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Visit a Mesopotamian House
Students examine the various types of architecture used in Mesopotamia. In groups, they identify how climate, resources and cultures affect where and how people live. Using a worksheet, they compare and contrast their house to the one...
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The Harappan Civilization
The Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley civilization (2600 BC-1900 BC), is the focus of a resource packet that details the rise and fall of a culture that existed in India during the Chalcolithic period of history.Â
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Ancient Egypt
Seventh graders examine the cultural expressions, cultural structures, and basic needs of the ancient Egyptians. They explore Egyptian religion, government, and daily lives of the various classes and how the geographical, social, and...
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Create a Board Game
Students research, design, and create a game board based on information learned in ancient civilizations' social studies units. They utilize computer technology to research the project, as well as, textbooks, in-class library and video...
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Elements of Civilization
Students create their own ancient civilizations based off of topographical maps of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and the Yellow River. In this social studies activity, students are assigned one topographical map to use to create...
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Interpreting the Evidence
Students find out about the social changes that caused the collapse of important ancient civilizations in Central America, Mesopotamia, the southwestern United States, and western Africa.
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Life in Ancient Mesopotamia
Students reconstruct and make drawings of vessels in the same manner as an archaeologist. In this archaeologist lesson plan, students each get a piece of a broken pot and they have to work together to put it back together. Once it is...
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Science NetLinks: Collapse 2: Interpreting the Evidence
Students continue to explore the factors that contribute to the collapse of a society; they also explore how archaeological evidence is gathered and interpreted. Students explore about the social changes that caused the collapse of...
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Making Good Decisions
Learners practice balancing different interests involved in social problems. In this informative lesson students are given social problems and come up with realistic solutions based on the advantages and disadvantages of each.Â
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Mesopotamian Tablet, Egyptian Art
First graders examine cuneiform writing from a stone tablet, then write a simple sentence using pictographs. They analyze various examples of Egyptian art, construct a model of an Egyptian boat, and create a class painting using glyphs...
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Build the Tallest Building
Students examine the design and construction of skyscrapers. They use the internet to research information about different types of skyscrapers. They create their own building and defend it to the class.
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The First Farmers
Students show how constant irrigation, with repeated evaporation of water that left salts in the soil, eventually ruined much farming land in southern Mesopotamia. They discuss the idea that with the development of irrigation people...
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Egypt's Greatest Leaders
Young scholars study about seven of Egypt's most famous pharaohs. They discuss leadership styles and draw conclusions about the success of each of these pharaohs. They, in groups, create a project about a pharaoh they studied.
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Egypt's Golden Empire
Learners study the queens of ancient Egypt and how they influenced the lives of the Pharaohs and the common people.
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Hieroglyphs and Communication
Students compare modern day text messaging with the use of hieroglyphs as forms of communication. They translate hieroglyphic messages written by classmates and check for accuracy.
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Sky Watchers: Ancient Astronomers
Students close their eyes and picture the sky. They are asked to brainstorm things they may see in the course of a night and day, such as the movement of the sun, moon, and stars. Students work in groups to coduct their research. They...
National First Ladies' Library
Why Do We Have Libraries?
Students investigate the reason and origins of libraries and conduct an information search using a variety of resources. They are divided into groups that have a specific set of questions they are to answer. Each group will then complete...
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Technology of the Times: A Comparison
Tenth graders compare and contrast how changes in technology impacted the growth of ancient civilizations and modern cities. Using internet research, they identify the positive and negative aspects of technology society. At the...
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World History: Why Civilizations Fall
Students examine factors leading to the demise of ancient civilizations. They list causes that led to the downfall of these societies. Students conduct Internet research and participate in online archaeological investigations.
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The Achievements of the Sumerian Empire
Sixth graders identify four achievements of the Sumerians. They explain the importance of the inventions. They write about a Sumerian invention.
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The Art of the Quilt
Students examine why fabric was first sewn in layers and how it was used. They identify, compare and make 3 different fabric design types which will become a basis for looking at the quilts created by African Americans. They begin the...
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The Code of Hammurabi
Students use the guiding questions to accomplish the lesson objectives. They will know the purposes for the establishing of The Codes and how they were distributed throughout the ancient empire of Babylonia.
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Where Did It Begin?
Students work together to research the oldest forms of writing in the world and the materials used to create them. They explore the cultures that used this early form of writing and draw conclusions about why specific symbols were used....