New Guinea

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/new-guinea

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is New Guinea?785,753 km2 (303,381 sq mi), making it the world's second-largest island
2. What is the human habitation?Evidence of human presence dates back at least 40,000 years
3. What is New Guinea and why is it special?New Guinea is the world’s second‑largest island, filled with amazing animals and many different people. Its huge size and many mountains help create a wide variety of cultures.
4. How did people first get to New Guinea?About 40,000 years ago, early humans crossed a land bridge that connected New Guinea to Australia when sea levels were lower. That bridge was called the Torres Strait.

Sahul: The ancient landmass that connected Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania during periods of low sea level.
Pleistocene Glaciations: A geological epoch characterized by repeated cycles of glaciation (ice ages) and interglacial periods, significantly impacting sea levels.
Ethnographic: Relating to the scientific description of peoples and cultures and their relationships.
Anthropological: Relating to the study of human societies and cultures and their development.