Early Humans Unit: From Paleolithic to Neolithic - Identifying Changes in Daily Life
Assignments to hand in: Changes in Life During the Neolithic Period Chart
Comprehension Questions
essential questions, Shared Learning Target and introduction:
Essential Question 2 - Why do people live the way they do?
Shared Learning Target:
What will I be able to do?: You will be able to determine and describe the difference between paleolithic versus neolithic daily life characteristics and justify your conclusions.
What idea, topic, or subject is important for you to learn and understand so that I can do this?: You will learn the many differences between paleolithic and neolithic daily life and understand its significance on human history.
What I will do to show that you know this?: You will show this by completed the Changes in Life During the Neolithic Period Chart and answering Comprehension Questions about your findings.
Introduction: The Neolithic period was part of the Stone Age, a time period in which hominids primarily used stones as tools and weapons. Dating from approximately two million years ago to 3000 B.C.E., the Stone Age consisted of three time periods: the Paleolithic, or "Old Stone," period from roughly two million years ago to 8500 B.C.E.; the Mesolithic, or "Middle Stone Age," period from roughly 8500 to 8000 B.C.E.; and the Neolithic, or "New Stone," period from roughly 8000 B.C.E. to 3000 B.C.E.
The development of agriculture, or farming, during the Neolithic period had a tremendous effect on human society. Farming changed so many aspects of daily life that scholars have often referred to it as the "Neolithic Revolution." However, these changes did not happen suddenly, as the word "revolution" suggests, but rather took place over thousands of years.
The earliest Neolithic societies arose in the modern-day countries of Turkey, Israel, and Iraq and included such settlements as Catalhoyuk, Jericho, and Jarmo. In these settlements, people began farming, building permanent shelters, making better tools and clothing, and developing trade and craftsmanship. each of these changes made life more stable and comfortable for the people of the Neolithic period.
Paleolithic Dwelling/Shelter
Neolithic Dwelling/Shelter
Step 1: Tokens - Print out the Daily Life Tokens Handout and cut them along the dotted lines.
Step 2: Daily Life Chart - Print out the Changes in Life During the Neolithic Period Charts and the Daily Life Description Handount.. Follow the directions on the chart and paste each token in the corresponding places.
Step 3: Comprehension Questions - Answer each question in paragraph from, citing evidence to back up your answers from the given text on a separate piece of paper.
1. What was the main difference between life in the Paleolithic period and life in the Neolithic period?
2. How did people's lives change as they began to domesticate plants and animals during the Neolithic period?
3. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the changes in daily life that occurred as a result of the development of agriculture?
4. Some historians refer to the development of agriculture as a revolution because of the dramatic effect it had on people's lives. Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.