Activity Overview
Researching real people and events helps students to gain a more concrete understanding of the culture, lives and diverse perspectives of people who lived in ancient times. It helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to acquire a more substantial, empathetic and realistic view of the period.
Teachers can assign students a specific person or they may give students a choice. Teachers may wish to provide resources such as books or the online encyclopedia Britannica for students to read about their person.
Giving students a graphic organizer to fill in as they read is helpful to pick out the most important facts and details. After students conduct their research and fill out a note-taking sheet or graphic organizer, students can create a biography poster using a template from Storyboard That with images and text that highlight the key events and accomplishments of their person.
These posters can be printed out, laminated, and hung around the room as a visual reminder of notable people from the time of ancient Mesopotamia. Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person, thus combining research, writing and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Some examples of people to research:
- Queen Puabi
- Naram-Sin
- Hammurabi
- Nabopolassar
- Nebuchadnezzar II
- Shamshi-Adad I
- Tiglath Pileser III
- Sennacherib
- Ashurbanipal
- Cyrus the Great
- Darius I
- Xerxes I
- Sargon the Great or Sargon of Akkad
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a person from ancient Mesopotamia. Create a poster that includes important details and engaging imagery.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a famous person.
- Using school resources, conduct research on a famous person and take notes using a graphic organizer.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth, death and major accomplishments in sequence.
- Add appropriate scenes, characters and items to illustrate each cell. To find images related to ancient Mesopotamia, type “Mesopotamia” into the search bar.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, major accomplishments
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How To Perform Research on Significant Events in Ancient Mesopotamia
Introduce Ancient Mespotamia
Begin by introducing the students to the history of Ancient Mesopotamia. Explain to the students how it is considered the first civilization of the world and is responsible for many contributions towards modern advancements. Teachers can explain different aspects of this ancient civilization using the G.R.A.P.E.S chart which covers a wide range of factors.
Select an Event
After students are more familiar with the Ancient Mesopotamian civilization, ask them to select one particular event that had a significant impact on the civilization and perform research on that particular event. Teachers can also give the students a list of events from which they can choose one. There are many events that students can work on, for instance, the construction of Ziggurats, or specific wars and battles.
Encourage Use of Credible Sources
Talk about the distinctions between key and secondary sources. Encourage the students to investigate primary materials, such as historical inscriptions, objects, or ancient manuscripts, wherever they can. Analyses and interpretations are provided by secondary sources, such as academic publications and articles. Teachers can also recommend some reading material that can help students gather more information.
Develop a Research Framework
Help students arrange the information from their study into a logical framework. When students use a framework, they will be able to organize the information in a better manner which brings better output for the readers. Students can use outlines and mindmaps for this purpose.
Discuss and Present
Once the students are done with their research and have organized the information in a comprehensive manner, ask them to share their findings and insights with the rest of the class. This will help students learn more about other events and gain more knowledge about ancient Mesopotamian civilization as well as various research methods and analyses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Making an Ancient Mesopotamia Biography or Event Poster
Which events or topics can the students choose for their poster?
Students can select a significant historical person (like Hammurabi or Gilgamesh) or an occasion (such as building a ziggurat or a big war). The intention is to supply comprehensive and engaging information by concentrating on a certain facet.
What sources can the students use for their research?
Reputable sources, such as scholarly books, papers, and internet databases, should be used. Historical encyclopedias, educational websites, and museum websites are other trustworthy sources. Teachers can either give students permission to use all resources or give certain material and ask the students to extract and use information from that reading only.
What details can be included in the poster?
Provide important information such as dates of birth and death (for biographies), notable accomplishments, historical background, cultural importance, and any enduring effects or legacies. Students can also use symbols and visuals to depict these details.
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Ancient Mesopotamia
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