Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Cities in Mesopotamia: Understanding a Complex Text

For Teachers 6th Standards
In this lesson, 6th graders use details from a nonfiction article to create a visual representation and then, from that visual, provide evidence that demonstrates their understanding of the text. Includes samples of student work and lots...
Unit Plan
University of Chicago

University of Chicago Library: Teaching the Middle East: Identity in Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
Learning module looks at the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia, including the Sumerians and Akkadians. Particular emphasis given to the status of women in the region, religious practices, and language.
Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: The Role of Women [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students could use a copy of Hammurabi's Laws to discover what rights women did and did not have in ancient Mesopotamia. They could then do research to compare the lives of women in Mesopotamia with the roles and social status of women...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Cuneiform Writing System in Ancient Mesopotamia

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
In this lesson plan, students will consider "The Cuneiform Writing System in Ancient Mesopotamia: Emergence and Evolution." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Text Structures Informational Writing/mesopotamia Unit

For Teachers 6th
This module provides an 18-day unit about Mesopotamia. Teachers of the unit will explicitly teach students about text structures, summary writing, reading informational texts, and writing a book about Mesopotamia.
Handout
Other

St. Lawrence University: Brief History of Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
A paper which discusses the accomplishments of early Mesopotamian society in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and literature.
Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Agriculture

For Teachers 6th
A learning module on agriculture that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include factors that led to the development of...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: How Mesopotamia Became the Cradle of Civilization

For Students 9th - 10th
Environmental factors helped agriculture, architecture and eventually a social order emerge for the first time in ancient Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia's name comes from the ancient Greek word for "the land between the rivers." That's a...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
Looks at the geography of ancient Mesopotamia, its history, its many achievements, religion, culture, and how it was governed.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Art History: Ancient Art and Civilizations: Ziggurat of Ur

For Students 9th - 10th
History of the Ziggurat of Ur, c. 2100 BC Located in Tell el-Mukayyar, Iraq. Includes links to additional information.
Website
The British Museum

British Museum: Explore World Cultures: Babylonians

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the ancient Babylonians via and examination of the art of the civilization in this image gallery of Babylonian works from the British Museum collection; each image is accompanied by a detailed description.
Graphic
BBC

Bbc: Ancient History in Depth: Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at many aspects of the Mesopotamian culture. Click through the slide show to see the image and additional information and resources. A good overview of the contributions of an early civilization. Archived.
Graphic
Other

Mesopotamia: Warfare: Challenge: Weapons

For Students 5th - 8th
Study the photographs of ancient weapons in this exercise and match with the correct sketch. There are arrows above each image box to scroll through until the two are deemed a match and then click the plus sign.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Egypt, the Kingdom of Kush, and Mesopotamia

For Teachers 11th - 12th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the importance of flooding around the Nile River. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Website
Other

Mesopotamia: Astronomer: Astronomers of Babylon

For Students 3rd - 8th
Study the Babylonians accomplishments in astronomy. This early civilization developed a calendar and were able to predict near-future events based on the reading of the stars. Scroll through a story and engage in a challenge reinforcing...
Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: Hands On! The Invention of Writing [Pdf]

For Teachers 1st - 9th
A lesson that allows learners to recreate activities that took place in a Mesopotamian school.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Quiz: Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
History Questions: Daily Life in Mesopotamia Quiz, Test, and WebQuest
Handout
Able Media

The Asclepion: Medicine in Ancient Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is an online resource if you are researching medicine in Ancient Mesopotamia. Many sections include historical background, sources, concepts, and practitioners.
Professional Doc
Other

Knowledge Computing: Natural Catastrophes During Bronze Age Civilizations

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses a different approach to the fall of the civilizations during the Bronze Age. The author believes that there was a comet that affected the earth and wiped out those early cultures.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Life in Old Babylonia: The Importance of Trade

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, young scholars will consider "Life in Old Babylonia: The Importance of Trade." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: California and Mesopotamia: Similarities and Differences

For Teachers 11th - 12th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the similarities and differences between California and ancient Mesopotamia. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: The First Cities [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson learners will discover the varied occupations of ancient Mesopotamia.
Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: Comparing Mesopotamia to Modern Day Iraq [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this lesson learners will use knowledge of Mesopotamian artifacts, culture and history to relate to current events in Iraq.
Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: The First Farmers [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this lesson our class can try an experiment to show how constant irrigation, with repeated evaporation of water that left salts in the soil, eventually ruined much farming land in southern Mesopotamia.Students can fill a clear glass...