Emily's+Lesson+Plan

Subject: 8th grade Ancient History Duration: Two 45 minute class periods Materials Needed: KWL chart for each student, Graphic Organizer, NARA document worksheet, cuneiform tablets and their meanings provided by: [] Prior Knowledge: Students have already studied why writing was invented; to keep government and trade records. In addition, they have learned other Sumerian contributions such as the sailboat, wheel, plow, metal tools/weapons, and type of government.


 * E**ssential Question: What were the contributions of the Sumerians?


 * A**ctivating Strategy: In their journal, students will come up with a way to write one of the following using pictures: something they enjoy doing in their spare time, a phrase to describe the weather, a phrase to describe their favorite or least favorite food. The purpose is to get students used to the idea of writing in symbols (pictures) rather than letters. When finished those who volunteer will share with the class, possibly by drawing their pictures on the board.

1. With a "clock partner" and a KWL chart students will list things they already knowing about writing- either in today's time or in the past (ancient days). Students will then come up with at least 3 questions they have on how writing developed. 2. Working in groups of 2, students will access [] which will take them on a journey of early writing. As they follow along with the interactive website, students will take notes on a graphic organizer of how cuneiform emerged from pictographs. At the top of this graphic organizer will be this political cartoon of an Ancient History section of a library with stone tablets for books. [] A class discussion will then follow on the notes they took and what they learned. 3. On Day 2, students will use NARA document worksheet to analyze 3 ancient cuneiform tablets. These tablets may be about Sumerian religion, education, commerce, rites and ceremonies. Students will pair up and share what their cuneiform tablets said. 4. Students will be able to view a chart of what our alphabet looks like in cuneiform. []
 * T**eaching Strategy:


 * S**ummary: In their journal, students will make up their own cuneiform symbols (alphabet). Using their symbols, students will write three sentences describing the contributions of the Sumerians. They may use their notes from prior classes to help them. Then they will share their paragraph and alphabet with a classmate who will "decipher" the paragraph. Finally, students will complete the L section of their KWL.