Mrs. Claus

History 6

Ancient Civilization Creation

Objective: Students will be able to apply understanding of culture, government, religion, and geography in ancient civilizations in order to create a new city-state and prove its possibility for success.

Congratulations! You have successfully (okay, magically) traveled by sailboat from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, or China to a strange new land (the United States). Only fifty people have survived the journey. With your group members, you will create an informational booklet, poster, slideshow, Minecraft creation, or video to advertise for a new city-state you are creating. Your job is to provide information that is so well thought out that it would convince others from your original civilization to join you in your new homeland and create the first city-state in the area. All of your information should be based on our studies, but you should be creative yet reasonable in your new ideas and explanations.

*You will be graded as a group and as a group member by your peers.

Required Information

***Your group MUST submit a written explanation of each requirement (except the drawing) for Mrs. Claus to grade, regardless of how you present your group’s civilization.

Visual

●A drawing of your city-state

Basics of Your City-State

○Why did you leave Mesopotamia? Explain what you disliked about your city-state or empire in Mesopotamia. (Think of something that was unfair, dangerous, unhappy, or difficult about living there.)

○Name of your city-state

○Your city-state’s motto (ex: California’s is “Eureka!” which means, “I have found it!” because the settlers found gold.)

○Make up a new god or goddess for your city-state

■What is the natural event or object they represent?

■How do they bless or help and punish the people?

■How do you worship and make the god happy?

Opportunities for A Permanent Settlement

○Description of the geography and its pros and cons for creating a permanent settlement (agriculture, building homes, natural disasters, etc)

○What materials are your homes built from and why?

○What will be your primary sources of food and how will you create enough surplus?

Government

○At least one aspect of government you are bringing with you from Mesopotamia and explain why you chose to keep them (ex: having a monarchy, charging taxes, creating empires, etc.)

○At least one aspect of government you are changing and why

○The 5 most important laws you have created for your city-state

○What your defense plan is if nearby city-states attack

Culture

○At least two cultural aspectsyou are bringing with you from your homeland and explain why you chose to keep them

○What you are using for currency (bartering or a type of money)

○At least one new role in your society (a new job, possibly inspired by new resources, dangers, inventions, etc).

○At least two cultural aspects you are creating or changing and why (ex: art, writing, music, school, religion, work, etc).

○One new agricultural innovation or tool to help with new crops

Ancient Civilization Creation Rubric

Group Members______

4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Organization / Presentation was very organized and easy to follow. The layout and format were consistent and effective. / Presentation was organized and easy to follow. The layout and format were mostly consistent and effective. / Presentation was poorly organized and difficult to follow. The layout and format were ineffective. / Presentation was disorganized and there was no clear layout or format.
Required Information / Each required piece of information was included. / Missing 1-2 pieces of information / Missing 3-4 pieces of information / Missing 5 or more pieces of information
Justification of Content / The reasons for choices in the civilization were thoroughly and clearly explained. / The reasons for choices in the civilization were clearly explained. / The reasons for choices in the civilization were confusing or unclear. / There was no attempt at giving reasons for choices in the civilization.
Validity of Content / Choices were strongly based on analysis and understanding of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. / Choices were mostly based on analysis and understanding of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. / Choices were slightly based on analysis and understanding of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. / Choices were not based on analysis and understanding of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.
Visuals / Presentation included at least 4 images and an overall representation of the civilization / Presentation included 3 images and an overall representation of the civilization / Presentation included 2 images and no representation of civilization. / Presentation included 1 or no images or representation of the civilization

Total: _____ / 20 = ______%