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Unit Plan
University of Chicago

University of Chicago Library: Teaching the Middle East: Identity in Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
Learning module looks at the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia, including the Sumerians and Akkadians. Particular emphasis given to the status of women in the region, religious practices, and language.
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Website
Penn Museum

Penn Museum: Iraq's Ancient Past Ur's Royal Cemetery

For Students 9th - 10th
A fascinating exhibition on early Mesopotamia which looks at the city of Ur located in Sumer, which is now part of Iraq. It discusses the history of Ur and its excavation. Most of the exhibition talks about the Royal Cemetery of Ur,...
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Handout
Other

St. Lawrence University: Brief History of Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
A paper which discusses the accomplishments of early Mesopotamian society in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and literature.
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Graphic
Other

Iran Before the Iranians

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of Persia before it as known as Iran, focusing on its tribes and history.
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Website
Other

The Iraq Museum: Exhibitions and Publications

For Students 9th - 10th
While this is a description of the exhibits in the Iraq Museum, it also provides a good overview of the history of Iraq over thousands of years. Of particular interest is the 'About the Museum' section where you can read about the...
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Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Agriculture

For Teachers 6th
A learning module on agriculture that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include factors that led to the development of...
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Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Cities in Mesopotamia: Understanding a Complex Text

For Teachers 6th Standards
In this lesson, 6th graders use details from a nonfiction article to create a visual representation and then, from that visual, provide evidence that demonstrates their understanding of the text. Includes samples of student work and lots...
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Interactive
Other

Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche: The Virtual Museum of Iraq

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a virtual tour of Iraq's history. It covers periods from prehistory up to the time of the Ottomans, and includes Sumerian, Akkadian, Neo-Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Achaemenid and Seleucid, Parthian, Sasanian, and Islamic...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Cuneiform Writing System in Ancient Mesopotamia

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
In this lesson plan, middle schoolers will consider "The Cuneiform Writing System in Ancient Mesopotamia: Emergence and Evolution." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
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Handout
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: Gods and Goddesses [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A list of Mesopotamian gods and goddesses.
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Activity
University of Chicago

Museum Education: Kids' Corner

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive examination of artifacts from Mesopotamia. Find out about early writing, the code of Hammurabi, and cylinder seals.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
Looks at the geography of ancient Mesopotamia, its history, its many achievements, religion, culture, and how it was governed.
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Unit Plan
Tom Richey

Tom Richey: Ancient Mesopotamia: C .3000 1700 b.c.

For Students 9th - 10th
Tom Richey presents this learning module on ancient Mesopotamia and provides unit materials, primary sources, video explaining the Code of Hammurabi and Epic of Gilgamesh, as well as lecture notes for students and teachers.
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Interactive
Other

The British Museum: Mesopotamia

For Students 9th - 10th
This beautifully crafted site on Mesopotamia has selected information on Assyrian palaces and warfare, Babylonian astronomers, trade and transport and Sumer, Royal Tombs of Ur and Ziggurats.
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Interactive
Other

The Royal Game of Ur

For Students 9th - 10th
An article which describes a board game found in a tomb located in Mesopotamia and dating back to around 2600 B.C. Directions for the game and gameboard are provided.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Classics Technology Center: Ancient Mesopotamia

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site from the Classics Technology Center provides materials concerning ancient Mesopotamia collected through teacher collaboration. Focuses on geography, religion, economics, clothing, and achievements. Also includes classroom...
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Website
Emory University

Emory University: Odyssey Online: Near East

For Students 4th - 8th
Illustrated overview of the ancient Near East. Topic coverage includes peopole, mythology, daily life, death and burial, writing, and archaeology.
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Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: The First Cities [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this instructional activity students will discover the varied occupations of ancient Mesopotamia.
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Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: Daily Life [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson young scholars will understand why customs and lifestyles differ in various cultures and time periods
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Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: The Role of Women [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars could use a copy of Hammurabi's Laws to discover what rights women did and did not have in ancient Mesopotamia. They could then do research to compare the lives of women in Mesopotamia with the roles and social status of...
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Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: Hands On! The Invention of Writing [Pdf]

For Teachers 1st - 9th
A lesson that allows students to recreate activities that took place in a Mesopotamian school.
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Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: Law and Government [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Discuss with students the role and responsibilities of the Mesopotamian king. Compare and contrast with the role and duties of the President of the United States.What are the similarities? What are the differences?
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Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: Comparing Mesopotamia to Modern Day Iraq [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson students will use knowledge of Mesopotamian artifacts, culture and history to relate to current events in Iraq.
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Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Ancient Mesopotamia: Math and Measurement: Cuneiform [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this instructional activity learners create and post a chart of the cuneiform symbols for numerals and create their own charts. Then students use the cuneiform numerals to answer questions.