Grade 5 Social Studies

Notes – Chapter 2, Lesson 3

I. The Desert Southwest

A. HARD environment – rocky mesas, cliffs, canyons, mountains (mesa = table)

B. CLIMATE : Temperatures – from intense heat to super cold at night; humidity = ARID

C. ADAPT = to change; to modify a way of living to fit the land or environment

II. The Pueblo Peoples

A. Homes --- Hopis and Zunis – stone and mud bricks

1. Other groups – homes of adobe (straw, sand, clay, water)

B. Vegetation --- Very few trees – used pine & juniper for roof beams & firewood

C. Daily activities -- Outside – cooking, preparing food, grinding corn,

basket & pottery making, drying food on racks

D. Daily activities -- Inside – weaving, sleeping, religious ceremonies in kiva

E. STAPLE = main food -- EX. Corn, beans, squash (the 3 sisters)

1. CORN – women ground corn into flour (cornmeal) to store for drought times

F. SURPLUS = extra; needed for times of drought or difficult weather

G. Crops - Cotton – grown for blankets & clothes

H. Water – from irrigation, rain, underground springs, streams

I. Religion - gods of sun, rain, & earth – three things necessary for life

1. Kachinas – SPIRITS visit the living world once a year

J. CEREMONY = series of actions performed during a special event, in kiva

(Ex. - religious service, wedding, inauguration of president)

1.  What is the difference between a ceremony and a celebration ?

III. Desert Newcomers

A. NAVAJOS – came from North, lived as nomads; no formal leaders

1. Settled in Four Corners – Hopi land

B. Hopis taught Navajos to grow crops & make cotton clothes

C. HOGAN = Navajo home, made of logs, mud, bark

1. built in small groups miles apart

IV. Navajo Beliefs

A. Gods called Holy People – Earth Mother = kind. Sun God – could make crops wither (dry)

1. Need to honor gods to stay on their good sides

B. Medicine man – religious leader & healer (shaman)

C. Healing ceremonies – sand paintings – sick person sits in middle,

sand absorbs evil sickness, then sand painting destroyed. Sickness leaves w/ sand.

*** Keep in mind -- population tools religion

food clothing

shelter transportation

natural resources landforms & waterways

trade – items made language