(gr. 6-8)

In this grade 6–8 PBL unit, students act as “time architects” tasked with rebuilding a civilization by studying how geography, resources, and human needs shape societies over time. They research key systems (government, economy, technology, infrastructure, culture), then design and present a coherent civilization plan—often with maps/models/prototypes—showing how their choices create a sustainable, functioning society.

💡 Driving Question

If you could rebuild a fallen civilization, what structures, values, and innovations would you keep or change to create a better society?

🎯 Big Idea

History offers models of innovation, governance, and failure that inform modern civilization.

🧠 Design Thinking Focus

Research → Identify system failures → Reimagine → Design a restructured civilization

📚 Depth & Complexity Icons

• Trends: Rise and fall cycles of civilizations

• Unanswered Questions: What makes societies collapse?

• Rules: Political, economic, and social systems

• Big Ideas: Power, sustainability, justice

🧩 Key Tasks

• Choose an ancient civilization (Rome, Egypt, Maya, Greece)

• Research causes of its decline

• Create a blueprint for a redesigned version — government, technology, education, economy

• Present to a “Historical Rebuild Council”

🔍 DOK 3–4 / Bloom’s (Evaluate–Create)

• How did specific social systems contribute to decline?

• Evaluate historical solutions and adapt them for a modern context.

• Create a functioning “New Civilization Constitution” supported by evidence and models.