Early Civilizations Book

Submitted by: Jessica Bowden
Collaborators: Misty Cartwright (Rivers Edge Elementary); Lorraine McGarry (Teacher in a Pennsylvania Elementary School)
School: Highland Springs High School

Summary

Students research the answers to questions about Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia’s geography, government, religion, daily life, technological developments, and system of record keeping using internet and print sources. They record their research in a OneNote Notebook. Once all research is complete, students are assigned either Egypt or Mesopotamia and work in groups of three or four to create a digital children’s story (in any format they choose) to teach second grade students about their civilization. The students then edit another group’s story for accuracy of information and appropriateness for the intended audience. The digital stories will then be sent to second graders to read for their similar unit.

TIPC Ratings

Students use research methods introduced to them by the librarian to compile their data. Once the research is complete, the students determine how the information they have discovered can be manipulated and presented in an engaging format that will help younger students understand the same concepts, but on their level.

Students establish group norms at the beginning of the lesson when they choose their strengths and are grouped according to them. The teacher models the use of Prezi by using it to introduce the lesson. Students work collaboratively within their groups by sharing digital accounts to create their digital books. Once the books were completed, students send those books to second graders who provide feedback through the teacher.

Students are tasked with creating a childrens’ story that will teach a younger generation the concepts that are introduced in second grade and analyzed in high school. Students must not only understand the material, but also be able to make decisions regarding what aspects of the material should be introduced to the elementary students and how that material can be presented in a format that will engage the students.

By providing the students with an authentic task that puts the students in the roll of teacher for younger children, high school students focus on ways to best catch and keep the attention of second graders through creativity. After completing the books, students reflect on and assess each others’ products to help determine best practices for similar project that might be completed in the future.