A Year of Middle School Ancient History (Lesson & Project Based): Quarter 1

This is the first session of a year long Project Based Middle School Ancient History course. In this session, students will discover the Stone Age, Ancient Mesopotamia, and Ancient Egypt through visual lectures, hands on project based learning, and interactive Nearpod lessons.

I combine both comprehensive lessons using slides, images, lecture, discussion, and video, as well as hands on projects to deepen learning and bring the topic of focus to life. The first class of each week involves a lecture using slides and visuals. The second day is a project based learning day. Each project day will begin with a lively discussion based on the homework due, a possible interactive Nearpod lesson, and then students will get a chance to share any homework challenges completed before moving on to the project of the day.

There are many projects that will ask learners to create a model of a historic structure. I will allow students to choose their medium, and options can include wood or plastic blocks, cardboard, craft board, or recycled materials, as well as Minecraft (if parents allow). If learners would like to use plastic building blocks but don't have a large collection, they can download online building software, which is free and allows students to build with endless pieces. I will send a link to that upon enrollment.

Projects are mostly carried out in Maker style, meaning I give the students the freedom to decide how they want to create their project rather than offering step by step instructions. I find students feel more confident and less stressed this way and don't feel defeated when their projects don't turn out exactly how they are "supposed" to. Plus, I enjoy offering students time to use their inventiveness and problem solving skills. Only a few projects will be more similar to art projects, meaning I will offer step by step instructions, but even then, students will have the freedom to use the instructions or figure out their own style. The intention is always immersion in the learning, rather than a perfect result.

Learners will always differ in the amount of time they spend working on their projects. Therefore some might complete their projects before the end of class. Those who do will have time to share their projects with the class either by holding the project up to the camera, or screen sharing an online build. Students who don't complete their projects before the end of class will be encouraged to upload a photo or screen shot of their finished project in the classroom. As many learners will be in this course for the entire year, I hope that we can create a fun and supportive energy.




Week 1:
The Stone Age: The Paleolithic Age - Hunters & Gatherers
Project: We begin with a homework based discussion and sharing. Then we will take a close look at representations of animals of The Stone Age both in cave art and sculpture. We will use Nearpod, an interactive learning experience, to deepen our understanding of cave art, and then we will create out own piece of Stone Age Cave Art.

Week 2:
Day 1: The Stone Age: The Neolithic Age & The Agricultural Revolution
Day 2: Project Day: We will begin with a homework based discussion and sharing. Then we will take a close look at what is thought to be the original complete construction of Stonehenge and we will build our own models of Stonehenge. Students will have a printed diagram of the structure. Supplies: A piece of cardboard, green paint, air dry grey clay, glue, (optional: a small amount of sand if available)

Week 3:
Day 1: Mesopotamia Overview & The Sumerians
Day 2: Project Day: We will begin with a homework based discussion. Then we will take a close look at the architecture and structure of Ziggurats. Students will be guided to build a model ziggurat as accurately as possible using materials of choice such as air dry clay, legos, or cardboard boxes of varying sizes and glue.
(This class will have a maker feel to it in that the students can choose their own medium.)

Week 4:
Day 3: Mesopotamia: The Akkadians, Assyrians & Babylonians
Day 4: Project day: We begin with a homework based discussion. Students will move into breakout rooms and in small groups will create a Code of Law modeled on Hammurabi's Code. Then we will take a close look at cuneiform characters, and students will each write their own name in cuneiform on a clay tablet. Materials: air dry clay, printout of cuneiform letters and characters, a tool to carve in the clay

Week 5:
Day 1- Ancient Egypt Overview
Day 2- Project Day- We will begin with a homework based discussion. Then we will take a close look at the geography of Ancient Egypt and the impact of the Nile River on daily life. The students will then construct a 3 dimensional dough map of Ancient Egypt.
Supplies- Cardboard, dough in beige/ terra cotta and blue at least and more colors if students want to add trees and details (salt dough or play dough or model magic)

Week 6:
Day 1-Life in Ancient Egypt (Politics, Religion, Afterlife, Great Wonders (pyramids and more), Daily Life
Day 2: Project Day- We will begin with a homework based discussion. Then we will take a close look at the construction of the pyramids. Students will build a model of a pyramid and will have the option of filling the tomb with a clay model of a pharaoh (or a toy figurine) and treasure items they can collect from their homes (coins, lego jewels, etc).
Supplies: Cardboard, Air Dry Terra Cotta Clay (or materials of choice- legos, Lego Digital Design, Minecraft- but something that can be built with bricks), and items the student wants to fill the tomb with

Week 7: 
Day 1- Egypt's Empire Building
Day 2- We will begin with a homework based discussion. Then we will take a close look at oil lamps and learners will create their own from air dry terra cotta clay.