FROM NOMAD TO FARMER

• Some historians believe that the earliest people in North America may have traveled here from the continent of Asia thousands of years ago when Earth was experiencing an Ice Age. Their theory is that much of the water that separates Asia and North America would have been frozen at the time, forming kind of an ice bridge that they were able to walk across. Perhaps they were hunters following their food. Perhaps they were adventurous and wanted to explore. We do not know for sure. What we do know is that the earliest North Americans were nomads, traveling from place to place instead of setting up one regular place to call home. Their migration to North America could make them the ancestors of the people we call Native American Indians.

• Eventually, these nomads must have gotten tired of traveling around so much. They had already learned to search for and gather plants growing in the wild. Soon, they began to learn about agriculture, how to raise plants and animals for human use. With more reliable sources for food, there was less of a need to keep moving around. Since they were beginning to look for more permanent homes, paying attention to the resources of specific locations became important. Living near water sources, such as streams or rivers, helped ensure that they could water their crops and take care of human and animal needs for water as well. It’s not surprising, then, to discover that most early villages were located very close to water sources.

• Although people were moving around less often than before, they were still migrating to other areas. Every time a group or tribe moved into a different natural environment they had to adapt to the climate and resources of that area. The clothing they wore, the kind of houses they built, and even the kind of food that they ate depended upon the region in which they lived. Over time, four major cultural regions developed in North America: The Eastern Woodlands,   The Great Plains, The Pacific Northwest, and the Desert Southwest.

Answer the following questions based on the reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the passage whenever necessary to find or confirm your answers.

1.    The “ice bridge” theory has never been proven, but could be true. Do you think it is a reasonable explanation for how Native American Indians came to North America? 
2.   Name some things you might consider benefits of living life as a nomad.  
3. Besides having a fresh water source, how could living by the river meet the tribe’s needs? 
4. Why did tribes in different areas live in different kinds of houses? 
5. In which of the four cultural regions would you choose to build a home? Explain your choice.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP

• You can become a citizen of a country by being born in that country and living there as a loyal member of society. Many countries also have alternative requirements for those who are not natural-born citizens, but would like to become citizens of that nation. When you complete the alternative requirements, you are called a naturalized citizen.

• As a citizen of your country, you have some duties, rights, and responsibilities.  Your rights as American citizens cannot be taken away, regardless of the state in which you live. That is because the United States Constitution is considered the supreme law of the land. Your rights as citizens of the United States are protected in the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. You have the right to be free, and to enjoy your life. You have the right to defend yourself if someone tries to take away your right to life. You also have the right to buy, own, and protect your property.

• In exchange for your rights, you have some duties and responsibilities. You should learn everything you can about your government so that you will be able to make good decisions when it is time to vote in elections. You should also be aware of the current laws, because you are expected to obey them. Citizens also have a responsibility to the other people in their community, to work together on issues that concern the community. Each citizen has a voice, and a duty to use that voice to speak up about the things that are important to him/her.

• In addition to your national citizenship, you are also citizens of your state and your local city. You have similar rights and responsibilities toward each different level of your citizenship. By making sure you are aware, and that you use your voice by voting in elections, you make our country a better place.

Name:__________________________________

Answer the following questions based on the reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the passage whenever necessary to find or confirm your answers.

1)   In your own words, explain what it means to be a citizen.

2)   What are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution called?

3)   Why do you think a person might be motivated to become a citizen of a country other than the one where they were born?

4)   How could speaking up about issues that bother you help you and other citizens?

 

   5)   Why is it important for citizens to become informed and vote in elections?

WHAT'S YOUR ANGLE?

• Did you know that when you measure an angle, the number ofdegrees you measure tells what part of a circle the angle is? That’s right.Every angle is a part of a circle. A circle is divided up into 360 tiny littleslices, called degrees. The word “degrees” can alsobereplaced bythis mathematical symbol: º, usually written slightly up to the right just after the number in a measurement. When you measure an angle, you are basically counting how many of the circle’s 360 degrees fit in the spacebetween the two armsof your angle.

• A straight angle is when the two arms of the angle lay flat in a straight line. A straight angle measures 180º.  A right angle forms a perfectly square corner, with one arm of the angle laying flat on the straight line, and the other arm pointing straight up. A right angle measures exactly 90º. An angle that has less than 90º is called an acute angle. Some people remember the name of the acute angles by thinking about them being the smallest of the angles, and things that are tiny are often cute. “What a cute little angle!”  An angle that has more than 90º is called an obtuse angle.

• While it is possible to estimate the approximate size of an angle just by looking at it, sometimes other tools are necessary. In the case of a right  angle, a special symbol lets you know at a quick glance that it measures  exactly 90º. Just look for a small square in the corner formed by the two arms of the angle. For all other angles, though, you may want to take out either a protractor or an angle ruler. Both have markings that show the360 degrees of a circle so that you can line them up with the arms of the angle you want to measure, and find out precisely how much of the circle fits between the two arms of the angle. Before long, you’ll know exactly what your angle is.

Name:__________________________________

Answer the following questions based on the reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the passage whenever necessary to find or confirm your answers.

1.  Why do we measure angles in degrees? 
2. Which kind of angle has a special symbol that helps you know its measurement? 
3. What tools can help you find out the precise measurement of an angle?
4.  What is another name for a straight angle? 
5. In your own words, explain the relationship between a circle and an angle.