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As the meteorologist, you will research how the weather and climate affected how your tribe lived and  survived.  How did it affect their crops? hunting?

General information about weather at Indian Grinding Rock can be found at http://www.sierra.parks.state.ca.us/igr/igr_flora.htm 

Northern California Climate Summaries by location http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmnca.html 

 Print the table below or go to the WEATHER link to download the table you will be completing on weather in the area between the years of 1961 and 1990.  Not much has changed in California weather over the years.  Go to the locations listed below by clicking on the number on the map or finding the location in the alphabetical list to the left of the map. 

For the Miwok tribe, you may want to check out some of the Bay Area locations for your average. 

San Francisco Bay Area Climate Summaries http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmsfo.html 

Complete the chart, do the math and make a report in your journal about your findings.  Click here for an MSExcel printable spreadsheet .

DO THE MATH!  To find the average for each row, add all the numbers across and divide by the number of columns you had data for.  Example: (These are made up numbers, so please do not copy them as being real!) 

USE A CALCULATOR!!!!!!!!!!

So, I would add 72 + 63 + 70 + 64 + 65 + 63 + 75 + 52 + 54 + 50 + 48 + 53 = 729 ÷ 12 = ± 60º

Make sure you answer the following questions:

Based on your average temperature, rainfall and snow. . . .

• How would the weather have affected how the Miwok dressed in the winter? summer?  
• How would it have affected what they could grow as crops? (Check out the Farmer's Almanac for some ideas about what you can plant in what geographical areas and times of year! It should be available at your school or public library.  You teacher may also have a copy of this on hand for you to use.)
• What animals may have been in the area based on climate?  Would they be available all year long?

Last Revised: 01/03/01