Curated OER
Mesopotamia
Students map Mesopotamia. In this Geography lesson, students are introduced to Ancient Mesopotamia. Students use an atlas to label the defining features and areas of Mesopotamia on a map.
Curated OER
The Cuneiform Writing System in Ancient Mesopotamia: Emergence and Evolution
Students research the parallel development and complexity of writing and civilization in ancient Mesopotamia. In this ancient Mesopotamia instructional activity, students analyze the Cuneiform writing system in ancient Mesopotamia and...
University of California
Contact among Mesopotamia, Egypt, Kush, and Other Societies
Trade has always been a global affair. Explore what global trade meant for ancient Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Kushites using a collection of documents from the historic societies. By examining literary works such as the Epic of...
Curated OER
Mesopotamia
Sixth graders describe the geography of Mesopotamia, explain the characteristics of Sumerian city-states, and identify the cultural practices of the ancient Sumerians. They then explain how empires formed in Mesopotamia.
Curated OER
Natural Resources and Ancient Cities
Students explain how the availability of natural resources has affected human settlement patterns. They recognize the interactions of human populations on environments and compare the growth of two ancient cities in relation to natural...
Curated OER
Mesopotamian Gods: Handout
Ancient religion was often times closely linked to social structure and government. Hand out a handy guide that describes 12 major gods and goddesses from ancient Mesopotamia. They are each connected to a location, symbol, and force of...
Curated OER
Symbols from History: Mesopotamia Today
Students identify the various symbols different nations use to represent themselves. As a class, they discuss the recent events in Iraq and identify the needs of its people. They use print resources to research various Mesopotamian...
Curated OER
Web Project
Want to engage your pupils in a Web project? Just follow the step-by-step directions listed on this one-page worksheet. Once the site is established, class members create their own folders in which they insert information and images for...
Curated OER
Living The Life of a Scribe
Students write a descriptive letter about life in ancient Mesopotamia. Through video streaming, students discover the history of Mesopotamia. They assume the role of a scribe and compose a three paragraph essay using main ideas and...
Curated OER
Help Wanted! Jobs in Ancient America
Middle schoolers are introduced to the various occupations in Mesopotamia. In groups, they discuss the reasons for occupations changing over time. They use the internet to research the ancient jobs of their choice and write a paper...
Curated OER
Mesopotamia Mesopotamia
Sixth graders discover details about Mesopotamia. In this ancient civilizations lesson plan, 6th graders view a PowerPoint presentation about Mesopotamia and then play a review game based on the details. Several support materials are...
Curated OER
Taking the Mystery Out of Mesopotamia
Students locate Mesopotamia on the map and explain the importance of its location. In this Mesopotamia lesson, students understand why the new discoveries of Mesopotamia were so important to civilization. Students participate in...
Curated OER
Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses
Each of the Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses are associated with a city and a symbol. This hand out is intended as a quick reference guide to help learners recall 12 of the most prominent of these figures.
Curated OER
Ancient Civilizations: The Ancient Israelites
Planning a study of ancient Israel and Mesopotamia (1800-500 B.C.)? Here's a resource packet loaded with activities, exercises, worksheets, and background information that integrates social studies and language arts curriculum.
Curated OER
Ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian Writing
Middle schoolers research cuneiform and hieroglyphics from the internet and use educational software to create their own cuneiform tablet in this excellent World History lesson. The use of the computer software program Inspiration 7.5...
Curated OER
Life in Ancient Mesopotamia
Students reconstruct and make drawings of vessels in the same manner as an archaeologist. In this archaeologist lesson plan, students each get a piece of a broken pot and they have to work together to put it back together. Once it is...
US Department of Agriculture
Agriculture Counts
Agricultural survey and the documentation of livestock or goods was the basis for the first written language. Youngsters discuss sorting and counting, and how these skills have been used for thousands of years. They accent their class...
Curated OER
Visit a Mesopotamian House
Students examine the various types of architecture used in Mesopotamia. In groups, they identify how climate, resources and cultures affect where and how people live. Using a worksheet, they compare and contrast their house to the one...
Curated OER
Urban Ecosystems 2: Why are There Cities? A Historical Perspective
Second in a series of five lessons, this lesson encourages preteens to consider cities as urban ecosystems. First, they keep a food diary for a few days. They visit the Natrional Agricultural Statistics Service website for current data...
Curated OER
Hands-On! The Invention of Writing
Students are introduced to the way writing was invented in Mesopotamia. In groups, they participate in re-creations of events that occured in a traditional Mesopotamian school. They practice writing in cuneiform script on clay using...
Curated OER
Mesopotamian Tablet, Egyptian Art
First graders examine cuneiform writing from a stone tablet, then write a simple sentence using pictographs. They analyze various examples of Egyptian art, construct a model of an Egyptian boat, and create a class painting using glyphs...
Curated OER
Calligraphy, Handwriting And The Alphabet
Students produce calligraphy projects using writing skills and unique tools in this six-day Art activity. Emphasis is placed upon the work of Portland, Oregon calligraphy artist Inga Dubay and her experiences with "Italic" writing...
Curated OER
Bank On It! Ancient Farming
In this ancient farming worksheet, students fill in the blanks in 25 sentences about farming in Mesopotamia. Students will use the words in a word bank. Prior knowledge or research will be needed.
Curated OER
Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia
Learners read about the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia. They investigate the art, culture, and history, and read an overview about the gods and goddesses.