Introduction
Introduction
As you complete this WebQuest, you will be looking for significant events in the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. As you research events for your timeline, you will need to decide what makes an event significant in history. As you choose events to add to your timeline you should keep in mind the following:
- Geography plays an important role in how well civilizations survive and flourish.
- The four ancient River Valley civilizations have many similarities and differeneces. They also had connections through these similarities and differences.
- Irrigation and other forms of environmental interaction have an effect on the development of the River Valley civilizations.
- Government was developed to provide order, structure, and organization for ancient people.
- Each of the River Valley civilizations made contributions which influenced later cultures, including modern-day cultures.
If you find an event that coordinates with one of the above statements, it is probably significant and could be added to your timeline.
Task
The Task
During this WebQuest you will complete five tasks.
1. Students will work in pairs to create a timeline of the significant events of the River Valley civilizations.
2. Conduct background research to find events.
3. Write a detailed description of each event and its importance.
4. Create or find previously created visual aids (photos or links to video) to support events on your timeline.
5. Complete a reflection essay.
Process
The Process
This WebQuest will require you to work through four tasks as you complete your timeline.
Create An Online Timeline.
1. To create your timeline you will need to go to the following link:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/
2. Follow the instructions for creating the timeline.
3. As you add events to your timeline, use a letter code in the titles to keep your events easily identifiable. Use and "M" before the title for Mesopotamis, an "E" for Egypt, and "I" for India, and a "C" for China. (For example, C-The Great Wall is built.
4. As you record events in your timeline, keep in mind that we don't have a lot of records from ancient history. Exact dates will be difficult to find and an approximate date is acceptable for this project.
Conduct Background Research
Befor you can add events to your timeline you will need to find them. Below are some resources that you may find useful. You will need to find a minimum of 5 events for each civilization to add to your timeline (20 events total).
You will turn a seperate document with the source of information for each event that you include in your timeline. (this can be hand written).
Mesopotamia
Egypt
India
China
- British Museum - China
- History For Kids
- Ancient China - Crystalinks
- Ancient China
- Mr. Donn
- Ancient China - Historylink101
Describe Each Event
For each event that you add, you will need to write a detailed description of the event. This requires three to four complete sentences about the event and why it is significant event in history. This may also include why that event is important to us today.
Provide A Visual Aid
Each event you add will be more interesting if you add some visual interest. You are not required to add a visual aid to every event, but you do need to add at least 10. This could be a photograph or other graphic related to the event, or a video link about the event.
Evaluation
Evaluation
The rubric below contains the criteria that will be used to grade your project. Use this rubric to help you as you work through the WebQuest.
|
Excellent 90-100% |
Acceptable 70-89% | Needs Improvement 0-69% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline Events | All 20 events are included and are accurate and significant | Three to 5 events are missing. There are several errors. Some events are not significant | More than 5 events are missing or are inaccurate. |
| Description of Events | Description are extensive in detail and accurately reflect the significance of events. | Descriptions are thorough, but may be missing some detail. | Descriptions are poor or missing. |
| Visual Aids | Visual aids accurately reflect chosen timeline events | Visual aids are included, but some are not accurate. Up to 5 visual aids are missing. | More than 5 visual aids are missing or are not related to event |
| Reflection Essay | All questions are answered in detail and in complete sentences. Reflections display a high level of thinking. | Answers are lacking some detail, but have been attempted. Reflections are accurate, but do not reflect a high lever of thinking. | Answers are incomplete or missing |
Conclusion
Conclusion
As you finish you WebQuest, you will reflect on what you have learned. Answer the following questions and email or write them on a sheet of paper. Give complete, detailed responses.
- What patterns do you notice in your timeline?
- What similarities did you find among the four River Valley civilizations?
- What differences did you find amond the four River Valley civilizations?
- What event, that you found, do you think ws the most significant event in history? Explain the reasoning?
Teacher Page
Teacher Page
This page was designed for teacher use in planning and implementing this WebQuest.
Purpose
The purpose of this activity is for students to develop an understanding of the importance of significant historical events.
Rationale
This activity will provide students with a method for visually establishing the time period of the four River Valley civilizations and comparing and contrasting components of different civilizations.
Learner Description
This activity was designed for high school World History students studying ancient civilizations.
Prerequisites
Students will create a timeline of events for the four River Valley civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. Students should also have an understanding of internet usage, safety and guidelines for avoiding plagiarism.
Instructional Objectives
Students will create a timeline of events for the four River Valley civilizations.
Standards Addressed
SSWH1 The student will analyze the origins, structures and interactions of complex
societies in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean from 3500 BCE to 500 BCE.
a. Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies including the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, including Hammurabi’s law code.
b. Describe the relationship of religion and political authority in Ancient Egypt.
c. Explain the development of monotheism, including the concepts developed by the ancient Hebrews and Zoroastrianism.
d. Describe early trading networks in the Eastern Mediterranean; include the impact of Phoenicians had on the Mediterranean World.
e. Explain the development and importance of writing including, cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the Phoenician alphabet.
Subject Matter Description
Students will complete four tasks in developing their projects.
Creating a timeline
Students will use ReadWriteThink timeline, a free online service, to create their timelines. The teacher will also need to create and account and become familiar with the service to manage and view student work.
Conduct background research
Students will conduct online research in order to locate significant events. They may also use outside resources.
Event description
Students will write a detailed description of each historical event that they locate and will provide justification for its importance in history.
Visual representation
Students will locate visual images or video links to provide a visual aid for each event in their timelines. Students may also create their own visual work if they so choose.
Assessment
Students will be assessed on their timeline and reflection through the included rubric.