1. Prehistoric Life—In the Paleolithic Era

2. What is the Theory of Evolution?  Theory—an educated guess about something that is based on solid evidence. Theories can change when new, conflicting evidence arises.  Evolution—the process by which different kinds of living creatures are thought to have developed and adapted and changed from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

3. Prehistoric Life-How did early hominids adapt in order to survive?

4. The Theory of Evolution is based on fossil evidence This scientific theory states that all plant, animal and human life on Earth has slowly changed over time by adapting to climate change and environmental pressures.

5. The Paleolithic Era The OLD Stone Age is when humans’ earliest ancestors lived 4.4 million to 10,000 years ago

6. Early Human Ancestors-- Hominids  Ardipithecus ramidus “Ardi”  Australopithecus afarensis (“Lucy”)  Homo habilis “handy man”  Homo erectus “upright man”  Homo sapiens neandrathalis “neanderthals”  Homo sapiens sapiens

7. During the Paleolithic Era, our early human ancestors went through many very slow changes.

8. According to fossil evidence… Our oldest human ancestor lived about 4 million years ago. This early hominid lived partially in trees and partially on the ground. Scientists call this species Ardipithicus ramidus or “Ardi” for short

9. 3.4 million years ago Australopithecus—”Lucy” Fossil evidence tells us that “Lucy”… …walked on 2 legs!

10. 2 million years ago— Homo habilis Homo habilis had to scavenge for many different kinds of food…

11. Homo habilis—the “handyman” They had bigger brains than Lucy… …and made the first very basic STONE tools!

12. 1.2 million years ago… Homo erectus—”Upright man.” Having an EVEN bigger brain, Homo erectus learned how to do many new things.

13. Homo erectus made much more advanced stone tools!

14. They lived in cooperative groups as hunter-gatherers.

15. Homo erectus learned to HUNT!

16. Homo erectus learned to control FIRE!

17. Turn and talk: What does migrate mean? Think of animals that migrate. Why do they migrate?

18. And then Homo erectus MIGRATED out of Africa!

19. Our closest ancestors… Homo neanderthalis  Short, stocky and strong  Well-adapted to the Ice Ages in Europe and Asia  Lived in hunter gatherer communities  First known ancestors to bury their dead and show emotions for it (evidence = flowers in prepared graves) Homo sapiens  Fully modern humans  Lived in hunter-gatherer communities  Advanced stone tools and other technologies  Lived on every continent except Antarctica  More inventive than any other hominid  Probably bred with and then outnumbered the Neanderthals

20. Review Resources The Smithsonian  http://humanorigins.si.edu/evi dence/human-family-tree http://humanorigins.si.edu/evi dence/human-family-tree The Prehistoric Song  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= vD4CQ5ppm_A&safe=active http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= vD4CQ5ppm_A&safe=active