ALEX Learning Activity Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SS2010] WH8 (8) 2 :

2 ) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings.

•  Comparing significant features of civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River Valleys

Examples: natural environment, urban development, social hierarchy, written language, ethical and religious belief systems, government and military institutions, economic systems

•  Identifying on a map locations of cultural hearths of early civilizations

Examples: Mesopotamia, Nile River Valley

This learning activity is an engaging group activity using the website WordArt.  The activity is best used after a lesson taught on the characteristics of a civilization.  In the activity, the students will be assigned a civilization and create a word cloud using words that describe specific features from each of the 7 characteristics of that civilization.  Then students will compare significant features of all four civilizations by comparing the common characteristics from their group's word clouds using a graphic organizer.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.