Name __________________ Per. ______
Project on Mesopotamia: Sumer
Due: ___________________
1. Choose an individual from the list below and learn more about what that person’s life in Sumer
would have been like. Consider these questions: What was a typical day in that person’s life like?
What did he or she do in the morning, afternoon, evening? Where did that person sleep? What kind
of clothes would that individual wear? If you lived in Sumer, what would your life have been like?
What would your parents do for a living and what would you do when you grew up? How would
your life have been different than the life you live now? How would it be harder? How might it be
easier?

 Student/child
 Potter
 Farmer
 Fisherman
 King
 Grinder Of Grain
 Priest
 Brewer
 Merchant
 Trader
 Slave
 Musician
 Scribe
 Taxman
 Wife and mother
2. Research the lives of people in the Sumerian region of ancient Mesopotamia using
print and Web resources. The following Web sites are a good starting point:
• Ancient Civilizations for Kids: Mesopotamia
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/middle_east/
http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch01.htm
http://www.suffolk.lib.ny.us/youth/jcancient.html#MESOPOTAMIA
http://mesopotamia.lib.uchicago.edu/
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/
http://www.historylink101.com/ancient_mesopotamia.htm
http://www.crystalinks.com/sumer.html
• Everyday Things in Ancient Mesopotamia
http://www.costumegallery.com/Mesopotamia/ancient.htm
http://www.aina.org/books/eliba/eliba.htm
• Yahooligans: Mesopotamia
http://search.yahooligans.yahoo.com/search/ligans?p=mesopotamia
• Ancient Sumer
http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/enviro/sumer/2002-d.htm
http://www.sarissa.org/sumer/sumer_s.php
• Women’s Lives in Mesopotamia
http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/lesson2.html
http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-56_u-472_t-1286_c-4936/wa/sosehistory/ancient-sumer/ancient-sumer-part-b/daily-life-of-women3. When you have completed your research, summarize your findings in a one-page Day
in the Life Journal. Describe the activities and events in a typical day in the life of your
chosen Sumerian. Your journals should include at least three specific details, for
example, instead of writing that they ate breakfast, you should describe exactly what
they ate. You should describe each article of their clothing. You might describe their
family’s living quarters, including their own room or sleeping quarters. You might
choose different specific details to describe.
Add illustrations, art clips or pictures during or at the end of your journal writing;
label the illustrations. Create a cover page that includes the name of your Sumerian,
his/her job, and your name, class, and date.
Turn in this paper with your final copy. Make sure your name is on it. This assignment
is worth a project grade, therefore, is a major assignment.
Assessment Rubric:
Day in the Life Journal
 Has a beginning, middle & end
 Accurately reflects the thoughts
and experiences of the subject’s life
 Covers important periods of the
subject’s life
 Reflects the student’s understanding
of Mesopotamian culture
 Uses correct grammar, spelling, and
Punctuation
Excellent
4
3
2
Poor
1
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1