Learning Activity

What Makes a Civilization?

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

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.

Content Standards

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 8

SS10.8.2
Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings.

Unpacked Content

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.

Interdisciplinary Connections

Phase

During/Explore/Explain

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.

Activity Details

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.

Acceleration and Intervention

Background and Preparation

Background / 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.

Digital Tools / Resources

Wordart

https://wordart.com/

Approved Date

2019-06-05

Author

Owner (Author)

myraharris

Learning Resource Type