SPED 507 Civics Lesson Plan – Lisa Renee Payne
Early Civilizations – Important Characteristics
COS Standards:
AL-ALEX-2004.SS.8.2:
Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of
labor, government, calendar, and writings.
DETAILS:
Concurrent Skills/Competency Focus:
Reading, Note-taking, Discussion, American Sign Language (ASL)
Instructional Objectives:
TSWBAT define the terms civilization, river valley, and fertile.
TSWBAT locate a river valley on a map.
TSWBAT identify the job responsibility of farmers, skilled workers, priests, government
workers, soldiers, and scribes in early civilizations.
TSWBAT identify writing styles as either: Hieroglyphics, Cuneiform, or Phoenician Alphabet.
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES (Designating Set and Closure)
Phase I. Entry: Preparation for learning
SET: TTW show the first slide of the PowerPoint listing the objectives and standards. TTW
show students a list of terms. TSW decide what the words have in common. TTW guide
students in their answers and culminate the activity by presenting the word civilization across the
slide.
Phase II. Presentation
TTW begin the PowerPoint “Early Civilizations – Important Characteristics.”
TSW take notes and read along with the lecture.
TTW define and describe the term “river valley” and show students where a river valley would
be located.
TSW work in pairs to find an example of a river valley on one of the maps in the classroom.
TTW define the word “fertile” and explain why this area was important for farming.
TTW describe the responsibilities of the following types of labor: farmer, skilled worker, priest,
government worker, soldier, and scribe.
TSW complete an Early Civilizations Division of Labor graphic organizer.
TTW define and describe Cuneiform, Hieroglyphics, and the Phoenician Alphabet.
TSW work in pairs to recreate a writing style of their choice in the Writing Style Activity.
TSW share their completed work with the class and explain the difficulties with using these
types of writing styles.
TTW describe the role of kings and priests in early civilizations.
TTW identify and define types of technology invented by early civilizations.
TSW complete the worksheet What Do You Think to compare the wheel and the plow.
TTW define and describe timelines and explain how they are used.
TSW develop a time line in the This is Your Time activity.
Phase III. Closure: Review of Learning
Closure: TTW review the characteristics of early civilizations including location, division of
labor, technology, government, and writing style by playing a fill in the blank review game.
TTW will clarify any misunderstandings that appear as students answer the questions.
TTW distribute the Early Civilizations Characteristics Vocabulary worksheet (see attached).
TSW complete the worksheet for homework.
MATERIALS/RESOURCES (Aligned with Procedures)
Computer
SmartBoard or other interactive white board
SmartBoard pens or markers
PowerPoint presentation (self-generated, see attached)
Notes pages (self-generated, see attached)
Early Civilizations Division of Labor organizational chart (self-generated, see attached)
Writing Style Activity (self-generated, see attached)
Air dry clay, paper bags, card stock, markers, paint, and brushes (for use with Writing Style
Activity)
What Do You Think technology comparison of the wheel and the plow (self-generated, see
attached)
This is Your Time timeline creation activity (self-generated, see attached)
Review Game fill in the blank (self-generated, see attached)
Early Civilizations Characteristics Vocabulary worksheet (self-generated, see attached)
ASSESSMENT (Of Objectives)
TTW assess student understanding throughout the lesson by asking questions, having students
perform activities, and asking students for their opinions.
TTW collect the Early Civilizations Division of Labor graphic organizer as a formative
assessment of student ability to identify job responsibilities in early civilizations.
TTW collect What Do You Think, This is Your Time, and Early Civilizations Characteristics
Vocabulary sheet as formative assessments of student comprehension and application of the
terminology.
TTW collect the Writing Sample activity as a formative assessment of student ability to identify
the three types of writing introduced.
ASSIGNMENT (For Review, Practice, and/or Extension)
Early Civilizations Division of Labor graphic organizer
What Do You Think technology comparison worksheet
This is Your Time timeline activity
Early Civilizations Characteristics Vocabulary worksheet
ADAPTATIONS/ACCOMMODATIONS/MODIFICATIONS
Academic:
TTW use American Sign Language to communicate with students who are
Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
TTW assign partners or groups to students who have difficulty reading or
writing.
TTW allow students who have difficulty reading or writing or who have
limited English proficiency the ability to work with a partner on all written
activities.
TTW provide students who have difficulty reading or writing with a
completed notes page.
TTW provide students who have difficulty reading or writing with a multiple
choice or matching vocabulary worksheet.
TTW allow students who have limited English proficiency to make flash
cards in lieu of completing the vocabulary worksheet.
TTW allow students who have difficulty reading and writing or limited
English proficiency to complete the timeline activity using pictures only.
TTW provide a graphic organizer for students with special needs who
require a more detailed visual representation of the terminology.
TTW read information aloud or use American Sign Language to explain
activities to students who need additional one-on-one assistance.
Behavioral:
TTW assign partners to students who have behavior issues.
TTW continually walk around the room to ensure that students remain on
task and to assist with behavior monitoring.
TTW remove students from group activities and assign them alternative
individual work if they are unable to work cooperatively or refuse to
complete the original assignment.
TTW relocate students with behavior issues to the front of the class.
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
SmartBoard
Computer
Computer lab
PowerPoint
REFERENCES
Carnine, D., Cort`es, C., Curtis, K., Robinson, A. (2009). World history ancient
through early modern times. McDougall Littell. Evanston, IL.