecus Afarensis different?

21. Objective
Students will learn about the types of early hominids scientists discovered, their characteristics, and how they evolved over time.

22. Objective
Students will learn about the ________________________ of early ________________________ scientists ________________________ , their ________________________ , and how they evolved over ________________________ .

23. Agenda Review of Previous Lesson 10 minutes
Australopithecus Afarensis
Direct Instruction minutes
Handy Man
Share Out/Reflection minutes
Wrap Up minutes

24. Homo Habilis: Handy Man
Homo Habilis is the second group of hominids.
They were discovered in Africa by Louis and Mary Leakey.
Handy Man lived approximately 1.5 to 2 million years ago.
Like Lucy the Homo Habilis had both ape like and human like features.
They walked on two feet.
But they were taller than Lucy.
Their features were more human like
Their brains were twice the size of Lucy’s.

25. Homo Habilis: Handy Man
Scientists found bones of more than one Homo Habilis together.
This suggests that the Handy Man hominids lived in groups.
Living with others would have helped them survive.
They could work together and protect themselves against animal attacks.
They could also collect food over larger areas of land.

26. Handy Man: Toolmaker Had a larger brain.
Were more advanced than the Australopithecus Afarensis.
Tools were found with this hominid group.
Ability to make tools allowed the Handy Man group to live better and longer than hominids like Lucy.

27. Handy Man: Toolmaker Discussion
What type of planning did this hominid group have to engage in, in order to create the tools they needed?
How do scientists believe the Handy Man hominid group used these tools?

28. Objective
Students will learn about the types of early hominids scientists discovered, their characteristics, and how they evolved over time.

29. Objective
Students will learn about the ________________________ of early ________________________ scientists ________________________ , their ________________________ , and how they evolved over ________________________ .

30. Agenda
Review of Previous Lesson - Handy Man vs Australopithecus Afarensis 10 minutes
Direct Instruction - Upright Man – Neanderthal - Homo Sapiens Sapiens - Early Modern Humans minutes
Group Activity – Determine which scientists are needed address the issue discussed in the prompt minutes
Assessment Chapter minutes
Review of Assessment minutes
Wrap Up minutes

31. Homo Erectus: Upright Man
This group had been around longer than the Australopithecus Afarensis and Homo Hablis.
This hominid group was discovered in 1891 in Java, Asia.
The Upright Man has been around longer than any other hominid group.
Scientists believe they were the first hominid group to migrate out of Africa.
They were taller and thinner than earlier hominids.
The face of the Upright Man was more like modern humans.

32. Homo Erectus: Upright Man
Had larger brains than the Handy Man.
They were also toolmakers who made more complex tools.
Greatest advantage of this group is that they had the ability to use fire.
It is unclear as whether they were hunters.
Scientists believed that they were nomadic and built shelters where they traveled.
Scientists also believed that the Upright Man’s ability to use fire and build shelter allowed them to live longer and travel further than earlier hominid groups.

33. What did scientists infer about the Upright Man’s ability to use fire?
Discussion
What did scientists infer about the Upright Man’s ability to use fire?
How did this ability enhance their lives?

34. Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis: Neanderthals
Discovered in 1856 in Germany.
Lived after the Upright Man.
They lived in Africa, the Near East, Europe, and parts of Asia.
Walked upright
Were shorter and stockier than modern humans.
Stronger than other hominid groups.
Had large brains.
They used their intelligence to become more skilled toolmakers.

35. Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis: Neanderthals
Scientists believed that this hominid group were also able to better survive because they worked together.
Scientists also inferred:
That they were they first hominid group to hunt in an organized group.
Had a sense of community

36. Discussion
What evidence did the scientists use to support the thought that the Neanderthals had a sense of community?

37. Homo Sapiens Sapiens: Early Modern Humans
Most scientists believe that this group originated from Africa.
They were discovered in 1879.
They migrated to Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and South America.
They survived because of their ability to create better tools, shelter, and clothing.

38. How did these tools enhance their lives?
Discussion
How were the Homo Sapiens Sapiens more skilled in their tool making abilities than the Neanderthals?
How did these tools enhance their lives?

39. Early Modern Humans: The First Artists
Recorded their lives through art.
They also made musical instruments.
Some images may have been animals they hunted as well as mythical creatures they imagined.

40. Why did the early modern humans create art?
Discussion
Why did the early modern humans create art?
How did the early modern humans ability to express feelings through art contribute to their development?

41. Create a time line to show how the early hominids evolved over time.
In your timeline show the characteristics of how these hominids evolved and how they became more advanced over time.
Hominid Group 1
Hominid Group 2
Hominid Group 3
Hominid Group 4
Hominid Group 5
Name
Characteristics 1. 2.

42. Group Activity – Determine which scientists are needed address the issue discussed in the prompt minutes Assessment Chapter minutes Review of Assessment minutes Wrap Up minutes