Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: The First Farmers [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In 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...
Activity
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Activity: Engineering Design Challenge

For Students 5th
From the San Francisco 49er's Museum Education Program which promotes STEAM projects, students construct an irrigation system for the football field. The concept of engineer design is explored.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: Why the Nile River Was So Important to Ancient Egypt

For Students 9th - 10th
From nourishing agricultural soil to serving as a transportation route, the Nile was vital to ancient Egypt's civilization. The Nile, which flows northward for 4,160 miles from east-central Africa to the Mediterranean, provided ancient...
Website
US Department of Agriculture

China's Agricultural Water Policy Reforms [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
"This report documents the problem of water scarcity in parts of northern China and describes China's agricultural water management policies as well as reforms underway to encourage water conservation." (USDA) (PDF Format)
eBook
University of Arizona

University of Arizona Press: Hohokam Indians of the Tucson Basin

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at the Hohokam people, their predecessors in the Tucson Basin, and a description of the physical environment in which the Hohokam lived. Subsequent chapters detail their culture, lifestyle, and archaeological interpretations of...
Handout
US Geological Survey

Usgs: Water Science Glossary of Terms

For Students 9th - 10th
The United States Geological Survey offers a complete look at water science in glossary form. Take advantage of the topic guides at the top of the site. You'll find great maps, clipart and activities centers. Click Home to access the...
Website
Other

Water History: Hohokam Legacy: Desert Canals

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting look at the extensive canal system the Hohokam built to support their agriculture practiced in an arid location. Follow the maps that show where the canals were built, read about how the canals were built, and find out why...
Website
US Geological Survey

Usgs: Effects of Human Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
This site reviews the effects of agricultural development, urban and industrial development, drainage of the land surface, modifications to river valleys, and modifications to the atmosphere have on ground water and surface water.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Preserving the Wilderness

For Students 5th - 8th
See how Theodore Roosevelt became a champion of conservation and protection of the American wilderness as president. In addition, take the short quiz about Roosevelt.
Handout
Travel Document Systems

Tds: Egypt: Economy

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out what the Egyptian government is doing to jump-start its economy. Although based on agriculture, see how the economy is branching out into other sectors to provide jobs for millions of Egyptians. Information is from the U.S....
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Uses of Water

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how humans use water today.
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.
Handout
Tour Egypt

Tour Egypt Monthly: Ancient Egyptian Agriculture

For Students 9th - 10th
This Tour Egypt Monthly informative article overviews important aspects of Ancient Egyptian Agriculture, including the Nile flooding, farming tools, grain and vegetable cultivation, and animal domestication. Included are small images of...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Native American Culture of the Southwest

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived in the southwestern region of the modern United States; they constructed elaborate buildings and began the American farming tradition.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Watersheds Urban and Rural

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity young scholars build models of two types of watersheds, one urban and one rural. They will then simulate rain or the water cycle and observe what happens to the 'soil.' This activity leads to discussions about the water...
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Eastern Harvest Mouse

For Students 4th - 8th
Eastern Harvest Mice eat seeds, some fresh green plant matter, and small insects. They prefer damp habitats, particularly meadows, marshlands, and weed-covered banks of irrigation ditches. Learn more about the Reithrodontomys humulis,...
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Islamic Science and Math

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the major accomplishments of Islamic civilizations in the fields of Science and Math, i.e., the Islamic calendar, astronomy calculations, windmills, irrigation with gears, and mathematical theories.
PPT
Other

Mr. Palm: Ways People Have Adapted to and Modified Their Environment in Texas

For Students 3rd - 8th
Ways that Texans have altered the environment in order to improve their living conditions are presented, for example, through forest clearing, irrigation, and dams.
Activity
Other

Water History: The First Five: Brief Overview of the First Reclamation Projects

For Students 9th - 10th
Theodore Roosevelt's presidency had a focus on conservation. This site outlines the first five water projects begun in the early 1900s in the western United States that had a great effect on opening up land for agricultural production.
Website
Other

Water Use It Wisely: Links and Resources for Water Conservation

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive reference page with numerous links to water conservation resources. On your quest to begin your own water preservation program, you can reach clean water organizations, read water conservation tips, research landscape...
Article
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Habitat Network: Adding a Rain Barrel to Your Property

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about rain barrel basics, and find inspiration in other people's incorporation of this tool into a site.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Shasta Dam

For Students 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Shasta Dam in Northern California. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Website
Other

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum: The Hohokam

For Students 9th - 10th
An informative article that describes many aspects of Hohokam culture. Read about their agricultural practices, the native plants they used for medicine and clothing, and the materials they used for building their houses. See examples of...
Website
The British Museum

British Museum: Mesopotamia: Palaces of Assyria: Palace Without a Rival

For Students 4th - 8th
This virtual exhibition describes the stages in the construction of Sennacherib's Palace Without a Rival and the surrounding gardens, with quotes from Sennacherib accompanying the text. Click on highlighted words for pop-up definitions,...

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