Exploring Ancient Civilizations: Engaging Project for 6th Graders

1. Overview of Project • Teacher will give lessons on three civilizations using PowerPoint presentation below, a short video from Discovery United Streaming, and a short quiz using the Smart Response clickers. • After the each lesson, students and teachers will read about each civilization and answer questions in the textbook to check for comprehension. • When all three civilizations are covered, students will select a civilization to focus on and prepare a written report or PowerPoint presentation on that civilization. • Students will also prepare a model of an artifact that would come from their civilization.

2. Rationale • My class is made up of 26 sixth graders at the proficient Language Arts level (our grade levels for Langauge Arts based on students’ CST and Benchmark results). • The majority of the students are from low socio-economic families and many are ELLs. • The content area is Social Studies. However, the lessons are given in the Language Arts class because some teachers differentiate the lessons based on the students’ needs. • The textbook is Ancient Civilizations by Macmillian/McGraw-Hill and is a fairly new adoption. • I only choose three civilization per unit to focus on and students are only required to do the project once.

3. Purpose • Goals/Standards • District Technology Standards • Objective 3D – Students and teachers will use technology tools to improve achievement. • Objective 3D.3 – All OMSD teachers will integrate technology into direct instruction to improve student understanding and mastery of essential standards.

4. Ancient Civilizations Mrs. Peterson 6th Grade – Language Arts/Social Studies

5. What is a civilization? • A civilization is the organization and sophistication of those things that create and maintain life.

6. You will create an Ancient Civilization Project • The project will be divided into two parts and will be due March 16th. • Written Report or PowerPoint Presentation • Handmade Model from your civilization

7. Ancient Civilizations • Egypt • China • India

8. Written Report • Complete a typed or handwritten or PowerPoint presentation about your culture. • The report should include the following information • Housing (shelter) • Food (method for getting food) • Technology (what tools did they use and how were they made) • Communication (including art, drawings, language, etc.) • Religion • Government

9. Handmade Model • Create an artifact or other object from your culture. • Examples include • Recreate a building • Make a piece of artwork

10. Now, let’s look at each civilization • Egypt • Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt

11. Video – Ancient Egypt • http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=7A54F2BB-9134-4B4C-A4B1-650ACCF988B0&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

12. Ancient Egypt - Nile River • Civilizations began to grown between 6000 B.C. and 5000 B.C. along the Nile River valley in northeast Africa. • The Nile River was the main source of farming and water. • The fertile soil makes it good for farming

13. Egyptian Technology • Developed an irrigation system for farming • Developed a system of writing called hieroglyphics • Used a papyrus to make paper.

14. Egyptian Government • Pharaohs rules the kingdom • Social classes • Wealthy class – government officials • Middle class – artisans – had businesses or made goods • Lower class – workers and servants

15. Egyptian Religion • Egyptians believed in deities (gods and goddesses) • They mummified the dead • Prepared them for the afterlife • Believed that people traveled to a peaceful place after death if they led good lives • Process of Mummification • Embalming – preserved the body • Removed important organs • Royalty had tombs built and would be buried with supplies needed for the afterlife

16. TEST Use Smart Response Clickers • What did the Egyptians call their rulers? • Kings • Pharaohs • Emperors • Rulers • What class were the workers and servants? • Middle • Upper • Lower • Second

17. China • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_China

18. Video – Ancient China • http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=D04E8A18-5D41-4A70-82F1-63E88A05B596&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

19. Ancient China • The Huang He and Chang Jiang Rivers provided rich soil for farming, but also caused destruction from flooding. • The geographic features of China include mountains, deserts, and plains. • The earliest civilization was located along the Huang He river. • The Shang Dynasty ruled from 1750 B.C. to 1045 B.C.

20. Government - Shang Dynasty • Royal family – highest power • Warlords – aristocrats • Farmers – Slaves captured from war and farmed the aristocrats’ land

21. Religion • Worshipped gods and spirits • Used oracle bones to speak to the gods and spirits • Kings were believed to have the ability to speak to the gods and spirits.

22. Technology • Writing involved pictographs or drawings of objects • The Zhou Dynasty invented an iron plow for farming • The Great Wall • Protected China from the Xiongnu herders that would attack Chinese villages. • Acupuncture – developed during the Han Dynasty

23. Test  Use Smart Response Clickers • What river valley did the first Chinese civilization begin? • Han • Huang He • Chang Jiang • Nile • Who did the Chinese believe have the ability to talk to the gods and spirits? • King • Aristocrats • Servants • Farmers

24. India • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_India

25. Video – Ancient India • http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=10908992-49E3-4C74-8136-83917206DF2F&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

26. Ancient India • India is a subcontinent separated by the Himalayian mountains. • Two main rivers • Ganges • Indus • Both rivers provided fertile land and water for the civilizations • First civilization emerged around 3000 B.C. along the Indus River • Two major cities – Harappa and Mohenjo –Daro • Harappa declines and Aryans take over

27. Government • Aryans believed in the Caste System • Brahmins – priests • Kshatriyas – warriors • Ran both government and army • Vaisyas – commoners (farmers and merchants) • Sudras – servants and workers

28. Technology • Aryans develop a written language called Sanskrit • Also invented an iron plow

29. Religion • Hindu • Oldest religions in the world • Believes in many deities • Universal spirit – Brahman. • When a person dies they are connected to Brahman • Reincarnation - rebirth • Books of Knowledge – gave information about how the world works. • Believe in Dharma – laws and duties that one must perform in their lives

30. Religion cont. • Buddism • Siddhartha Gautama was called Buddha because he left his family to seek answers to life and nature • Gautama had Hindu beliefs, but believed that people should not be selfish and only seek worldly goods. • Gautama’s teachings are contained in the Four Noble Truths. • Eight rules of behavior • If you followed the rules, a person can escape reincarnation. • Believed in karma – what goes around, comes around

31. Test Use your Smart Response Clickers • What was the name of the mountains that borders India • Alps • Himilayas • Ganges • What was the name of the system that Ancient India’s used to class people • Buddha • Hindu • Caste