Materials

• “River Valley Civilizations Vocabulary” (Attachment B)

Instructional Activities

NOTE: The following Web resources may be helpful in teaching this session:

•    “Old Kingdom Egypt.” Washington State University. <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/EGYPT/OLD.HTM>.

•    “Old Kingdom Egypt.” History for Kids. <http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/history/oldkingdom.htm>.

•    “Egyptian Art.” The Metropolitan Museum <http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/department.asp?dep=10>.

•    Mesopotamia, The Sumerians.
<http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/SUMER.HTM>.

•    Ancient Mesopotamia.
<http://www.ed.psu.edu/k-12/edpgs/su96/meso/mesopotamia.html>.

•    “Indus Valley Civilization.”
<http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Ancient/Indus2.html>.

•    “Shang Dynasty.”
<http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/shang.html>.

1. Select the order in which to teach the “river valley civilizations.” Discuss each civilization according to the following information, as appropriate:
   • Students should develop a timeline of events associated with each of the following river valley civilizations:
   – Egypt – Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms; shifts in power; causes for different kingdoms
   – Mesopotamia – Sumerians; Akkadians; Babylonians; Hittites; Assyrians; Chaldeans
   – Indus River – establishment; height; cause for collapse
   – Huang He (Yellow River) – mythic beginnings; Shang; Zhou
   • As students learn about each river valley, they should practice using the appropriate vocabulary (Attachment B) to discuss the civilizations.
   • In class discussion, have students focus on the major achievements and contributions made by each of the four civilizations.
   
   
2. Provide students with the list of river valley civilizations. Instruct students to select one of the civilizations and complete one of the following projects on their selection:
   
   • Prepare a model from clay, wood, or paper of an artifact representative of one from their selected civilization. Prepare a one-page description of the item explaining the following: the time period the item represents, how it was used, probable material used, what level of society would have used the item.
   • Prepare a drawing that represents the fashion of the time period. A one-page explanation of the fashion should accompany the drawings. Include the time period, materials used, hairstyle, composition of make-up, and other related information.
   • Prepare a three-page report explaining the type of religion observed by the inhabitants of their selected civilization.
   • Prepare a drawing that represents some of the Gods the inhabitants would have worshipped. Include a one-page explanation of the Gods.
   • Prepare a three-page report on the geography of the region their civilization occupied. Representative drawings or maps prepared by the student may substitute for two pages of the report.
   • Prepare a three-page report on the transportation available to the inhabitants of their civilization. Representative drawings or models prepared by the student may substitute for two pages of the report.
   • Prepare a student-selected project for which the student obtained prior approval from the teacher.
   
   
3. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity using available teacher resources.