ALEX Learning Activity

  

What makes a Civilization?

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Myra Harris
System:Hale County
School:Greensboro Middle School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2221
Title:
What makes a Civilization?
Digital Tool/Resource:
Wordart
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

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.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Social Studies
SS2010 (2010)
Grade: 8
World History to 1500
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

Unpacked Content
Strand: Economics, Geography, History, Civics and Government
Course Title: World History to 1500
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Analyze and compare the characteristics of early civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India based on their natural environments, urban development, technology, division of labor and social hierarchies, types of government, ethical and religious belief systems, economic systems, calendar, and writings.
  • Locate and describe the cultural hearths of early civilizations including those in Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • technology
  • early civilizations
  • labor
  • government
  • developed
  • division of labor
  • cultural hearths
  • natural environments
  • urban development
  • social hierarchy
  • types of government
  • ethical and religious belief systems
  • economic systems
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • The characteristics of early civilizations, including natural environments, urban development, technology, division of labor and social hierarchies, types of government, ethical and religious belief systems, economic systems, calendar, and writings the similarities and differences among the civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang-He River valleys.
  • The locations of cultural hearths of early civilizations.
Skills:
The students are able to:
  • Analyze and compare early civilizations using a list of characteristics.
  • Locate places on a map.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • There are ways early civilizations developed to meet the demands of their environment and the needs of their people.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
SS.AAS.8.2- identify and list characteristics of early civilizations.
Learning Objectives:

The students will be able to identify and compare significant features of civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River Valleys.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

Introduce the activity by reviewing the 7 characteristics of early civilizations:  food supply, social structure, the system of government, religious system, developed culture (arts & architecture), writing system, specialization in labor/jobs. 

Before starting the word cloud, on four note-cards write the names of the River Valley Civilizations ( Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He ).  Divide the class into groups with four students in each group.  Each student in a group should get a note-card, with a different River Valley Civilization on it.  Have the students to lay the note-card, face down on their desk until they are told to start. Once every student has a card and everyone is on the WordArt website, the teacher will let everyone know that they will have one minute to type all the words that describe each of the 7 characteristics of the civilization on their note card.  Set a timer for one minute, and have all students to flip their cards, before pushing start on the timer.

Students should type all the words that describe each of the 7 characteristics of their assigned civilization on the left-hand side of the website.  Once the timer goes off, the students need to click the red visualize button.  This button will generate the word cloud. 

Pass out the Seven Characteristics of a Civilization Graphic Organizer (one per student).  The students in each group will share their word cloud with their group members.  While sharing their word clouds, the students will discuss and compare common features in all of their word clouds by completing the graphic organizer.

As a whole group closure for the activity, the teacher may want to lead a discussion by asking the following questions:  (Fill in the word characteristic with one of the 7 characteristics.)

  • Why would this characteristic by important to a civilization?

  • Could a civilization survive without this characteristic?

  • Do all of the river valley civilizations contain this characteristic?

  • Did any of the early civilizations have this characteristic?

  • Why do you feel this characteristic is important to a civilization?

  • Could a civilization survive and flourish without this characteristic?

  • Do our civilizations today still have these characteristics?

  • Is this one of the seven major characteristics of a civilization?
Assessment Strategies:

The students' answers on the graphic organizer and during the discussion will determine if the students were able to identify and compare the significant features of civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River Valleys. 
Advanced Preparation:

The teacher needs to have note-cards with the River Valley Civilizations written on them.

The teacher needs to make copies of the Seven Characteristics of a Civilization Graphic Organizer (one per student).

The teacher needs to have knowledge of the River Valley Civilizations.

The teacher needs to have a laptop, desktop, or another electronic device to access the WordArt website.

The teacher should have already covered a lesson on the River Valley Civilizations.

The student should have previous knowledge of the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River Valleys.

Student needs access to a laptop, desktop, or another electronic device to access the WordArt website.
Variation Tips (optional):
 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This resource may be utilized as an after activity to encourage students' critical thinking skills, to determine what makes up a civilization.
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: civilization, cultural heart