Week Three--Hammurabi's Code

Teacher April started class by showing a fun video about life in Mesopotamia, then we had fun hearing from some of the class members about the Ancient Mesopotamian topic they researched. Then it was all about Hammurabi's Code. I think most of us are glad we didn't live 4000 years ago! For this week, please be prepared to present your topic to the class if you haven't already. Also, read through the cases and be prepared to act them out since you will be the judge this Thursday!

Ammon--geography

Trinity-- money 

Avery--religion

Dean--roads and bridges

Merry--laws and government

Hunter--art

Brandon--architecture

Zoe--clothing

Nic--entertainment

Fischer (aka Bob) -- tools/weapons

Zane--jobs

Chandler--cities

Ethan--food

Week Two--How civilized are we?

This week we talked about 8 characteristics of a civilization: Writing system, Infrastructure (roads and bridges),  Government/Laws, Art/Architecture, Social Classes, Organized Religion, Job Specialization,  and Development of Cities. We also talked about the important role barley played in ancient Mesopotamia. (Hint: it led to cuneiform!) We reviewed an example of the Sumerian "Alphabet" and then everyone attempted to create a message in cuneiform on his or her own clay tablet.

Assignment for this Thursday--Learn about and be prepared to explain briefly (1-2 minutes) about an aspect of Mesopotamian civilization. You can draw a picture, write a paragraph, build something out of legos, wear something...follow your imagination (after doing some research about your topic). Here is what everyone chose:

Dean--roads and bridges

Merry--laws and government

Hunter--art

Brandon--architecture

Zoe--clothing

Nic--entertainment

Fischer (aka Bob) -- tools/weapons

Zane--jobs

Chandler--cities

Ethan--food

We missed Avery and Trinity! You two are free to pick another aspect of society and share it with us (some ideas are religion, writing, trade, money, etc)

See you this Thursday!

Week One

We had a fun time stretching our memories to remember everyone's names as well as learning about our one class rule: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. (I love Aretha Franklin and I'm not afraid to sing!) Then we spent some time talking about what happened in 79 AD involving 4-6 meters. (Hint: Mt. Vesuvius) After checking out a sample of ash, everyone shared three things you would learn about them if their bedroom as they left it Thursday before FILA was covered up to the ceiling in ash. 

Next was an excursion outside to unearth some artifacts before finishing up class talking about why people went from being nomadic hunter-gatherers to settling in what became several great civilizations. Stay tuned for some exciting classes this semester!

Homework: Color code the map in the handout and be prepared to discuss questions 1-3.

Setup Test

testing setup