Unit 2 reflection

Described how you prepared/studied for the test.
To study, I first did all the reviews we were assigned in class. I figured this would provide a decent idea of what I should be studying and what was on the test. I tried to study all of the big Ideas, and also some of the little facts that I thought were on the test. I made flashcards and tried to come up with acronyms that made sense. I also prepared for the test a few weeks in advance by reviewing my word study, so that I wouldn’t have to worry about that as much when it came time to really study for the test. I think my study strategies were effective because while I was taking the test, I didn’t have to really pick my brain for the answers and I didn’t do a lot of guessing. Something I defiantly could have done better is that I did a lot of memorizing. I wasn’t very creative when I studied and if I don’t get a very good grade on the test I think that will be why. I also think that I spent too much time on the little details and when I tried to study the big ides I was overwhelmed. Next time I will make sure that I study more in advance and don’t dwindle on the little details that probably won’t be on the test. All in all though I feel I did pretty well.

the most surprising thing you learned during this unit.
The most surprising thing about this unit was learning where all of our technology came from. We use I-pods, computers, TV’s, radios, and running water every day, without thinking really about where they came from. It’s crazy to think that chainsaws and those electric knives all came because someone decided that if you could shape a rock, life would be a whole lot easier. Pre-history is generally and exciting topic because not much is known about it, so really it’s all about how you interpret it. I loved deciding how people became bipedal, why language is used, and what the main advantages of fire were. I really enjoyed this unit.

If we had more time to spend on Pre-history and Early humans what would you want to learn?
If we had more time to spend on the Pre-History and Early Humans unit, I would like to learn more about the certain types of early humans, Cro-Magnons in particular. We learned some of the basics about them, like how tall they were, the brain size, how advanced they were, and sometimes some of their beliefs or culture. I wish we could have learned more about what they ate, went deeper into what their culture and beliefs were based off of, and maybe even what they looked like. Other then that I feel like we covered just about everything.

well that was fun

Who Were the Hobbits?

While excavating Liang Bua canve in Indonesia, Archaeologists made an astounding discovery. They found the skeleton of a fully grown man who stood no taller then a odern mfour-year- old child. This person would have had a small primitive brain and body and lived between 38,000 - 12,000 million years ago. They called this species the hobbit. Finding a skeleton is always eventful, but in this case, the one find had millions of scientists stumped. The hobbits would have lived around the time of Homo Erectus, but their primitive tools and brains showed that they were definitly not as advanced. Scientists have developed many theory's about why the hobbits were so short. One theory is that they were a branch of Homo erectus. But the primitive brains and body structure cancel out this theory. Another guess is that They suffered a dwarfing disease. Although Studies from the skeletal remains prove that there was nothing wrong with them. A likely theory is that the hobbits suffered something called Island Dwarfism. Island Dwarfism occurs on islands where there are limited resources. This stunts the growth of the organisms that inhabit the island. Whatever the reason was, that didn't stop the hobbits success. Hobbits made simple stone tools and even though they were short, they were probably about 5 times the size of an average man. Even today the story of the Hobbits continues to amaze us.

Why were tool-making and language important for the development of human culture?

Language is something we probably take for granted. Today we can communicate with almost anyone freely and without a struggle. We don't really think about where it came from. Archaeologists can guess that early humans called Homo Sapiens began talking to each other about 2.5 million years ago. Homo Sapiens were the first to talk because 1) Their brains were big enough to remember what things were called and what people were saying. Between 35-40,000 years ago, Homo S. were speaking something that resembled a language. This was a HUGE advantage to people because they were able to communicate while hunting, share stories, and tell each other were there were good sourced. Our language has evolved significantly over the last centuries, and now we have hundreds of different languages spoken all over the world.

As you read this, you are probably on your computer, scanning our blog posts and resisting google chat. It is no secret that technology is always evolving, but something we don't often ponder is that as we sit typing on our computer, we have all the technology we do because someone decided to pick up a rock. Different early humans had more advanced tools depending on the size of their brain. Some of the most commonly found tools are axes, arrowheads and spear tips, tools for digging, and knifes. They tools allowed people to hunt more and catch more. This meant that humans could have bigger meals. The biggest reason we are fascinated with tools, both simple and advanced, is because it marked the dawn of technology. We were creating things that made life easier, and that has shaped the worlds evolution.

The Evolution of Bipedalism; Who freed the arms?

