Unit+2+River+Valley+Civilizations

Throughout this unit you will learn about the first civilizations.
 * Welcome to Unit 2: River Valley Civilizations!**

Students will understand that: Essential Questions
 * Enduring Understandings **
 * geography affects the culture and demographics of a society.
 * complex institutions emerge as society develops.
 * the development of agriculture is a significant (watershed) event in the development of societies.
 * it is problematic to define a civilization.
 * there are lasting impacts from the early civilizations (Hammurabi, Gilgamesh)
 * 1) Are there common characteristics of civilizations? Have they changed overtime?
 * 2) How can "geographic luck" explain the success or failure of a civilization?
 * 3) How have ancient civilizations influenced life today?

= Day1: = Why are there gaps in power and technology between human societies? In other words, why do some civilizations have access to advanced technology while others seem to be "behind"? Where do these inequalities originate? What makes a human society successful?
 * Today's Activity Intro:**


 * Watch Guns Germs and Steel**
 * Questions to answer:**
 * 1. What is geographic luck? Do you totally agree with Diamond's theory?**
 * 2. How does //Guns, Germs, and Steel// influence the way you think about world history and human interaction?**
 * 3. What criteria do you think Diamond uses to determine the success of a civilization?**
 * 4. What criteria would YOU use to determine the success of a civilization? How does if compare to Diamond's theory?**
 * 5. According to Diamond, would the people of New Guinea be considered "civilized"? Why or why not? Do you personally agree? Explain your answer.**
 * 6. To what extent does geography impact a civilization?**

media type="youtube" key="i885hopsw6E" width="560" height="315"
 * Guns Germs and Steel: Answer the 6 questions above as you watch.**


 * Exit Slip:**
 * 1. What is geographic luck? Do you totally agree with Diamond's theory?**
 * 2. How does //Guns, Germs, and Steel// influence the way you think about world history and human interaction?**
 * 3. What criteria do you think Diamond uses to determine the success of a civilization?**
 * 4. What criteria would YOU use to determine the success of a civilization? How does if compare to Diamond's theory?**
 * 5. According to Diamond, would the people of New Guinea be considered "civilized"? Why or why not? Do you personally agree? Explain your answer.**
 * 6. To what extent does geography impact a civilization?**

Read pp61-80 AND p 89 in your textbook and answer the following questions:
 * Homework:**

1. Summarize the debate about how and why "civilizations" got started. What are the different viewpoints described in the book?

2. Explain how inequality was a part of different civilizations (class and gender)

3. What was the purpose of the "state" and how did it work to control the population?

4. What is the problem with using the word "civilization" to describe a group of people?

= Day 2: = 1. What is a civilization? 2. What criteria must be met for something to be considered a civilization? 3. Are there groups that don’t meet this criteria? 4. To what extent do groups often considered “civilized” have natural advantages to other societies? (ie: agriculture, access to resources etc...)? 5. Based on your textbook reading, "How does the use of the term "civilization" by historians differ from that of popular usage? How do you us the term? 6. "To what extent did civilizations represent "progress" in comparison with earlier Paleolithic and Neolithic societies? And in what ways did they constitute a //setback// for human kind?"
 * Do Now: **

Follow up: Share what you found

What sources did you use to help you answer this question? Other resources......

Commonly held beliefs by historians about how to characterize a civilization: 1. Specialized workers 2. Advanced cities 3. Advanced Technologies 4. Complex institutions (gov’t, religion) 5. Record keeping
 * Debrief:**

__[|Intro Civilizations Presentation]__

Civilizations you will learn about this unit (note: you may learn about others) Ancient China (up to 600 BC: Xia, Shang and Zhou) Ancient India (Indus River Valley Civ) Mesopotamia (Sumer, Babylon, Assyria) Egypt (Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom)


 * Introduce Group Project:**

Students will create a promotional video (explain everything, imovie, Pow etc. other video formats? ) that persuades people to visit your river valley civilization that thrived prior to 600 BCE. Each presentation must address the following: 1. How can "geographic luck" explain the success or failure of a civilization? 2. In addition, you must explain what makes the society extraordinary. In other words, why should we care about this civilization? (artistic achievements, enhancements in government, society, religion/beliefs etc.) 3. How to site your sources MLA: Link to [| __Library pathfinder__]
 * Requirements: **

In addition to your textbook, and other online resources, here are some video resources you can use from Crash Course: media type="custom" key="23612908"
 * Video Resources: World History Crash Course**
 * Indus Valley Civ Crash Course:**
 * [|and Omar's travels at Mohenjo Daro]**

media type="custom" key="23612910"
 * Mesopotamia:**

media type="custom" key="23612914"
 * Ancient Egypt:**

media type="custom" key="23612920"
 * China:**

= Day 3 and 4: Time to work on presentation = What makes a good presentation?

