CLASS HANDOUTS
6th Grade Social Studies CBA Packet
6th CBA Compendium
6th CBA Notetaking Form
6th CBA Pre-Write
Inventing Civilization Part 1 PowerPoint Handout
Inventing Civilization Part 2 PowerPoint Handout
KEYWORDS: Do you need additional information? Use these words and phrases to search an online library catalog, print encyclopedias, and/or the World Wide Web:
- The Rise of Civilizations
- Characteristics of Civilizations
- Ancient Civilizations Irrigation/Water Technology
- Ancient Civilizations Farming/Agriculture/Food Technology
- Ancient Civilizations Government/Laws
- Ancient Civilizations Social Hierarchy/Classes/People
- Ancient Civilizations Religion/Gods
- Ancient Civilizations Writing/Record Keeping
- Ancient Civilizations Calendars/Time Keeping
Research Websites
Mr. Dowling–Civilization: What defines a civilization? This website explains this and why civilizations need these things.
The British Museum–Civilizations: This website explores multiple topics about ancient civilizations.
Berkeley–Inventions: This website compares the inventions of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Classzone–Civilizations: This page provides basic information on traits of civilizations.
Classzone–Egypt: General information about the Egyptian civilization.
Classzone–China: General information about the Chinese civilization.
Response 1:
Technologies for growing and storing food.
History for Kids–Farming: General information about ancient farming practices.
History for Kids–Plow: Explores the evolution of the plow and its use in different locations.
Mr. Donn–Mesopotamia–Farming: Information on agriculture in Mesopotamia.
History for Kids–Egyptian Farming: Information on agriculture in Egypt.
WJH–Egyptian Farming: Information on agriculture and irrigation in ancient Egypt.
Thinkquest-Chinese Technology: Information on ancient Chinese science and technology. Click on the “agriculture” link on the top left of introduction page.
Response 2:
Technologies for channeling and storing water.
History for Kids–Irrigation: General information on ancient irrigation systems.
Mr. Dowling–Waterfront Living: Explains why people settle near water features.
Water Encyclopedia–Ancient Irrigation Systems: Information on this website about Egypt and Mesopotamia irrigation systems and history.
The British Museum–Mesopotamia Farming Challenge: Provides information on Mesopotamia and Sumer irrigation methods. Includes a simulation challenge for students.
Bible History–Mesopotamia–Irrigation: In ancient Babylon there would have been no civilization without irrigation. This website explores the irrigation system in Mesopotamia (a.k.a Babylon).
Mr. Donn–Gifts of the Nile: Explores how the Nile contributed to the success of the Egyptian civilization including irrigation.
Seaworld–Egypt-Nation of Irrigation:Explores irrigation technology in Egypt.
Mr. Donn–Chinese Rivers: Discusses China’s two rivers and the impact, positive and negative, they had on this ancient civilization.
Response 3:
A system of laws to keep peace and preserve property.
Mr. Donn–Mesopotamia-Hammurabi’s Code: Gives some background information on Hammurabi and his code. Includes additional websites and activities.
Mr. Dowling–Mesopotamia-Hammurabi’s Code: A great resource for information on Hammurabi’s code. Includes a link that allows the article to be read aloud.
History for Kids–Egyptian Government: General information on the ancient government in Egypt.
Mr. Donn–Ancient Egyptian Government: General information on the government in Ancient Egypt.
History for Kids–Ancient Chinese Government: General information on the government in Ancient China.
Mr. Donn–China-Mandate of Heaven: Explore the Mandate of Heaven in Ancient Chinese Dynasties.
Mr. Dowling–China–Dynasty History: A great resource for information on Chinese dynasties. Includes a link that allows the article to be read aloud.
Response 4:
Creation of social hierarchies.
Thinkquest–Ancient Civilizations-Social Organization: This website explores social organization of several civilizations and explores similarities and differences between them.
Mr. Donn–Mesopotamia/Sumer-Social Classes: There were four main classes of people in ancient Sumer-the priests, the upper class, the lower class, and the slaves. This website gives information on each class.
Bible History–Mesopotamia–Social Hierarchy: Explores Mesopotamian social hierarchy.
Digital Egypt–Social Classes: Explores the social classes in ancient Egypt.
History on the Net–Egyptian Society: This website gives basic information on the Egyptian social hierarchy and includes a diagram.
Odyssey Online–Egypt People: Includes basic information on social classes in Egypt including a pyramid diagram and links to more specific information about each class.
Skwirk–Egypt-Societal Hierarchy: The Egyptian social hierarchy resembled a pyramid. The pharaoh was at the top and millions of farmers were at the bottom. This website explores the classes within ancient Egyptian society.
Skwirk–China-Societal Hierarchy: Social structure was very important in ancient China. The Chinese believed in strict social groups and people were expected to behave according to their social position.
Response 5:
Creation of religion.
Mr. Donn–Mesopotamia-Religion:
History for Kids–Egyptian Religion:
Mr. Donn–Egypt-Gods & Goddesses:
History for Kids–Ancient Chinese Religion:
Mr. Donn–China-Ancestor Worship & Oracle Bones:
Response 6:
Development of writing.
Mr. Dowling-Writing and Development of Civilization:
History World–History of Writing:
History for Kids–Mesopotamia-Writing:
Mr. Donn–Mesopotamia-Cuneiform Writing:
Bible History–Mesopotamia-Cuneiform Writing:
History for Kids–Egyptian Hieroglyphs:
The British Museum–China–Writing:
History for Kids–China-Writing:
Response 7:
Development of calendars.
Web Exhibits–Ancient Calendars:
Online Schooling–Ancient Calendars:
Thinkquest–Ancient Civilizations–Calendars:
Astronomy Pomona–Mesopotamia-Calendars:
King Tut Shop–Ancient Egyptian Calendar:
Ancient Egypt Online–Calendars:
Web Exhibits–Chinese Calendar:
Current Issues
Scholastic–Hunger in Somalia: Starvation is everywhere in eastern Africa. Thousands are dying of hunger and thirst. What responses could be implemented to develop this civilization?
Scholastic–Africa: Promise and Peril: Problems in new African nations continue to arise because many kept the European borders. These boundaries often divided tribes or forced groups hostile to each other into the same country leading to internal war and conflict. What responses could be implemented to develop this civilization?
Scholastic–Who Owns the Nile: Disputes over who controls the Nile’s precious water supply continue today. Why is controlling the water so important to each of these countries?
National Geographic–Global Food Crisis: The key to averting a global food crisis may simply be a matter of storing more water. The climate change impacts scientists have warned us about for years may finally be here, making the weather harder to predict and prepare for, and traditional sources of irrigation water much less reliable. What responses can you connect to this growing global issue?
National Geographic–Maya Doomsday Calendar Explained: It’s remotely possible the world will end in December 2012. But don’t credit the ancient Maya calendar for predicting it, say experts on the Mesoamerican culture.
Junior Scholastic–The New India: A booming economy promises a brighter future for those living in the caste system (a hereditary social hierarchy) in India.
