Bothwell Social Studies Lesson Plan

Title: Traveling through Mesopotamia

Teachers Name: Paige Lamb
Grade Level: 7th Grade
Time: 40 mins
Social Studies Standard:
7 W1.2.3:Compare and contrast the environmental, economic, and social institutions of two
early civilizations from different world regions (e.g., Yellow[1], Indus River Valley,
Tigris/Euphrates, and Nile).
ELA CCSS:
W.7.1.b. Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible
sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
Learning Objectives:
After participating in the three stations, the students will be able to describe one or more aspects
of Mesopotamian life in each of the following categories: environmental and social institutions
by sorting the cards I give to them into environmental, social, and discard categories and writing
at least three words explaining each card they sort.
Assessment:
The students will complete a word sort to show their knowledge of the social and environmental
institutions of ancient Mesopotamia and write at least three words explaining each card they sort.
Accommodations and Adaptations:
If students struggle to read the documents placed at each center, they will be able to pair up with
a group member to read the information. There will also be some pictures at each center which
will be accessible by all students to interpret.
Key Vocabulary
Mesopotamia- Between two rivers
Social
Environmental

Materials
Story of Gilgamesh (x1)
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/geography/
story/sto_set.html

 Items for each station/center (x8)

Station 1: Environmental
http://www.odysseyadventures.ca/articles/u
r%20of%20the
%20chaldees/ur02_ziggurat01.jpg
https://www.ahdictionary.com/application/r
esources/arts/A5ziggurat.jpg
http://diazsocialstudies.org/MesopotamiaSu
mmeriaZiggurat.jpg
https://middleeasternregion.wikispaces.com
/file/view/fertile1.jpg/166037419/399x299/
fertile1.jpg
https://martinhumanities.files.wordpress.co
m/2015/09/map01-02.jpg
http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/4022
7638.png
https://s-media-cacheak0.pinimg.com/736x/3a/20/10/3a20105c9
0f88917d3af6d1f33ec0a9b.jpg
http://baef480c1b9a59094802bb7fd020772cbf1cd099f3b22c712b0b.r79.c
f2.rackcdn.com/59ACFC0C-D23D-4053A37C-04A46BE595B0.jpg
http://indusrivervalleyciv.weebly.com/uploa
ds/2/3/6/8/23684089/9233247_orig.jpg
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/staff/resour
ces/background/bg27/home.html
Station 2: Inventions and Influences
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/ancient/hamfram
e.asp
http://www.mrdowling.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=oDALXORbtR4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=5RP2KfewiJA
https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&c

d=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQ
oTCOLpn7erlskCFRPYwodj5sMTQ&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.fairport.org%2Fwebpages
%2Fpgitlin%2Fwhat.cfm%3Fsubpage
%3D33151&psig=AFQjCNGrWRB1cu_6L
V2pBo2hHZNKf97A0g&ust=1447811262
524020
https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&c
d=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQ
oTCJye0sCmlskCFRTdYwod6ysPrQ&url=
http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ancient-origins.net
%2Fancient-technology%2Frevolutionaryinvention-wheel001713&psig=AFQjCNGXYhpDp6D6dB3
UlHtpqTLfYxpIkQ&ust=14478099369093
40
Station 3: Social/ Recreation
Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia by
Karen Rhea Nemet-Nejat (pg.163-174)
Ancient Mesopotamia by Oppenheim
http://www.ancientmesopotamians.com/anc
ient-mesopotamian-sports-and-games.html
http://oi.uchicago.edu/sites/oi.uchicago.edu/
files/uploads/tourfiles/index.html
Worksheet for students to document the
important information at each center (x35)

Anticipatory Set: (5 minutes)

Read a story on the Epic of Gilgamesh to set the stage for talking about Mesopotamian life. (5
minutes)
Have the map of Mesopotamia present on the board to aid in the students understanding of the
storys setting.

 Connect the story to the social aspect of Mesopotamians. For example, how stories spread and
evolve when travelling through word of mouth.
Lesson Sequence:
1. The students will participate in three centers, each focusing on a different aspect of
Mesopotamian life. (10 minutes at each center)
2. Each center will include a title for the center and questions for the students to answer on the
pieces of paper provided at each station.
Station 1:
Questions at this station (presented on cards left at the station):
How does this station relate to the previous one? If this is the first station, how does this station

compare to our lifestyle today?

Where did the Mesopotamians get the majority of their food?
What resources are found around Mesopotamia?
Environmental
Map
Location pictures
Food Supply
Farming
Domestication
Station 2:
Questions at this station (presented on cards left at the station):
How does this station relate to the previous one? If this is the first station, how does this station

compare to our lifestyle today?

Which invention do you find as the most influential on our life today according to the items at

this station?
Where do you see these inventions in your own life?
Inventions and Influences
Irrigation (Pictures and video)
Wheel (Pictures)
Laws
Video: Code of Hammurabi
Modern laws
Station 3:
Questions at this station (presented on cards left at the station):
How does this station relate to the previous one? If this is the first station, how does this station

compare to our lifestyle today?

Which recreational activity do you find to be the most interesting and why?
Which one of the recreational/social activities that the Mesopotamians engaged in is the most
beneficial and why?
Recreation/Social
Hunting

 Sports
Toys
Board Games
Closure: (5 minutes)
Overview of what was learned:
Card Sort: Give each student an envelope of cards with different words, phrases, and pictures,
and have them sort them into social or environmental factors for Mesopotamian life. The cards
may include words such as: banquet, Code of Hammurabi, Tigris River, domestication, etc.
Connecting to the next lesson:
Now, thumbs up if you think all civilizations lived this way in that time period. Okay, now Ms.
Hepker will be taking you to another land to explore.

Station 1: Environmental
1. How does this station relate to the previous one? If this is the first
station, how does this station compare to our lifestyle today?
2. Where did the Mesopotamians get the majority of their food?
3. What resources are found around Mesopotamia?

Station 2: Inventions and Influences

1. How does this station relate to the previous one? If this is the first
station, how does this station compare to our lifestyle today?

2. Where do you see these inventions in your own life?

3. Which invention do you find as the most influential on your life today
according to the items at this station?

Station 3: Social
1. How does this station relate to the previous one? If this is the first
station, how does this station compare to our lifestyle today?

2. Which recreational activity do you find to be the most interesting and

why?

3. Which one of the recreational/social activities that the Mesopotamians

engaged in is the most beneficial and why?
Sort

Nile River

Irrigation

Tigris River

Ziggurrat

Code of Hammurabi

Pyramids

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Mesopotamia

Egypt