Navigation
Learning how people change their clothing and homes to fit the environment they live in.
Have you ever wondered why you don't see people wearing heavy fur coats at the beach, or why some houses sit on tall 'legs' above the water?
People adapt to their environment by choosing the right clothes. In cold places like the Arctic, where temperatures can drop to F, people wear thick layers made of wool or fur to trap body heat. In hot, sunny deserts, people wear loose, light-colored clothing. This helps air flow around the body and reflects the sun's rays. If it rains a lot, like in a tropical rainforest, people wear light fabrics that dry quickly. The goal of clothing is to keep our bodies at a comfortable temperature, no matter what it is like outside!
1. Imagine the sun is very bright and the temperature is F. 2. A traveler chooses a long, white cotton robe. 3. The white color reflects the sunlight. 4. The loose fit allows a breeze to cool the skin.
Quick Check
Why would someone in a desert wear long, loose sleeves instead of a t-shirt?
Answer
To protect their skin from the sun and allow air to circulate to keep them cool.
Just like clothes, houses are built to handle the weather. In places that flood often, people build stilt houses. These houses sit on tall poles to keep the living area high above the water. In very cold places, some people used to build igloos out of packed snow. It sounds cold, but snow actually traps heat inside! In hot, dry areas, houses are often made of thick adobe (a mix of mud and straw). The thick walls keep the inside cool during the day by blocking the heat.
1. A river usually rises feet during the rainy season. 2. To be safe, builders place the floor of the house at feet high. 3. They use local timber to create the stilts. 4. This keeps the family dry even when the water rises feet.
Quick Check
What is the main reason a person might build a house on stilts?
Answer
To keep the house safe from floods or high water levels.
Long ago, people couldn't go to a big store to buy materials. They used local resources—things found right in nature near them. If they lived in a forest, they used timber (wood). If they lived on a grassy plain, they might use sod (chunks of earth and grass). In the Arctic, they used ice and snow. Using what is nearby is smart because it is easier to find and usually fits the climate perfectly. This is called building with nature!
1. You live on a tropical island with no rocks but many palm trees and heavy rain. 2. To build a shelter, you use palm leaves for a waterproof roof. 3. You use the tree trunks to lift the house off the damp ground. 4. You leave big openings for the wind to blow through and cool the house.
Which material would be best for a house in a very hot, dry desert to keep it cool?
Why are igloos made of snow in the Arctic?
People in rainy tropical climates usually wear heavy wool coats to stay dry.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to name three different materials used for houses and the climate they belong to.
Practice Activity
Look at your own home or school. Can you find one way it was built to handle the weather in your town?