Social Studies Project on Mesopotamia: Sumerian Inventions
Today grade 5 went to the computer lab to learn how to do research for their social studies project on the Sumerian Inventions. They are to make a poster on the theme and can be as creative as they want (creativity is a bonus). They will present their posters on Tuesday 28th of November, and will have to explain the 5 inventions, choose their favourite one and explain why. Bonus to those who want to also present an extra invention, as Sumerians invented many things.
5 Inventions all students will have to present:
Agriculture/Irrigation: Keywords for research are levees, gated ditches, canals, floods
Wheel: Keywords for research are pottery wheel and carts
Writing: Keywords for research are clay tablets, stylus and cuneiform
Calendar: Keywords for research are Zodiac, time and star chart
Plow: Keywords for research are seeder and oxen
I will be posting some websites for students to read information on each invention tomorrow, in the meantime please make sure each student tries to apply what we learned in the computer lab today and researches on his own, the different inventions.
Looking forward to seeing the great Sumerian Inventions as presented by grade 5. The best poster of each class will be proudly hung on the class wall and the top 3 will receive a small prize!
These are the vocabulary words for Ancient Mesopotamia:
Sumer:
An area in the southern region of Babylonia in present-day Iraq; site of the Sumerian civilization of city-states that flowered during the third millennium BC.
Sumerians:
A member of a people who inhabited ancient Sumer
of or relating to ancient Sumer or its inhabitants
City of Nippur:
City in Ancient Mesopotamia on the Euphrates.
Nissaba:
A Sumerian first name
Journal:
A daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations.
Nomads:
A member of a people who have no permanent home but move about according to the seasons
Farming:
Working the land as an occupation or way of life
The practice of cultivating the land or raising stock
Livestock:
Animals kept or raised; especially: farm animals kept for use and profit
Tame:
To bring under control
To subject to cultivation. ex: “wilderness tamed by farmers”
Domestication:
To adapt to living with human beings and to serving their purposes
Fertile:
Producing vegetation or crops plentifully. ex: “fertile farmland” synonym: Rich
Banks:
The rising ground at the edge of a lake, river, or sea. ex: “the river banks”
Flood:
Great flow of water that rises and spreads over the land
Barley:
A cereal grass with flowers in dense spikes.
Wheat:
A cereal grain that can be made into a fine white flour used mostly in breads, baked goods (as cakes and crackers), and pasta as (as macaroni or spaghetti) and that is used in animal feeds.
Ancestor:
One from whom an individual, group, or species is descended.
Unpredictable:
Not occurring at expected times
Unknown in advance. ex “an unpredictable future”
Impossible to foretell
Levees:
A bank built along a river to prevent flooding
A landing place along a river
Ditch:
A long narrow channel or trench dug in the earth. ex: “Gated ditches”
Plow:
A farm machine used to cut, lift, and turn over soil. ex: “The cow pulls the plow”
Zodiac:
An imaginary belt in the heavens that includes the apparent paths of most of the planets and is divided into 12 star groups or signs
A figure showing the signs of the zodiac
Priest:
A person who has the authority to lead or perform religious ceremonies
City-state:
A self-governing state consisting of a city and surrounding territory
Village:
A place somewhat smaller than a town
Ziggurat:
Ancient Mesopotamian temple
Merchants:
A buyer and seller of goods for profit; especially one who carries on trade on a large scale or with foreign countries.
Craftspeople:
Workers who practice a trade or craft.
Household:
Those who live as a family in one house; also: a social unit made up of those living together in the same house
Chores:
The regular light work of a household or farm
An ordinary task
A dull, unpleasant, or difficult task
Weave:
To form by lacing together strands of material; especially to make on a loom by lacing together threads going lengthwise with threads going crosswise. Ex: “weave cloth”
To form into a fabric. Ex: “weave wool into tweeds”
Yarn:
A natural or manufactured fiber (as cotton or wool) formed as a continuous strand for use in knitting or weaving.
Tablet:
A flat slab suited for an inscription.
Scribe:
A person who copies manuscripts.
Burden:
Something carried. Synonym: Load
Something taken as a duty or responsibility. Ex: “tax burdens”
