Summary
In this lesson, students analyze ancient river civilizations to understand how the environment impacts both human settlement and the characteristics of a civilization. Then, students connect the characteristics of civilization to the one they live in. This is a multimodality lesson, which means it includes face-to-face, online, and hybrid versions of the lesson. The attachments include a downloadable Common Cartridge file, which can be imported into a learning management system (LMS) such as Canvas. The cartridge includes interactive student activities and teacher's notes.
Essential Question(s)
What are the characteristics of a civilization? Why do civilizations develop in certain locations?
Snapshot
Engage
Students examine a map and choose where they would want to settle.
Explore
Students explore how rivers supported the development of early civilizations.
Explain
Students analyze an ancient river valley civilization.
Extend
Students examine elements of their own civilization.
Evaluate
Students reflect on what they learned about civilizations and respond to the lesson’s essential questions.
Instructional Formats
The term "Multimodality" refers to the ability of a lesson to be offered in more than one modality (i.e. face-to-face, online, blended). This lesson has been designed to be offered in multiple formats, while still meeting the same standards and learning objectives. Though fundamentally the same lesson, you will notice that the different modalities may require the lesson to be approached differently. Select the modality that you are interested in to be taken to the section of the course designed for that form of instruction.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
PERSIA handout (attached; one copy per three students)
Large paper or whiteboard
Pencils or pens
Student devices with internet access
Engage
10 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to guide the lesson. Display slide 3 and ask students to imagine that they are with a nomadic group of people and need to pick a place to live. Ask them to examine the grid map on the slide and use the map to choose a location to settle. Have them indicate their choice using the coordinates (for example, A5). Invite several students to share out the location they chose and their reasoning for selecting it.
Move through slides 4–5 to share the essential question and learning objectives for the lesson.
Explore
15 Minute(s)
Display slide 6 and introduce the I Notice, I Wonder strategy to students. Ask students to examine the image on the slide, which depicts locations of four ancient river civilizations. Ask students to think of something they notice, or observe, and something they wonder, or a question they have. After providing time for students to think, have them discuss what they notice and wonder with a partner. Ask several volunteers to share out what they notice and wonder.
Move to slide 7 and share that students will watch a short video on farming. Share that they should consider how farming leads to the development of civilizations as they watch.
Display slide 8 and play the video Mankind: The Story of All of Us: Birth of Farming.
Have students find a partner and discuss with their partners how farming led to civilizations. Then, invite volunteers to share their thoughts.
Explain
30 Minute(s)
Organize students into groups of three. Assign each group one of the following four civilizations: Mesopotamia, Nile River Valley, Indus River Valley, Huang He River Valley.
Pass out the attached PERSIA handout to each group and introduce the PERSIA Graphic Organizer strategy to students. Display slide 9 and have students access the link k20.ou.edu/rivercivs to read about their assigned civilization. Have students complete their PERSIA handouts in their groups using the information.
Have students then add details about their assigned civilizations under the headings you prepared on paper or a whiteboard. Ensure that students include the name of the civilization with each detail.
Move to slide 10. Have students read everything about all four civilizations added to the six categories. Ask students to look for similarities between each civilization. Have a class discussion about the characteristics of each civilization.
Extend
20 Minute(s)
Display slide 11 and provide each group of students with a blank piece of paper. Have students create PERSIA charts about the civilization they live in today.
Lead a class discussion about the civilization students live in today. Have students compare and contrast the civilization they live in with the river valley civilizations.
Evaluate
10 Minute(s)
Display slide 12 and have students take out a piece of notebook paper. Have students respond to the lesson’s essential questions on their paper: What are the characteristics of a civilization? Why do civilizations develop in certain locations?
Collect the responses to review and check for student understanding of the lesson content.
Resources
The History Channel. (2012, December 2).
Mankind: The story of all of us: Birth of farming|History [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhzQFIZuNFY
K20 Center. (n.d.). Ancient river valleys [Infographic]. Infogram. https://infogram.com/1pxdpmv6enrx23sq1xmv9dgyy5unkr126wp?live
K20 Center. (n.d.). I notice, I wonder. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/180
K20 Center. (n.d.). PERSIA graphic organizer. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/113