In class the sixth graders are doing a Mesopotamia Simulation. There are 5 teams; the Persians, the Phoenicians, the Medes, the Babolonians, and the Hitties. We move around the map collecting different recources. There is textiles, fish, fruit, cattle, glass, timber, wheat, and olives. We have tasks that we are assigned by our “god” Kaval Ashure (our teacher) that we must do for each week. We can research on government, religion, writing, arts, architecture and public works, or job specialization and social classes. But we cant repeat one a task more than once. We have to do a project that answers the guiding question. It must have writing and a creative aspect to it.
Tribe Task
Guiding question: Why was writing invented in anchient civilizations? Short answer: They made writing so they could write down/record what happens. For the tribe task I did Writing. I did an example of what ancient writing looked like. They would use a form of writing they called cuneiform. It was based on triangles. I chose to make this model of their writing because I thought that it would be a cool way to show what I learned. If you guys want to, you can try and decipher the tablet. In the slide I have the cuneiform alphabet.
Village Task
Guiding Question: what did people in anchient civilizations believe their gods and goddesses would do for them? Short answer: the gods would make the essentials like food water. They would also plan the towns people’s daily life. For the village task I chose to do Religion. I wrote on ziggurats, priests, and some of the main gods. I did this poster because it was a good way to show the information.
City-State Task
My writing for city state task
Guiding question: what kinds of public works projects were used to ensue a steady food supply? Short answer: The public works were roads, canals, and city walls. For the City state task I chose to do arts architecture and public works. I did a flip book of a man digging a ditch. In the doc I talked about the importance of public works, what Mesopotamia is known for, how Mesopotamia was they first know civilization to build roads, and how they traded.
Empire Task
Guiding question: what functions did ancient governments perform? Short answer: the functions are laws, public works projects, military, and collecting taxes. For the empire task (the last task) I did a lego city of Mesopotamia and wrote cards on each of these functions.