The TeachNet Project sponsored with major funding by the AT&T Learning Network, 

seeks to improve student achievement by providing training, grants, networking and resource sharing to teachers at four of the Teachers Network affiliates nationwide.

 

The ABC's of Ancient Civilizations

The ABC's of Ancient Civilizations

How it works:

This project is designed for sixth graders who study Ancient Civilizations. The children will research a topic from a given civilization that begins with a letter of the alphabet. They will then use both digital camera pictures and computer drawn images to illustrate the concept. At the end of the lesson, their work will be displayed on a classroom webpage.

Standards:

Standards addressed 

    Social Studies:

  • 6.1 - Understanding the development of human societies. 
  • 6.2 - Understanding the beginnings of civilizations. 
  • 6.3 - Understanding the foundation of western ideas. 
  • 6.4 - Exploring early civilizations.       

    Technology 

  • Use and understand basic computer terms. 
  • Use multimedia software. 
  • Use basic computer management skills. 
  • Demonstrate legal and ethical conduct on the computer. 
  • Use basic information management skills and develop keyboarding skills.

What you need:

  • Class time required will vary according to technology available, but each lesson should take anywhere from one to five 50 minute periods per lesson.  See individual lessons for approximate times.

Software or Materials Used;


StarOffice 5.2, Digital Camera, FrontPage 2000 (or similar web editor).

Keywords: 

Ancient Civilizations, digital camera, graphics

The Students: 

The objectives for the sixth grade students are:

  1. understanding and exploring the beginnings of civilizations, and understanding how the development of human society has been the foundation of western ideas.
  2. introducing the technology of the Star Office Presentation program, including the image creating aspect
  3. learn how to use the digital camera - and manipulate a picture
  4. doing extensive research on the Internet in order to create a page to present the information about civilizations in a creative and varied manner
  5. learn how to insert an image
  6. create a page using FrontPage 2000 - include: website, digital picture, created image and letter of the alphabet used to do research

Assessment:

I graded the final projects based on how well the students represented ancient civilizations with their given letter and chosen topic(10pts), how well the picture taken represented their chosen topic(10pts), how well their image represented their civilization(10pts), how well their website link provided information on their chosen topic(10pts) and overall page presentation (spelling, borders, etc.)(10pts) For an overall total of 50 points.

Overall Value:

The alphabet graphics created as a result of this investigation provide the students with creative, alternative ways to show their understanding of key concepts for different cultures.

Details:

Subject Area: Social Studies

 Starting Grade Level: 6th

Tips for the Teacher:

Spend time with the children showing them how to take and crop pictures. Using the drawing and imaging features of Star Office will help the students in their planning as they get ready to create their representations.

 



Kelly VanAllen has been teaching fifth/ sixth grade for the past 15 years.  She has been involved with technology at her school as the systems operator, helping to maintain the workings of the school's networked computers and as the Internet facilitator, designing the school's homepage with the assistance of students.  She is currently one of Santa Barbara County's technology mentors.