Location, Location, Location

WINTER, 2007-2008

North America is a vast continent with regions representing a wide variety of climates, terrain, and natural resources.  While even now, the way of life of people in any region within North America is affected by the physical environment in which they live, this was especially true for early native peoples.  Archaeological evidence and traditional stories can help students learn how early native people survived.  Students work in crews to investigate the climate, natural resources, and geography of six major regions of North America.  They examine stories and artifacts of the people who lived there prior to 1600, and they draw conclusions about how people lived their daily lives.  In parallel, students learn how museum displays can teach about important topics, and how docents can help people interpret those displays.  For exhibition night, each crew is responsible for designing and carrying out a docent-led experience that teaches visitors how the survival, culture, and traditions of early native peoples in the region they studied was shaped by their environment.