Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Writings of the Ancient Maya

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are introduced to the ancient Mayan civilization through their writings. They explore a social studies focus on the destruction of many Mayan writings by the Spanish and what archaeologists have learned from the writings that...
Unit Plan
The British Museum

Ancient China

For Students 9th - 10th
The British Museum explores Ancient China by looking at different arts and crafts, geography, ancient tombs, and ancient writings. Students will be able to learn about these different topics and take challenges to see what they learned....
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Art History: Cuneiform and the Invention of Writing

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Article discussing early forms of writing in the Ancient Near East. Includes links to additional information.
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.
Handout
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Ancient History Sourcebook: Thucydides

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Fordham University provides an extensive biography of Thucydides and his writing of history. It details his life as a statesman, traveller and writer. He was schooled in rhetoric and philosophy. His intention in...
Website
University of Chicago

University of Chicago Library: Teaching the Middle East: Writing: Before Islam

For Students 9th - 10th
Learning module considers the writing systems and literature of ancient Mesopotamia before the arrival of Christianity or Islam.
Website
Other

Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking: Virtual Tour

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a virtual tour of the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, and learn about the history of writing in ancient civilizations, the invention of paper, the spread to Europe, the impact it had, how paper is made, the evolution of...
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Ancient Mesopotamia: Writing

For Students 9th - 10th
On this site, investigate the writing of Ancient Mesopotamia. Learn how the Sumerians invented the first writing system called cuneiform.
Handout
Other

Cmc: Ancient Egyptian Civilization Writing

For Students 3rd - 8th
Site provides information on ancient Egyptian forms of writing. There are charts that show translations of hieroglyphics as well as information on scribes and writing in pyramids.
Article
Other

The Museum of Un Natural Mystery: The Mystery of the Rosetta Stone

For Students 9th - 10th
A nicely written history of the finding and the decoding of the Rosetta Stone.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Ancient China: Travel Journal Part 3

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage contains a journal that recounts travel observations of ancient Chinese warrior terracotta statues in Xi'an, China. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Ancient China: Travel Journal Part 4

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational passage contains a brief history of the Great Wall of China. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Website
Emory University

Emory University: Odyssey Online: Ancient Civilizations

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief studies of the peoples, mythology, daily life, death and burial, writings and archaeology of civilizations in the Near East, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Africa, and the Ancient Americas.
Handout
The British Museum

The British Museum: The Old Master Scribe

For Students 9th - 10th
A fictional story that shows the difference between different types of ancient Egyptian writing which is set in ancient Egypt as a young boy learns to scribe from a master scribe.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: 8 Facts About Ancient Egypt's Hieroglyphic Writing

For Students 9th - 10th
The script found on the insides of ancient Egyptian temples, monuments and tombs represents a complex remnant of history. Next to the pyramids, the Sphinx and mummies, one of the most intriguing discoveries from ancient Egyptian...
Interactive
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: City Dionysia: The Ancient Roots of Modern Theater

For Students 9th - 10th
Media-rich site explains the development of theater practice in ancient Greece and compares Greek dramatic forms and purposes with contemporary theater practices. Learners can then write and stage their own original plays to demonstrate...