5 Low-Prep Student Projects and Activities for your Ancient Mesopotamia Unit
How do you teach ancient Mesopotamia? What are some good projects for 6th graders? Are there fun projects for ancient Mesopotamia that are easy and low-prep?
If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, then you are in the right place.
If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, then you are in the right place.
Trying to find fun, engaging project ideas for your lesson plans can sometimes be a challenge. It often seems like every history project out there is in-depth and requires a lot of materials or prep time.
So in this post, you’ll learn about 5 activities for your ancient Mesopotamia unit that will allow you to engage your students, while not causing too much stress for you.
The first four are great activities to work in throughout the unit and do something fun that requires students to think a little deeper.
The final project on the list is a good, comprehensive project that provides a great cumulative way to bring your unit to a close, and can even be used as an assessment.
So in this post, you’ll learn about 5 activities for your ancient Mesopotamia unit that will allow you to engage your students, while not causing too much stress for you.
The first four are great activities to work in throughout the unit and do something fun that requires students to think a little deeper.
The final project on the list is a good, comprehensive project that provides a great cumulative way to bring your unit to a close, and can even be used as an assessment.
Activity #1 - Problems and Solutions
Since ancient Mesopotamia is where early humans first came together to create civilization, it makes sense that there would be a few things to learn along the way.
Giving students a serious of problem/solution scenarios is a good way to get them thinking on the next level.
Some of these scenarios might include:
Food shortages in the hills.
Uncontrollable water supply in the river valley.
Challenges in maintaining irrigation systems.
Fighting with neighbors over land and water supply.
You can start by giving students the problem, and having them identify the solution. Another activity might be having students illustrate what these problem and solutions may have looked like. Another angle may be to have students search information texts from the library, to find artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia that support the solution theories.
Giving students a serious of problem/solution scenarios is a good way to get them thinking on the next level.
Some of these scenarios might include:
Food shortages in the hills.
Uncontrollable water supply in the river valley.
Challenges in maintaining irrigation systems.
Fighting with neighbors over land and water supply.
You can start by giving students the problem, and having them identify the solution. Another activity might be having students illustrate what these problem and solutions may have looked like. Another angle may be to have students search information texts from the library, to find artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia that support the solution theories.
Activity #2 - Post Card of a City-State
First, students draw details of what they think a city-state would look like based on what they’ve learned. This can be as detailed or as simple as you like, but it would be helpful to brainstorm a list of requirements that should be included.
Second, have students write a message on the backside of the postcard. The message should describe what the city-state is like – this could be a physical description or instead it could be about what daily life was like.
Pro Tip: Large index cards work great for postcard projects!
Second, have students write a message on the backside of the postcard. The message should describe what the city-state is like – this could be a physical description or instead it could be about what daily life was like.
Pro Tip: Large index cards work great for postcard projects!
Activity #3 - Top Ten Chart
This is one of my favorite project ideas for ancient Mesopotamia – mostly because of the surprise looks I get from students when they discover inventions made thousands and thousands of years ago.
Have students make a list of at least 10 things people use today that are based on Sumerian inventions.
Again, you can get as detailed (think poster and construction paper) or as simple (like a chart in a notebook) as you like for this ancient Mesopotamia activity.
Have students make a Top 10 Chart of the inventions, technology, and achievements from ancient Mesopotamia. You may choose to focus on one civilization, like Sumer, Babylon, Assyria, or Akkad.
Even if you focus on all the city-states from the Fertile Crescent, you are sure to come up with a great list.
Have students make a list of at least 10 things people use today that are based on Sumerian inventions.
Again, you can get as detailed (think poster and construction paper) or as simple (like a chart in a notebook) as you like for this ancient Mesopotamia activity.
Have students make a Top 10 Chart of the inventions, technology, and achievements from ancient Mesopotamia. You may choose to focus on one civilization, like Sumer, Babylon, Assyria, or Akkad.
Even if you focus on all the city-states from the Fertile Crescent, you are sure to come up with a great list.
#4 - Compare Hammurabi's Code
Exploring Hammurabi’s Code is always a popular activity among ancient history classrooms.
These laws and consequences are vastly different from what our students know today. Many punishments seem to be severe and harsh. In my own classroom, I always try to focus on 2 major components of Hammurabi’s Code. One, is that up until this time, consequences were even worse. And second, this Code was the first attempt at fair punishments for the crimes committed.
For this project, have students simply explore differences and similarities. Look at classroom rules and consequences in comparison to Hammurabi’s Code.
Discuss what the similarities and differences are, and why they exist as they do.
These laws and consequences are vastly different from what our students know today. Many punishments seem to be severe and harsh. In my own classroom, I always try to focus on 2 major components of Hammurabi’s Code. One, is that up until this time, consequences were even worse. And second, this Code was the first attempt at fair punishments for the crimes committed.
For this project, have students simply explore differences and similarities. Look at classroom rules and consequences in comparison to Hammurabi’s Code.
Discuss what the similarities and differences are, and why they exist as they do.
#5 - Mesopotamia Empire Project
Saving the best for last – the Mesopotamia Empire Project! This is an excellent comprehensive project that helps students learn the similarities between the civilizations of Mesopotamia, but also understand the contributions of each.
This is also an excellent partner project for early in the school year, where students work together, but are still accountable for their own projects.
The Mesopotamia Empire Lap-book Project is also a great way of helping students learn the 7 parts of a civilization.
If you haven’t already, be sure to read my blog post about how I introduce the 7 parts of a civilization structure with my ancient Mesopotamia unit. This post also explains details of how I use this project. Read it here: How to Teach Ancient Civilizations with a 7 Part Structure
This is also an excellent partner project for early in the school year, where students work together, but are still accountable for their own projects.
The Mesopotamia Empire Lap-book Project is also a great way of helping students learn the 7 parts of a civilization.
If you haven’t already, be sure to read my blog post about how I introduce the 7 parts of a civilization structure with my ancient Mesopotamia unit. This post also explains details of how I use this project. Read it here: How to Teach Ancient Civilizations with a 7 Part Structure
Ready To Roll Materials
Now that you have some great ideas for ancient Mesopotamia student projects, you are ready to get your lesson plans and activities organized for your 6th graders!
But if you are short on time, you know I’ve got you covered with some materials that are all done and ready to go for you! Be sure to check out that comprehensive Ancient Mesopotamia Empire Lap-book Project along with a few other engaging activities and lessons for your ancient Mesopotamia unit!
And if you’re looking for core content to help you with your daily lessons, then be sure to check out the Ancient Mesopotamia Lesson Set Bundle.
But if you are short on time, you know I’ve got you covered with some materials that are all done and ready to go for you! Be sure to check out that comprehensive Ancient Mesopotamia Empire Lap-book Project along with a few other engaging activities and lessons for your ancient Mesopotamia unit!
And if you’re looking for core content to help you with your daily lessons, then be sure to check out the Ancient Mesopotamia Lesson Set Bundle.
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Welcome! I'm Hillary Midgley, a veteran 6th grade teacher.
I create educational materials and develop curriculum for other teachers. I specialize in teaching students how to learn through my Study Skills Curriculum. I have established fundamental classroom systems and structures for teachers to help them streamline their classroom. And my passion is teaching ancient history through engaging activities with foundations in academic skills. Here you will find resources on all of these topics and more. Learn more about me here.
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