A TOUR OF MESOPOTAMIA

Transcription

1 A TOUR OF MESOPOTAMIA Grade: 6 Standards Assessed: CA History and Social Studies 6.2 CA History and Social Studies CCSS.ELA-WRITING.6.2 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2 Materials Laptop per student or access to computer lab Google Earth & Tutorials Google Documents Headphones and Overview Students will create a Google Earth Tour, identifying the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and four Their tour will include a voice narrative that explains how these features affected the land and gave rise to the first civilizations in Mesopotamia. Alternative Assessment: If Google Earth is not available, students may use or a blank physical map to identify the locations. Students then respond to the following question: Why did ancient people settle next to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers? How did the rivers help them survive and contribute to the rise of their civilization? 1

2 River Systems: Then and Now Part 1: Time: Two minute sessions, plus individual time for recording narrative (10-15 minutes/per student) Explain to students that in this unit they have viewed many Tours in Google Earth. They ve seen Tips Personal headphones will allow them to view it at their own pace, and pause as needed. When the time comes to record, provide a quiet space for recording. Students might need to come in at recess, before, or after school. California and Mesopotamia. For their final project, they will create a Google Earth Tour. Their tour will include two rivers and four As they travel from location to location, they will narrative what the audience is viewing. In their narrative, they will explain how each river and feature affected the land and the rise of Google Earth Tutorial Begin by viewing the Google Earth Tutorials with your students. Just as you ve use this tutorial to learn Google Earth, now your students will use this tool to learn how to create a Google Earth Tour. Students may view the links below as a whole class, but making it available to them on their own laptop will allow them to go back and review as they create their tour. To install Google Earth to your computer, go to this website: When students complete their tour, they may save their file as KML. Teacher may combine all of the KML files into one Google Earth for the whole class to view. 2

3 Instructions: Part 1: Using Google Earth, drop markers for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and four (examples: mountains, seas, oceans, deserts, etc.) Part 2: For each location, narrate a description that describes how the rivers or features contributed to the rise of civilization? # 1. River: # 2. River: # 3. Geographical Feature: # 4. Geographical Feature: # 5. Geographical Feature: # 6. Geographical Feature: 3

4 Alternative Assessment Assessment of Ancient Mesopotamia Instructions: Part 1: Identify the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and four (examples: mountains, seas, oceans, deserts, etc.) Part 2: Write a response to the following question. Why did ancient people settle next to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers? How did the rivers help them survive and contribute to the rise of their civilization? 4

5 Assessment Rubric Final Project and Alternative Assessment Rubric: (10 points) Component 5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point Map and features both rivers and four the rivers and three the rivers and two Does not identify the rivers correctly or the Response and four reasons for how it encouraged and three reasons for how it encouraged and two reason for how it encouraged and one reason for how it encouraged Narrative Recording Student uses a clear voice with appropriate expression. Student does not make mistakes in speaking. Voice flows smoothly. Student uses a clear voice. Student makes 1-2 mistake. Voice flows. Student s voice hesitates. Student makes 1-2 mistake. Student makes multiple mistakes. It sounds like student is reading. Does not flow with multiple mistakes. 1 point for trying. Reasons Farming because of fertile soil. Flooding encouraged the invention of irrigation systems and the plow. Lack of resources encouraged trade with other areas. Also rivers provide water for drinking and cleaning and food resources. 5