Question

vocabulary box
word
meaning
hunter - gatherer
a person who gets food by hunting animals and collecting wild plants
domesticate
to grow a plant or animal for human use, selecting the best traits
fertile
land that is rich and good for growing crops
hvshtahli
the choctaw name for their sun god
communal
shared by a group or community
step 3 - comprehension questions (30 - 50 minutes)

1. what was the choctaw’s relationship with the land before they began farming?
2. what was the first plant that the choctaw domesticated?
3. why were corn, beans, and squash important crops for the choctaw?
4. how did the choctaw choose where to build their villages?
5. what role did the sun play in choctaw farming traditions?

Explanation:

1. Before farming, the Choctaw were likely hunter - gatherers, relying on the land for wild plants and hunted animals.
2. There is no information provided in the given text about the first plant the Choctaw domesticated.
3. Corn, beans, and squash were important crops as they likely provided a balanced diet and could be stored for long - term use.
4. They likely chose fertile land for building villages, as it was good for growing crops.
5. The sun was likely important for crop growth as it provided light and heat, and they had a sun god (Hvshtahli), indicating its religious significance in farming traditions.

Answer:

1. They were likely hunter - gatherers, using the land for wild resources.
2. No information provided.
3. They provided a balanced diet and could be stored.
4. They likely chose fertile land.
5. It was important for crop growth and had religious significance.