Polynesians

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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/polynesians

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. What are Polynesians?Polynesians are people who lived on many islands in the Pacific Ocean and traveled far across the sea using special boats.
2. How did Polynesians travel so far without compasses?They used stars, ocean waves, currents, birds, and sea life to find their way, remembering patterns in the sky and sea.

Austronesian Expansion: A series of migrations originating from Taiwan that spread languages and cultures across Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Madagascar.
Non-Instrumental Navigation: A method of seafaring that relies on observing natural phenomena like stars, swells, and wildlife, rather than mechanical devices.
Cultural Diffusion: The spread of cultural beliefs, social activities, and innovations from one group of people to another.