When we are describing someone, we look at their eyes, hair, height, weight, and other physical features. Something we don't often look for in a grown adolescent is if they are bipedal, or if they walk on two feet. This is something that is expected in humans, and we sometimes take it for granted. We are the only domesticated animal that can walk on two feet for long periods of time. Modern humans, Hominids and other early humans with advanced features are literally built for walking. We have a wide blade at the hip bone, long legs, and a spinal cord that will support us walking on two feet. Archaeologists believe that humans started walking around 3million to 6million years ago, the question is, why did we start walking? Most animals were doing fine on all fours, it was efficient and it didn't require adaption. Scientists have a variety of theories one of which is that they needed hands to make stone tools. Some are more believable then others, but there are three that have the most concrete evidence to support them. Although we have many theories as to why people started walking, we may never know the real reason.

Changing environments
Africa was once covered with trees. Early hominids could shelter themselves, find food, and keep themselves safe from predators. Then the trees stated to receed, leaving the hominids and all the animals they hunted homeless. The other animals had to migrate to find new shelters and the hominids probably followed through the Savanna. Grass in the Savanna grows to be about five feet tall, and the bones discovered of hominids were about that size or shorter. It is hypothesized that early people stood up in order to cross the grass safely and efficiently. Walking on two feet is energy efficient, allowing the hominids to walk for greater distances, and it also allows them to see approaching predators with hindsight and react quickly.

More food
Another theory of the hominids is that we stood up to obtain more food. Hominids obviously had to hut their own food. Casing or picking prey on all fours would prove to be a challenge when you needed to pick fruit or hunt meat. By learning to stand up hominids could run and hunt faster, and pick fruit and other foods from higher branches.

More attractive
A third theory of why we stood is that it was more appealing to the opposite sex. Bipedalism allowed hominids to hunt easily. Like peacocks, males would try and impress the females. He would often show off by carrying food ,which showed that he could provide for the female and her family. Not only did walking on two feet allow hominids to provide for their families, it also allowed them to carry more. Having two free hands will obviously allow you to carry more, and the hominids must have figured this out.

Whatever the reason, the evolution of bipedalism changed the way we evolved to the advanced humans we are today

Taming Fire= adaptation

How does the use of fire demonstrate prehistoric people's ability to adapt to their environment?

Even in ancient times we knew that fire was dangerous. Scientists believe that early people were exposed to fire caused by natural phenomenons such as lightning, but they feared it. This was the case until an unknown person decided enough and tamed fire. The dangers of fire were obvious, but so were the advantages. After a natural fire, animals that didn't make it out were toasted and edible. The fire cooked meat saved people from parasites that were growing on the animal, bacteria, it was easy to digest, and allowed people a greater variety because it cooked out the toxins that made food in-edible. Early humans created hearths to help them tame the fire. They discovered that by arranging rocks in a circle around the flame, there was less of a chance of it escaping. Early people knew how to tame fire, but we don't think that they knew how to make it from scratch. Scientists think that people brought flaming or singed logs up to there dwellings, and then had to keep it alive. At night, fire proved to be a plus. It gave off an excellent light source, allowing people to stay up later and exchange stories. This could have been the start of oral tradition. It also proved itself as an excellent defensive system. It could ward off wild animals, keeping people much safer. Fire proves that people can adapt to whats around them and put it to use

Reflection

Sophie Moynihan

7B

Humanities Reflection

What did you learn?
In this unit I learned a lot about, dating, graphing , and other ways to record artifacts. We also learned a lot about how fossils were made, We know how they are preserved and what preserves them. We watched youtubes, read stories, and did a lot to help us better understand what we were learning. This unit was about understanding history, and really getting to know what how we have built off the past. We covered just about everything you need to know to thoroughly understand what makes history.

What did you fond most interesting.
The most interesting part of this unit for me was doing the archaeological puzzle, and then moving on to the dig. The puzzle gave me a clear idea of the steps used in a dig, and then going out to do the dig really helped me picture and better understand the process. The dig was my favorite part of this unit because it was fun, but I gained a lot of knowledge form working on it. It was a win win situation and the thrill of finding something was pretty fun too.

What learning skills did you use and how?
This was really the first period where I was really forced to learn in humanities. In class I had to listen closely and take the right notes. I’m glad I did as well as I did because it helped on my test a lot! During the time between the test and the notes I had to make sure I understood what we were learning. I had to comprehend what we were discussing in class so that when the test rolled around, I wasn’t completely swamped. Finally the test came. I had to balance out what I was studying so that it wasn’t all saved for the last nigh. I had to come up with study tactics because i can have it all memorized. Songs rhymes and rhymes helped me pass this test.

What did you learn about yourself?
In this unit I learned that I can step up to meet demands. Seventh grade is completely different from sixth and at first it hit me as a shock. Last years tests were extremely simple and easy to pass and humanities this year requires you to study. I learned that I can space things out correctly and make things happen. I love humanities this year and I learned that I really have to work for my grade.