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 Social Pyramid to describe the Social Structure of ancient Mesopotamia using the template in Storyboard That and creating titles, 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 Social Pyramid focusing on the different characteristics of the Social Structure of ancient Mesopotamia.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Using the Pyramid template, use the “free form text” to write titles in each section of the pyramid.
- You may include a background image and pictures to represent the different categories. To find images related to ancient Mesopotamia, type “Mesopotamia” into the search bar.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Label each level of the Social Pyramid of ancient Mesopotamia. Include appropriate scenes or characters to illustrate the cell. 2-3 sentence description to demonstrate your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
How To Discuss the Concept of Social Structure with Younger Students
Give Definition
Provide students with a simple and detailed definition of social structure and its significance in society. Teachers can begin the lecture with a general discussion on society and how people interact on a daily basis now and how they used to interact previously. Ask the students if they can come up with any examples to support their answers and then gradually build the lectures based on the discussion.
Relate with Experiences
One way to explain to students the concept of social structure is to use familiar terms and analogies to convey complex ideas. For instance, in social structure, people are divided into groups based on a specific set of rules, and based on the group each person has a specific responsibility to fulfill. Teachers can also divide the students into groups and assign them a specific set of responsibilities to explain the concept.
Give Real Examples
Once students are more familiar with the concept and the idea, teachers can provide them with real-life examples of where a social structure was implemented at such a large and extreme scale. For instance, in Ancient India people used to perform their roles and responsibilities based on their caste and had a very specific set of rules.
Highlight Negative Aspects
Ask the students to perform their own research on the complexities of a social structure and try to read related material in order to get more familiar with the intricacies. After students are done with their research, ask them to highlight any negative aspects of these strict social structures in ancient civilizations. For instance, enslaved people in Ancient Mesopotamia had no rights whereas Kings and Queens enjoyed a life of comfort while being at the top of the pyramid.
Encourage Questioning
Encourage the students to ask questions and clear any confusion they encounter. Teachers can answer each question politely so that students feel motivated to ask for help.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Social Structure of Ancient Mesopotamia
What factors played a significant role in determining social classes in Ancient Mesopotamia?
Birth was a major factor in determining social strata in Mesopotamia. Higher status was bestowed upon those descended from noble families, while occupations sorted people into lesser social groups.
Who was at the top of the social pyramid in Ancient Mesopotamia?
Kings and rulers were the most important people in Mesopotamian civilization and were frequently seen as divinely chosen. Both in politics and religion, they commanded considerable power. After kings, priests and priestesses were also highly regarded and held high positions in society.
What function did the priests serve in Ancient Mesopotamia?
As a middleman between the populace and the gods, priests played a vital role in Mesopotamian civilization. They maintained temples, carried out religious rites, and frequently gave monarchs advice.
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Ancient Mesopotamia
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