This project overview summarizes a 6th grade social studies project on ancient civilizations. Students will study characteristics of early civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ancient Greece, India, and China to determine what defines a civilization. They will then design their own ideal civilization and present its characteristics through a format of their choice like a movie, presentation, poster or play. The project addresses social studies standards and aims to develop skills like collaboration, critical thinking and presentation. Students will work in groups and individually to research civilizations, define civilization elements, design their ideal civilization, and present their findings to the class and beyond. Formative and summative assessments include quizzes, practice presentations, and a final group or

1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
Name of Project: An Ideal Civilization Duration: class year
Subject/Course: Teacher(s): Ms. Zarou Grade Level: 6th grade
Other subject areas to Ancient History, Art, English
be included, if any:
Project Idea Students will study various civilizations throughout ancient history, determine what characteristics define a civilization,
Summary of the issue, design their own ideal civilization, and present the characteristics of their ideal civilization through a presentation format
challenge, investigation, of their choice (movie, PowerPoint, poster, play, etc.)
scenario, or problem:
Driving Question What would be the characteristics of an ideal civilization?
Content and Skills 6.2 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and
Standards to be Kush.
addressed: 6.3 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Ancient Hebrews.
6.4 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Ancient Greece.
6.5 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of India.
6.6 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of China.
6.7 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures during the development of Rome.
T+A E T+A E
st
21 Century Skills Collaboration X Other:
to be explicitly taught and
assessed (T+A) or that Presentation
will be encouraged (E) by
X
project work, but not
Critical Thinking: X
taught or assessed:
Presentation Audience:
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2. Group: Group will choose how to demonstrate what they have learned: movie, PowerPoint, X
Culminating Prezi, poster, play, etc. Class:
Products and
X
Performances School:
X
Community:
Experts:
Individual: Web:
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Entry event to
launch inquiry,
engage students:
Assessments Quizzes/Tests X Practice Presentations X
Formative
Assessments Journal/Learning Log Notes
(During
Project) Preliminary Plans/Outlines/Prototypes Checklists
Rough Drafts X Concept Maps
Online Tests/Exams Other:
Written Product(s), with rubric: X Other Product(s) or Performance(s), with rubric: X
Summative Essay Movie, PowerPoint, poster, play,
Assessments
(End of Project) Oral Presentation, with rubric X Peer Evaluation X
Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test Self-Evaluation X
Essay X Other
.
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3. Resources On-site people, facilities: Community Interviews
Needed
Equipment: Classroom laptops
Materials: All materials supplied by teacher
Community resources:
Reflection Journal/Learning Log Focus Group
Methods (Individual,
Group, and/or Whole-Class Discussion X Fishbowl Discussion
Whole Class)
Survey X Other:
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4. PROJECT TEACHING AND LEARNING GUIDE
Project: Course/Semester:
Knowledge and Skills Needed By Students Scaffolding / Materials/ Lessons To Be Provided
to successfully complete culminating products and by the project teacher, other teachers, experts,
performances, and do well on summative assessments mentors, or community members
Lessons on how to write essays.
Students should be able to write clear, coherent, and
focused essays.  Review and practice components of essays: including
introduction, supporting evidence and conclusion.
Students should be able to work in cooperative groups to  Cooperative learning norms, skills, modeling, practice.
research answers to focus questions.
History Alive text lessons on the major ancient
Students need to gain knowledge of the aspects of all 
significant ancient civilizations civilizations: Reading Notes, Crosswords, Study Notes,
Jeopardy Games, Assessments.
Cooperative Group and Whole Group lessons on
Students will need to determine what the most important 
characteristics of a civilization are. what is a civilization.

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5. PROJECT CALENDAR
Project: Start Date: June 4, 2011
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
Project Week One
Students work in Teams present elements
cooperative groups using to whole class.
what they have learned
about ancient
civilizations to determine
what the elements of a
civilization are (economy,
language, culture, etc.)
Project Week Two
Students work in Teams create a final
cooperative groups to chart of essential
design and describe the elements of a civilization
characteristics they think and the ideal
essential for an “ideal” characteristics of each &
civilization determine the mode of
presentation
Project Week Three
Students develop their Students develop their Students develop their Students practice their Students present their
PowerPoint PowerPoint PowerPoint presentations. proposals to the class for
presentations, movies, presentations, movies, presentations, movies, of the ideal civilization.
songs, art, posters, plays songs, art, posters, plays songs, art, posters, plays
or Prezi. or Prezi. or Prezi.
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