Activity: THE ANCIENT Activity: THE ANCIENT WORLDWORLD

Subject: geography.Subject: geography.

Grade Level: 5-8.Grade Level: 5-8.

Duration: 2 or 3 class periods.Duration: 2 or 3 class periods.

Objectives: Objectives:

1.1. Identify reasons why people Identify reasons why people migrate.migrate.

2.2. Describe the geography of the Describe the geography of the Fertile Crescent.Fertile Crescent.

3.3. Describe what life was like in the Describe what life was like in the Fertile Crescent during ancient Fertile Crescent during ancient times.times.

Materials:Materials:

1.1. Paper and pencils.Paper and pencils.

2.2. Encyclopedias and libraries Encyclopedias and libraries resources.resources.

3.3. Computer with internet access.Computer with internet access.

4.4. The Ancient World video/DVD and The Ancient World video/DVD and VCR/DVD player.VCR/DVD player.

Procedure: Procedure:

1.1. Begin the lesson talking about Begin the lesson talking about migration…migration…

2.2. After watching The Ancient World, After watching The Ancient World, discuss the geography and discuss the geography and environment of the Fertile environment of the Fertile Crescent…Crescent…

3.3. Tell the students they are going to Tell the students they are going to pretend that they live in ancient pretend that they live in ancient times and…times and…

4 . Each student must write one letter, 4 . Each student must write one letter, in which they must describe one of in which they must describe one of these three items:these three items:

Initial migration to the Fertile Initial migration to the Fertile Crescent from North Africa.Crescent from North Africa.

Life after arriving in the Fertile Life after arriving in the Fertile Crescent.Crescent.

Later migration from the Fertile Later migration from the Fertile Crescent, across the Bering Strait, to Crescent, across the Bering Strait, to North America.North America.

5. Tell students that their letters must 5. Tell students that their letters must include the following:include the following:

Information about the geography Information about the geography they have encountered on their they have encountered on their journey.journey.

Two reasons why they chose to Two reasons why they chose to migrate to the Fertile Crescent.migrate to the Fertile Crescent.

Two details about what life is like Two details about what life is like during the migration or while living in during the migration or while living in the Fertile Crescent.the Fertile Crescent.

6. Explain that there were several 6. Explain that there were several different civilizations in the Fertile different civilizations in the Fertile Crescent so not all students will have Crescent so not all students will have the same information…the same information…

7. Allow time for students to read their 7. Allow time for students to read their finished letters aloud…finished letters aloud…

EvaluationEvaluation

Use the following three-point rubric to Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students’ work during this evaluate students’ work during this lesson:lesson:

3 points: 3 points: students actively students actively participated in class discussions…participated in class discussions…

2points: 2points: students somewhat students somewhat participated in class discussions…participated in class discussions…

1point: 1point: students were unable to work students were unable to work without teacher guidance…without teacher guidance…

Vocabulary:Vocabulary:

- ArtifactArtifact- Bering StraitBering Strait- CivilizationCivilization- Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent- Hunter-GathererHunter-Gatherer- Migration Migration

This lesson plan adresses the This lesson plan adresses the following standards:following standards:

Culture.Culture.

People, Places and Environments.People, Places and Environments.

Global Connections.Global Connections.