1. How did our ancestors evolve?

Activity 1 - Who were Early Humans?

Activity Tasks

Take a look at the five images of our human ancestors on this worksheet. Arrange the images in chronological order, from our earliest ancestor to our own species - Homo Sapiens.
Next, make a list of all the ways in which we (Homo Sapiens) are different from older human species.
What do you wonder about early humans? What questions do you have? Make a list of questions that you would like to know about early humans in the box.

Activity Tasks

Individually or as a whole class (ask your teacher!), carefully read this article about human evolution.
Make a note of 2-3 words which are either new to you, or are challenging words. Write them down in your books along with your own definition of what they mean.
Quickly scan through the article again, making a note of the dates when each human species emerged. Use this to make a very simple timeline in your books.

Activity Tasks

In groups (your teacher will put you into groups), you will each research a different human species. Choose between: Australopithecines; Homo Habilis; Homo Erectus; Neanderthals; or Homo Sapiens.
You have 10-15 minutes to research as much as you can about your species, organising your findings on this mind map. You need to find information about:
1. When did they live?
2. Where did they live?
3. Who did they evolve from?
4. How did they survive?
5. What did they look like? (physical characteristics)
6. What did they invent/discover/achieve?
Discuss - Which invention, discovery, or advance by a hominid group was the most significant in history?

Activity Tasks

Individually or as a whole class (ask your teacher!), carefully read this article about human migrations.
Use this blank world map to create a map of the Great Human Migration. You need to:
1. Label these parts: Africa, Europe, Iberian Peninsula, Turkey, Middle East, India, Asia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, North America, South America, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean.
2. Use the information from the reading to draw: migration routes, water crossings, mountains, and areas where other human species lived.

Activity Tasks

Just a minute! - With a partner, you have 1 minute to try and talk about everything you've learnt about "How did our ancestors evolve?" - without hesitating, repeating, or deviating!
What do you wonder? - On a post-it-note, write down any questions that you still have about this topic, or anything that still bothers you and would like to find out more about. Share your ideas with the class.
Can you remember? - Can you name all five human species studied today? Can you put them in order?