One class day to work. Discuss presentation techniques. What makes a good presentation. [|__Presentation Zen__] __ [|Kim Cofino’s Presentation] __

= Day 5: Presentations = [|Rubric]

As you watch you must take notes on each of the presentations (not your own). Please MAKE A COPY of [|this document] in drive and RENAME IT WITH YOUR NAME AND CLASS PERIOD IN FRONT OF THE TITLE. Then, put it in your WH 10 shared folder.

This one was //[|Simply the Best]......//in my class. Enjoy!: media type="youtube" key="HR9_AIx1lLA" width="560" height="315"

= Day 6: Connection to today? =

**Segway to EQ3:** How have ancient civilizations influenced life today? Research and prep for Socratic Seminar

**Directions:** You have half the period to: Use any resources (reliable) in the room to answer the question below. **Keep track of your sources!**


 * Question: To what extent has the ancient civilization you presented on influenced the region it was in and/or the modern world? **

Second half of the period: Socratic Seminar about the question [|How to do a Socratic Seminar]

**Exit Slip**: Answer EQ3 informally before you leave: How have ancient civilizations influenced life today?

= Day 7: What's in a word? =

**Do Now**: Are there common characteristics of civilizations? Have they changed overtime? Compare the way how the word civilized is defined by historians of ancient civilizations and the way you use it. Discuss with a partner (2 minutes)

**Activity 1**: Class discussion
 * Are there things that the developing countries must learn from the developed nations? In other words, are there some things about wealthier civilizations today that are undeniable better?
 * Can you think of any examples of things that developing nations do better than developed ones?

**Activity 2:** With your partner read [|__Congolese Proverbs__]. What do you think their societies principal values are? Are they a moral people? What are the principal morals of your society (have a list of 3 to 5 values)? Do you think the Congolese and other developing communities have better morals than you or vice versa (provide examples)?

**Activity 3:** Watch [|__Isolated Brazilian Tribe__] Discuss: 1. Are these people civilized? Do you think contact with the modern world will benefit or hurt their community in the long term? Watch [|__Kayapo__]

2. How does this native value money? Do you respect or disagree with his refusal to accept money to change?

3. Should we allow certain societies to remain “uncivilized”?

4. Whose wishes should we respect, the older generation that wants to maintain traditions or the young who want change?

For homework watch [|__The Price of Modernization__] and answer the following questions:
 * Homework:**
 * 1) The modernizers and natives feel differently about the dam project, but both think they are acting in a more “civilized” manner than their rival. Who is right?
 * 2) How has “civilization” affected the younger Kayapo natives? Consider what they say but also their clothing, homes, education.
 * 3) What solution would you provide?
 * 4) Has the definition of civilization changed over time? What is the value of looking at human groups like the Kayapo?

[|30 Days: Life on a Navajo Reservation]

= Day 8: Analytical Paragraph =

Answer the following question based on evidence from this unit: You must use 3 specific pieces of evidence to support your answer. Look at the summaries of what we have covered above to help you.


 * What is the value of studying ancient river valley civilizations? **

[|Analytical Paragraph Rubric] Due at the end of the period.
 * Summative Assessment:**

= Day 9: Summative Assessment: = The preservation/destruction of ancient artifacts

**Activity 1: Do Now:** To what extent should we preserve the past? __ [|Blowing up Budha] __ What do you think when you see this video? start at 55 sec

**Activity 2:** Introduction to Socratic Seminar

**Directions:** Find an incident of historical destruction (looting, warfare, conquest, religious re-purposing). Explain what happened, WHY each artifact was destroyed and why we should care about it.

Prepare to discuss.


 * Activity 3: Socratic Seminar **
 * [|Rubic on p15-16 of this doc] **

**Exit Slip:** What does this tell us about people and history? Why does preserving history matter? Use what you learned through your own research and through participating in the Socratic Seminar to support your response.

= Day 10: Analytical Paragraph Re-write opportunity =