Social Studies: Ancient Mesopotamia, Lesson 1 - Geography of Mesopotamia

Date: December 1, 2009
Teacher: Mr. Cavanaugh
Subject: 6th World History
Ancient Mesopotamia – Lesson 1: Geography of Mesopotamia

Standards:
. Describe and compare the characteristics of the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia and China and explain the importance of their contributions to later civilizations, to include:
• significance of river valleys
• early irrigation and its impact on agriculture
• forms of government (e.g., the theocracies in Egypt, dynasties in China)
• effect on world economies and trade
• key historical figures
religious traditions, cultural, and scientific contributions (e.g., writing systems, calendars, building of monuments such as the pyramids

What we will learn (objectives):
Students will explain the rise of early civilizations in the river valley
of the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia

What we will read or study (content):
Lesson 1 – Geography of Mesopotamia
Make Your Own Silt

How we will study it (process):
General education teacher will have students explore this chapter using different methods: such as vocabulary words, ACE+ practice, guided notes, webbing and group work.

As silt is one of the vocabulary words, gifted education teacher brought instructions for “making silt” demonstration. General education teacher provided the potting soil, and had students provide “Gallupian” soil, Gifted education teacher brought the small and medium sized baking dishes.

General education teacher demonstrated using the following directions:
Fill the small baking dish with a few handfuls of dirt. This represents the bottom of the river. Pour a small amount of water over the dirt. This represents the water of the river. Place the baking dish into the larger baking dish. The larger baking dish represents the dry, sandy soil of the desert. Pour water into the small baking dish until it overflows into the larger dish. Set in a sunny window. Allow the sun to evaporate the water in the large baking dish. Examine the larger dish after all the water has evaporated to see the silt that is left over.

How we will know we learned something (product):
Vocabulary cards
Silt demonstration

Who will score/grade what?:
General education teacher will score quiz

How will we differentiate content/process/product (if applicable):
Content: n/a

Process: Silt demonstration and discussion

Product: n/a

Homework:
Study for quiz

What will we do at our next meeting?
Discuss what type of activity for this week and next…possibly moving into the first week back from Christmas break.

Reflection:
General education teacher modified the above instructions by having local dirt in the bottom of the large baking dish, potting soil in the small baking dish, cutting the small baking dish down halfway, and using smaller amounts of water as the day progressed. The demonstration was used in all classes.

The water did not evaporate in time for the quiz, but as the chapter has 3 lessons, teacher and students will continue to check back. Possibly even grow something in the “silt.”



Retrieved and modified November 29, 2009 from: http://www.indianastandardsresources.org/files/soc/ss_7_1_1.pdf