Ancient World (pre-1300) Lesson Plans

Sixth graders complete a long-term unit on ancient and early civilizations. They conduct Internet research, define key vocabulary terms, analyze maps, and create a PowerPoint presentation about a selected early civilization.

Your class will love this lesson plan! First, they explore the Egyptian mummification process. Then, they discuss the important religious and artistic symbols found in Ancient Egyptian artwork. They also create their own pinch pots with a deity depicted on the side.

Students summarize a piece of scientific text and assess the advantages, disadvantages and challenges in writing summaries. They select science-related articles from The New York Times and, with a partner, generate summaries of the longer pieces.

Explore the history of Ancient Greece. Learners discuss vocabulary related to Ancient Greece, learn about the gods and goddesses, and  create a mask in the Greek tradition. What a wonderful way to review this topic!

Students research a species of reef fish to determine its habitat requirements as both a juvenile and an adult. They use this information to create a pamphlet in the style of a real estate brochure that describe the habitat and food requirements of a particular reef fish species as adults and as juveniles.

Students discover details about ancient Egyptian funerals. In this ancient Egypt lesson plan, students compare and contrast modern funeral rites to those practiced by ancient Egyptians. Teachers may also access the suggested print and online sources to extend the lesson plan.

Sixth graders create museum displays about Egyptian life. Their exhibits include information about ancient Egypt's religion, economics, government, and customs. Their museum items resemble actual artifacts they have researched.

This is an excellent multidisciplinary lesson designed by Scientific American. It provides three creative activities--designing a garden, studying hieroglyphics, and writing poetry--relevant to the ancient peoples of the Middle East. Students will enjoy

Students read a sample research proposal and create their own. They discover the type of information needed for others to reject or accept the proposal. They practice applying the scientific process to different situations.

Research ancient cultures with your class. They will read assigned text in class and utilize a map to identify the location of Egypt. Students complete many ancient Egypt activities including multiple choice questions, role-plays, and research assignments.