Ancient Civilizations

Introduction

Imagine that you live in a new age of time travel. You have been recruited to test a new mode of time transportation. You will be making your trial run to ancient civilizations. What do you think you will find there? How different will ancient times be as compared to how you live today?

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Task

While you are exploring this ancient period, you will be keeping a personal journal. You will need to include lots of details so you can share your experiences effectively as a museum exhibit. You will publish your journal and recreate, as a diorama, an accurate portrayal of life in that time and place.

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Process

As you set off on your journey, keep in mind the following criteria to make note of as you navigate through ancient civilization websites:

• timelines
• events
• architecture
• housing
• rituals/religion/customs
• food
• clothing
• art/music
• tools (cooking, building, hunting, etc.)
• mode of survival (hunting?)
• travel
• government/rulers
• economics/method of exchange

Also keep in mind that your journal will serve as your notes with which to compose your published piece. You may publish your information in newsletter, essay or booklet format. Once you have completed your publishing, you will find a partner with whom to compare notes.

1. Discuss all of your discoveries and come to an agreement upon an ancient civilization to "re-create".
2. Brainstorm ideas regarding the components of your ancient civilization.
3. Develop a rough sketch of a "scene" from what you "saw" on your journey . . . people, a church, a farm, homes, a theater, markets, etc.
4. Make a list of materials you will need to turn this sketch into a three dimensional scene from your ancient civilization, such as clay, plaster, paper mache', balsam wood, popsicle sticks, cardboard, fabric, plastic wrap, etc.

The criteria for your ancient civilization recreation are:

• accurate components
• neat/effort and research evident
• 3X5 index card with description; attach to project
• free standing

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Resources

Classroom, school and public libraries

Social Studies Text

Encyclopedias

Internet: Click on the underlined titles below to go to different civilizations.

All Civilizations

Shadara's Ancient World

Mr. Donn's Ancient History Page

Awesome Library

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

Ancient Egypt

Ancient China

Ancient India

Mesopotamia

Other Ancient Civilizations

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Extension

While in ancient Egypt, your expertise as a scientist was recognized. You will perform the mummification experiment and explain the process, your observations, findings and discoveries in your journal.

Mummification Experiment

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Evaluation

You will be evaluated on the thoroughness, accuracy and pride taken in completing your published piece, recreation of your ancient civilization and how efficiently and cooperatively you worked with your partner.

Rubric

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Self Evaluation

Answer the following questions:

1. How did you use your class time? Briefly describe your daily activities.
2. How did you work with your partner? Did you share information and responsibilities? Describe how you broke up the responsibilities.
3. If you were to do this same project again, what would you do differently? What would make this a more meaningful activity for you?

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Conclusion

You have just experienced ancient civilizations through a variety of resources. What are the differences in culture, architecture, religion, survival needs, etc. as compared to that of present day in America?

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Teacher Notes

Objectives: The Students Will:

• research multi-media for ancient civilizations
• analyze ancient civilization information and record observations, experiences, questions, etc. in a daily journal
• publish journal
• work cooperatively with a partner to re-create a "scene" from every day life in an ancient civilization of their choice

Social Studies Standards

• Era 1: The Beginnings of Human Society
  • 1. Understands the biological and cultural processes that shaped the earliest human communities
  • 2. Understands the processes that contributed to the emergence of agricultural societies around the world
• Era 2: Early Civilizations and the Rise of Pastoral Peoples, 4000-1000 BCE
  • 3. Understands the major characteristics of civilization and the development of civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley
• Era 3: Classical Traditions, Major Religions, and Giant Empires, 1000 BCE-300 CE
  • 4. Understands technological and cultural innovation and change from 1000 to 600 BCE
  • 5. Understands how Aegean civilization emerged and how interrelations developed among peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asia from 600 to 200 BC
  • 6. Understands how major religious and large-scale empires arose in the Mediterranean Basin, China, and India from 500 BCE to 300 CE

  Technology Standards  

  1.Basic operations and concepts

  • Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.
  • Students are proficient in the use of technology.

  2.Social, ethical, and human issues

  • Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.
  • Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.

  3.Technology productivity tools

  • Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
  • Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing publications, and producing other creative works.

  4.Technology communications tools

  • Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
  • Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

  5.Technology research tools

  • Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
  • Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

  3.Technology productivity tools

  • Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
  • Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing publications, and producing other creative works.

  4.Technology communications tools

  • Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
  • Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

  5.Technology research tools

  • Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
  • Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

  6.Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

  • Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions.
  • Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.  

   

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