The Land and People Before Columbus  (Lessons 1-3)

During this unit, you will use maps, charts, and images to describe the geography of the United States and how it affected the first people living in North America. You'll review basic mapping skills in Lesson 1, Geography of the United States, and learn how geography affects where and how people live, both in the past and today.

In Lesson 2, American Indians and Their Land, you'll explore natural environments and the many ways American Indians used and adapted to the land. In Lesson 3, American Indian Cultural Regions, you will learn about the various American Indian cultural regions which resulted in diversity among American Indian communities. You'll also learn about the government and economic systems within various American Indian groups as well as who they traded with and what they traded.

Finally, you'll see what life was like for four different American Indians and explore how American Indian communities and families were organized.