Activity Overview
Using a G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart to organize information about ancient Civilizations is a useful tool to enhance students' analysis of the characteristics and contributions of a society. Going further and including visuals helps students to better retain the details of each category.
When learning about ancient Civilizations, students may need teachers to provide a variety of resources. The use of diverse resources such as primary sources, videos, songs, readings from textbooks, encyclopedias and literature can be helpful for students to gain an accurate and complete picture of the time period. Students can use graphic organizers to write notes about the different categories as they learn.
Students Can Collaborate!
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
GRAPES Chart
Students will then create a Spider Map focusing on Geography of Ancient Mesopotamia using the template in Storyboard That and creating illustrations and descriptions to demonstrate what they’ve learned.
By focusing on just one category, students are encouraged to include more information and should complete 3-6 cells. Students can come together after they’ve created their storyboards to share what they’ve learned. The full G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart can be used as a post assessment after students have presented.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map focusing on the different characteristics of the Geography of ancient Mesopotamia.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a title for each geographic feature and a 1-3 sentence description in each cell.
- Create an illustration that represents each feature using appropriate scenes, characters, and items. To find images that relate to ancient Mesopotamia, type “Mesopotamia” into the search bar.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 3-6 cells showcasing different characteristics of the Geography of ancient Mesopotamia. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each cell. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organization | Examples of specific geographical locations are accurate, complete, well organized, and easy to understand. | Examples of specific geographical locations are somewhat accurate, complete, well organized, and easy to understand. | Examples are inaccurate, incomplete, disorganized, and difficult to understand. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations depict the written description with clear visuals of appropriate scenes, characters, items, etc. | Illustrations depict the written description but are unclear or incomplete. | Illustrations do not make sense with the written description. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is difficult to understand. |
Frequently Asked Questions about zzz
Introduce the Significance of Geography
Begin a general discussion in the class about geography and its significance. Ask the students what they know about this aspect and why is geography so important for countries all over the world. Explain to the students how many agricultural and economic factors are dependent on the geography of a civilization or a country.
Study Maps
Give students a map of Ancient Mesopotamia and surrounding areas. Ask the students to read and study the map and share any insights they got after this analysis. For instance, students can focus on the area the civilization covered, the location of water bodies, and other significant landmarks. Students can color or highlight the map to share their insights and perspectives with the rest of the class.
Conduct Comparative Analysis
After students are more familiar with the map of Ancient Mesopotamia, teachers can provide them with a contemporary map of the same area and ask them to compare the maps and analyze the differences. This can also help students understand the progress and advancements mankind has made from the beginning until now and improve their critical thinking skills.
Discuss Resources, Trade, and Agriculture
Discuss in class the three most important aspects when talking about geography. Ask the students to analyze the impact of geographical location on the trade routes, resources, and agricultural systems of the Ancient Mesopotamian civilization. For instance, how did their geographical location enhance or reduce their abilities to perform these functions and exploit resources to make advancements?
Organize Debates
Encourage the students to utilize the knowledge and insights they have gained so far and organize discussions and debates within the class. Students can select one topic and involve everyone in the discussion to create a collaborative learning environment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ancient Mesopotamia Geography
What was the significance of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers for the agricultural system of Ancient Mesopotamia?
Fertile soil for farming was created by the yearly flooding of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which left behind nutrient-rich silt on the surrounding terrain. In order to manage their water supplies, the early Mesopotamians created intricate irrigation systems.
What difficulties did the Ancient Mesopotamian people face as a result of their geographical location?
Among the difficulties were erratic river floods, the requirement for efficient irrigation systems, and the comparatively open and level terrain's susceptibility to invasion. Since Mesopotamia is considered the first civilization in the world, facing all these obstacles proved to be challenging without any prior knowledge of how to deal with them.
What significance did the Zagros Mountains have on Mesopotamian geography?
To the east of Mesopotamia, the Zagros Mountains functioned as an organic barrier. They restricted direct interaction with nearby regions, such as the Iranian plateau, even if they offered some security.
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