How did humans colonize the New World?

Question

A.  Early humans walked across a land bridge during periods of lowered sea level.
B.  Christopher Columbus and a host of other explorers were the first to colonize the Americas.
C.  Humans drifted across the Atlantic on primitive canoes.
D.  Humans were present during the break-up of Gondwana.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about human migration?

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

A.  Early humans walked across a land bridge during periods of lowered sea level.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses human migration.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about human migration?
        o During the last 2 million years, cold periods led to glaciation and a drop in sea level. As a result, a land bridge formed between Asia and North America.
        o Humans and other animals migrated over the land bridge between the once disconnected continents.
        o A connection between Australia and southeast Asia also allowed for migration.

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Gondwana broke up about 150 mya, but modern humans evolved only about 200,000 years ago (0.2 mya). So humans arrived much later after Gondwana had already separated.
        o Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492, but humans first arrived in the Americas much earlier, roughly around 15,000 years ago.
        o Early humans did not have to use canoes or boats to reach the Americas – they were connected to Asia by a land bridge. Humans walked across this land bridge, which was much wider due to lower sea levels in the past.
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question required you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
        o Did you recognize that the breakup of Gondwana was much earlier than the evolution of humans?
        o Did you recognize that Christopher Columbus came much later than the earliest humans?