Introduction

This webquest was developed for an education course at Pacific University, and is designed to introduce the history of Ancient Mesopotamia with emphasis to its land, region, people and economy.

Learners

This lesson was created for 6^th grade social studies with the inclusion of language arts. The lesson can be adapted or adjusted to fit different grade levels or to include other content areas.

Curriculum Standards

Objectives:
By the end of this lesson students will be able to state the meaning of Mesopotamia.

Throughout this lesson students will be able to list specific facts relating to the land, people and the environment of Ancient Mesopotamia.

By the end of this lesson students will demonstrate their understanding of the Ancient Mesopotamia culture through their written encyclopedia article.

During this lesson students will be able to do research cooperatively and collaboratively with a peer using online resources.

Oregon Social Studies Standards Addressed:
Understand how physical characteristics in the environment and changes in the environment affect human activities.

Understand the importance and lasting influence of issues, events, people and developments in world history.

Oregon Language Arts Standards Addressed:
Investigates topics of interest and importance across the subject areas, selecting appropriate media sources, using effective research processes, and demonstrating ethical use of resources and materials.

Oregon Language Arts Standards Addressed:
Communicate supported ideas across the subject areas, including relevant examples, facts, anecdotes, and details appropriate to audience and purpose that engage reader interest; organize information in clear sequence, making connections and transitions among ideas, sentences and paragraphs; and use precise words and fluent sentence structures that support meaning.

Process

Teacher Process:
1. Set up focus projector and tablet.

2. Distribute laptops from the library laptop cart-1 laptop/pair (if applicable).

3. Instruct students to log on and load webpage.

4. Read introduction and task of webquest, discussing with students what can
be found in an encyclopedia article.

5. Pass out student worksheet.

6. Allow the students to explore complete the webquest process!
- Move about the room to help students stay on task and to answer
questions as needed.

Student Process:
PART ONE

1. Choose a partner to work with.

2. Make sure you have read through the introduction and the task for the webquest.

3. Review the list of questions, provided by your teacher to be answered throughout your research. *Each student must individually answer and complete the questions on the worksheet provided.

4. Thoroughly examine the following websites in helping you with your research.

http://itss229.ed.psu.edu/k-12/edpgs/su96/meso/mesopotamia.html

http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/schools/Central/Curriculum/ELEMENTARY/SOCIALSTUDIES/Mesopotamia/ancient_mesopotamia.htm

http://lexicorient.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct-frame.pl?http://i-cias.com/e.o/mesopotamia.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002807/Time%20and%20Time%20Again/Time%20and%20Time%20Again/mesosumer.html

PART TWO

5. Once you have completed your questions, each student will use their student worksheet to organize their information in order to efficiently write their submission for the encyclopedia.

6. Independently complete your encyclopedia submission. Please keep your submission in your writing folder so that you can finish during tomorrow's writing time.

Encyclopedia Submission Requirements:
1) A colorful picture representing "the land between two rivers."

2) A written piece that includes the definition of Mesopotamia and describes the region, the people, their religion and the trade/commerce of the area.

Resources Needed

Computer Lab/Classroom Laptops.

Prior to lesson bookmark webpage.

Student questionnaire worksheet

Student web worksheet (assist w/writing process)

Prior to lesson make sure students will have access to chosen websites.

Evaluation

Your grade for this project will be figured using the following rubric:

Conclusion

This lesson will help students understand the importance and lasting influence of issues, events, people and developments in world history. Students will also be able to identify specific facts relating to the culture of Ancient Mesopotamia through the use of technological resources.

Credits & References

http://www.phillipmartin.info/clipart/mesopotamia.htm

http://itss229.ed.psu.edu/k-12/edpgs/su96/meso/mesopotamia.html

http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/schools/Central/Curriculum/ELEMENTARY/SOCIALSTUDIES/Mesopotamia/ancient_mesopotamia.htm

http://lexicorient.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct-frame.pl?http://i-cias.com/e.o/mesopotamia.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002807/Time%20and%20Time%20Again/Time%20and%20Time%20Again/mesosumer.html