Theme: Geography
Unit Description: Civilization arises after the development of agriculture leading to more complex and expansive human societies.
Stage 1- Desired Results
Essential Questions
Enduring Understandings
Students understand that...
The development of agriculture enabled the rise of the first civilizations, located primarily along river valleys; these complex societies were influenced by geographic conditions.
How did the development of agriculture enable the rise of civilizations?
How did these civilizations adapt to and alter their environments?
Common Core Standards and Performance Indicators:
Unifying Themes:
Geography, Humans, and the Environment (GEO)
Science, Technology, and Innovation (TECH)
Knowledge
Students know that...
Skills
Students will be able to...
The Paleolithic Era was characterized by non-sedentary hunting and gathering lifestyles, whereas the Neolithic Era was characterized by a turn to agriculture, herding, and semi sedentary lifestyles.
Complex societies and civilizations adapted to and modified their environment to meet the needs of their population
Complex societies and civilizations shared common characteristics of religion, job specialization, cities, government, language/writing systems, technology, and social hierarchy, and they made unique contributions.
Key Vocabulary
Neolithic Revolution
nomads
civilization
irrigation
barter
monsoon
traditional
Students will analyze the political, social, and economic differences in human lives before and after the Neolithic Revolution, including the shift in roles of men and women
Students will explore how the Mesopotamian, Shang, and Indus River valley civilizations adapted to and modified their environments to meet their need for food, clothing, and shelter.
Students will explore the Mesopotamian, Shang, and Indus River valley civilizations by examining archaeological and historical evidence to compare and contrast characteristics and note their unique contributions.
Stage 2- Assessment Evidence
Performance Task
Other Evidence
Generate a map that integrates the map skills necessary for mastery of the content
Excerpt from the Epic of Gilgamesh (page 963 in blue book)
Interactive Maps with audio narration and visual enhancement (Eduplace)
Stage 3- Related Lessons
These lessons are aligned with the unit goals.
Technology and Resources
River civilization comparison (Prezi: open in IE, not Chrome)
Neolithic Lessons: Four lessons, including using maps to show vegetation zones and an investigation of archaeological digs.
Uncovered in the Indus Valley: uses artifacts to trace the skills and achievements of the Indus civilization (page 43)
PM Session:
Skill: Maps
Getting to know the Regents exam (Kaplan unit 1)
Questions with Organized Information (Kaplan Unit 5)