Miss Wexler
Social Studies
Grade 6
Unit: Early Man
Lesson: Old Stone Age vs. New Stone Age
Eastchester Middle School
Objectives:
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Students will recall characteristics of the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age
Students will be able to classify Stone Age characteristics as Paleolithic or Neolithic
Students will learn that the Farming Revolution was the biggest difference between the
Paleolithic Era and the Neolithic Era.
Students will understand why some historians consider the Farming Revolution the most
important event in human history.
State of New York Learning Standards:
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Standard 2: World history
Key Idea 1:
 Know the social and economic characteristics, such as customs, traditions, childrearing practices, ways of making a living, education and socialization practices,
gender roles, foods, and religious and spiritual beliefs that distinguish different
cultures and civilizations
 Know some important historic events and developments of past civilizations
 Interpret and analyze documents and artifacts related to significant developments
and events in world history
Key Idea 2:
 Develop timelines by placing important events and developments in world history
in their correct chronological order
 Measure time periods by years, decades, centuries, and millennia
 Study about major turning points in world history by investigating the causes and
other factors that brought about change and the results of these changes
Key Idea 3:
 investigate the roles and contributions of individuals and groups in relation to key
social, political, cultural, and religious practices throughout world history
 interpret and analyze documents and artifacts related to significant developments
and events in world history
 classify historic information according to the type of activity or practice:
social/cultural, political, economic, geographic, scientific, technological, and
historic
Procedure:
“Do Now” Activity:
1. Take homework out and leave on desk
2. Use the cartoon on the board to answer the questions on the “Do Now” handout
Anticipatory Set:
 Review homework from the night before on the importance of the Farming Revolution
and discuss answers.
 Explain and discuss how and why the Farming Revolution impacted early people’s
shelter, methods of obtaining food, technology, and lifestyle (nomadic or settled).
 Check for understanding.
Activity:
 Model the activity by showing two images on the SMART board, one representing a
Paleolithic Age characteristic (Labeled A), the other representing a Neolithic Age
characteristic (Labeled B).
 Ask students to categorize one picture as represent a Paleolithic Age characteristic
and the other as a Neolithic Age characteristic.
 Once the class agrees on an answer, ask them why they came to these
conclusions.
 Handout the “Categorize It: Old Stone Age vs. New Stone Age” Worksheet
 Point out to students that you created five stations around the room. In each station there
are pictures or words. The students must choose whether the images or words represent
the Paleolithic Age or Neolithic Age and why the students came to that conclusion.
 Explain that the class will be divided into five groups. And they will analyze the items in
each station collectively categorize each item and explain why they came to their
conclusions. Explain they will have two minutes maximum at each station.
 Explain how to use the “Categorize it: Old Stone Age vs. New Stone Age” handout
 Divide the class into five groups and assign each group an initial station.
 Begin the activity.
 After the students analyze the items in each station, instruct the students to return to their
seats.
Closure:
 Review the answers and explanations as a class.
 Reinforce that many of the characteristics of the Neolithic Age were possible because of
the Farming Revolution.
 Check for understanding.
Assessment:
 Put the Old Stone Age vs. New Stone Age Venn diagram on the SMARTboard.
 Have students categorize words and phrases as characteristics of the Paleolithic or
Neolithic Age.
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As a critical thinking question, ask students what characteristics were similar between the
times.
Check for understanding.
Needed Materials:
o Pen/ Pencil
o SMARTboard
o “Do Now” Handout
o Stone Age phrases and images
o “Categorize It: Old Stone Age vs. New Stone Age” Worksheet
Differentiation:
There are two students in my class with Individualized Education Programs and one
student with a 504 Modification Plan. The students have language and communication delays so
I designed the “Categorize It: Old Stone Age vs. New Stone Age,” worksheet to allow students
time to process their answers and give clear, thought out responses without feeling pressured to
respond immediately.
Some students also have trouble keeping on task and focused, so the fast pace of the
carousel activity gives students little downtime to lose focus.