The First Americans: Tennessee Edition

Use the small booklet, Whole Nations Melt Away, pages 2 – 5, from Tennessee History for Kids, 4th grade edition.

1. If someone says something is “prehistoric,” what does that mean?

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2. How do we learn about prehistoric times? by studying … ___________________

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3. What do you call someone who is an expert at recognizing old animal bones or

animal imprints found in rocks? ___________________________________________

4. Where is the Coats-Hines dig site located? _________________________________

5. What was discovered at the Coats-Hines site? Be specific. ___________________

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6. Anytime we think we have found the “first” of something in history, it is important.

What “first” was discovered at the Coats-Hines site? _________________________

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7. What time period is covered by the Paleo-Indian Era?

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8. What place in Tennessee is Pinson Mounds near? _________________________

9. What makes Pinson Mounds stand out as important

and different from just any old collection of mounds?

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first name last name

Date:

home room teacher

10. Pinson Mounds was not active during the Paleo-Indian Era. It was active during the Woodland Era. When was the Woodland Era? ___________________________________________

11. What three developments made the Woodland Era important?

a. ____________________________ ___________________ were first formed.

b. People began ____________________________________________________

c. _________________________________________________________________

12. How were the Pinson Mounds built? ______________________________________

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13. What sort of structure was on top of some of the larger mounds? ____________

14. What mystery remains at the Pinson Mounds site? __________________________

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15. Now we move on to the Mississippian Era. What time period is included in the

Mississippian Era? _________________________________________________________

16. What big development separates the Mississippian Era from the Woodland Era?

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17. What happened to Native American populations once they had this new food source?

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18. What was at the center of most Mississippian villages? _______________________

19. Where is Chucalissa? ___________________________________________________

20. What was discovered at Chucalissa? You will find a list of about four things.

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