The Beginning of Civilization in Sumer: The Advent of Written Communication. A Unit of Study for Grades 5-8.

Autor/in	Parrish, Joan
Institution	National Center for History in the Schools, Los Angeles, CA.
Titel	The Beginning of Civilization in Sumer: The Advent of Written Communication. A Unit of Study for Grades 5-8.
Quelle	(1991), (54 Seiten)Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Leitfaden; Unterricht; Lehrer; Ancient History; Development; Grade 5; Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; History Instruction; Intermediate Grades; Junior High Schools; Middle Eastern History; Primary Sources; Social Studies; Technological Advancement; Verbal Communication; Writing (Composition); Written Language + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Lesson concept; Instruction; Unterrichtsentwurf; Unterrichtsprozess; Teacher; Teachers; Lehrerin; Lehrende; Alte Geschichte; Entwicklung; School year 05; 5. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 05; School year 06; 6. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 06; School year 07; 7. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 07; School year 08; 8. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 08; History lessons; Geschichtsunterricht; Mittelstufe; Sekundarstufe I; Primärquelle; Gemeinschaftskunde; Technological development; Technologische Entwicklung; Schreibübung; Geschriebene Sprache
Abstract	This document is a unit for introducing students to the achievements and historical significance of the Sumerian civilization, located in Mesopotamia, "the land between the rivers," in present day Iraq, and reaching back in time to approximately 3500 BC. Divided into 5 sections, the unit's first three sections concentrate on historical readiness activities and concepts, geographical historical awareness, and an overview of recognized "firsts" in Sumerian civilizations. The last 2 sections focus on the most significant achievement of the Sumerians, the development and use of a written language, and provide an in-depth exploration of this ancient writing system and the life of an average scribe. The unit aims to help students develop an awareness of and an appreciation for the uniquely human achievement of written communication, and provides students with a concept of historical firsts, guiding the students to understand the interrelationship between geography, human adaptation, human lifestyles, and historical change. In the first lesson, students create and discuss personal and familial time lines, exploring the concepts of continuity, change, and historical firsts. In the second lesson students examine maps of the present day Middle East and then identify the general area of the ancient Fertile Crescent and the specific area known as ancient Sumer. Activities in the third lesson generate discussion of the importance and unique nature of written communication. In the fourth lesson, students examine a moment in time as they read primary source documents on the life of a scribe and then role play. In the fifth and last section, students examine the evolution of the ancient writing system of cuneiform. (Author/DK)
Anmerkungen	National Center for History in the Schools, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 761, Los Angeles, CA 90024-4108.
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC