Unit One -- GeographyGroup Project

Project Objective

•Students will show that they understand the idea that we have changed the land and the land has changed us ▫Students will create a civilization and

create a plan to bring their civilization to prosperity

Scenario

•You all are the leaders of your tribes and responsible for the well-being of your people

•One member has said that they have heard about something called a “city-state” where people don’t have to keep looking for food

Scenario

•As the tribe leaders, you are responsible for creating a plan to bring your people from hunters-gatherers to citizens of a powerful city-state▫Your people want to become the most

powerful city state in the world

Where do you start?

•You are all in what is now present day China!▫Turn to page 198 for a view of the map

Step One– Observe Land

•Observe the land around your group of hunters-gatherers▫What is the land like around you?▫Is there anything that might help you

grow?▫Are there any geographic challenges you

will have to find solutions to?

▫***make some notes about the possible advantages and challenges of the land and where you might want to settle***

Step Two– Observe the Land

•To pick out a starting location, you can describe the location using longitude and latitude

Step Two—Create a Plan

•After analyzing the land, create a plan to get from hunting and gathering to living in the most powerful city-state in the world.

Step Two– Create a Plan• Things to think about….

▫What worked well in Mesopotamia?▫How can you use the land to change and grow?▫How can you continue to use the land to grow

powerful?

• Consider what people did in chapters 3 and 4. Use ideas we have learned about and do not include violent or unrealistic ideas, or nonexistent technology.

• ***Remember, this goal of this project is to show you understand the ideas we have learned about!

Helpful Hints• 1) brainstorm a list of things that people did in

chapters 3 and 4 to improve and grow as a civilizations

• 2) reorder that list in chronological order• 3) practice before you write the steps out—

talk about each step and WHY it is important for your civilization

• ***REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE LAND AND HOW YOU WILL USE IT THROUGHOUT THE STEPS!!!***

Step 2- Create a Plan

•Write your steps out in numbered order and in complete sentences. ▫***Make sure you explain WHY you are

doing what you are doing.***

Step 2 example-- • If the paper was based on La Bamba and the purpose was

how to become a famous singer…

• Step 1– First, I will figure out what kind of music I want to learn how to sing▫ Reason– If I don’t think about what I want to sing, it might

be hard to focus on a certain singing skill. Also, I want to enjoy what I’m singing and not be stuck with some type of music I don’t like.

• Step 2 – Go to a singing coach so he/she can evaluate my voice▫ Reason– I want to know what my strengths and weaknesses

are, and a coach is qualified to tell me. I don’t want to be confused about where to start.

Example 2--If I were starting a civilization in the ancient US…•I would be settled right next to the

Mississippi River•Step one – use agriculture to grow

▫I will use the flat land around me to grow and the river to water my crops. I will do this so I can stay in one place because I now have a stable food supply and I don’t have to spend all day looking for food.

Step Three

•Once you have completed your plan, draw out your civilizations▫Please be sure to include the things you

have talked about in your plan.▫Definitely