Process
Get Ready, Set, Go!!!! It is now time to create your travel brochure. You will be working in groups of four. First, you will need to do some research about Sumer. Each person in your group will be in charge of researching different aspects of the Sumerian civilization. To find this information just click on the links below your role. You will put all of your information on a wheel graphic organizer since the Sumerians invented it!! Click on the link and type your findings in the different sections of the organizer. Once this is done you will come back together to share what you have found with your group members, and then collaboratively make your travel brochure.
Part One: Doing the Research
Here are your roles:
Sumer Life Learner: Your job is to research and become an expert on what life in the different city-states of Sumer were like. You should focus on the following questions:
- Where is Sumer located in Mesopotamia?/ Describe what the land was like and the two important rivers.
- What did the city-states look like/what did their houses look like?
- What jobs did the Sumerians specialize in?
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/geography.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/3950/
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/homes.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/sumereconomy.html
Religion Researcher: Your job is to research and become an expert on Sumerian religion. You should focus on the following questions:
- What type of religion did the Sumerians practice?
- What was the name of the Sumerian's temple? Why was it the most important structure?
- How did the Sumerians serve/praise their gods?
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/ziggurats.html
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/gods.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/sumereligion.html
Invention Investigator: Your job is to research and become an expert on Sumerian Inventions. You should focus on the following questions:
- What did the Sumerians develop/invent in order to improve their lives?
- What did they invent that we still use today?
- Make sure to include what each invention was used for in Sumer.
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/sumer.html
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/cuneiform.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/Ancient-Mesopotamia
Fun Fact Finder: Your job is to find fun facts about Sumer that does not fall into any of the other three categories that your group members are researching.
Your only question of focus is:
-What else can you discover about the ancient Sumerians?
-Be sure to find at least 3 fun facts!!!
http://hypermedia.educ.psu.edu/k-12/edpgs/su96/meso/mesopotamia.html#city
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/school.html
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/art.html
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/games.html
Part One: Doing the Research
Here are your roles:
Sumer Life Learner: Your job is to research and become an expert on what life in the different city-states of Sumer were like. You should focus on the following questions:
- Where is Sumer located in Mesopotamia?/ Describe what the land was like and the two important rivers.
- What did the city-states look like/what did their houses look like?
- What jobs did the Sumerians specialize in?
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/geography.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/3950/
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/homes.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/sumereconomy.html
Religion Researcher: Your job is to research and become an expert on Sumerian religion. You should focus on the following questions:
- What type of religion did the Sumerians practice?
- What was the name of the Sumerian's temple? Why was it the most important structure?
- How did the Sumerians serve/praise their gods?
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/ziggurats.html
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/gods.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/sumereligion.html
Invention Investigator: Your job is to research and become an expert on Sumerian Inventions. You should focus on the following questions:
- What did the Sumerians develop/invent in order to improve their lives?
- What did they invent that we still use today?
- Make sure to include what each invention was used for in Sumer.
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/sumer.html
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/cuneiform.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/Ancient-Mesopotamia
Fun Fact Finder: Your job is to find fun facts about Sumer that does not fall into any of the other three categories that your group members are researching.
Your only question of focus is:
-What else can you discover about the ancient Sumerians?
-Be sure to find at least 3 fun facts!!!
http://hypermedia.educ.psu.edu/k-12/edpgs/su96/meso/mesopotamia.html#city
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/school.html
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/art.html
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/games.html
Part Two: Creating the Travel Brochure
To create your travel brochure you will be using Microsoft Publisher. We have already had a few classes where we went over how to use Microsoft Publisher and you have been able to generate some practice examples. In case you forgot how to get there, simply go to the start menu at the bottom of your screen, go to all programs, find Microsoft Office and click it once, then find Microsoft Publisher and click it once. You will have opened Publisher at this point! Click on "brochure" since that is what we are creating! You may pick a template from the many that are offered! I know a few of you even know how to create your own after the practice session! Once you have done this you will be ready to add your research!! If your are choosing not use Microsoft publisher, you will be need computer paper folded into thirds hamburger style.
Here are the directions for adding your research information to the brochure:
(Remember: Pick out your most important facts to add to the brochure.)
Flap 1: Include the name of the place you are traveling to (Sumer, Mesopotamia), a catchy slogan in order to persuade people to travel there, and a picture to catch people's attention! Give this flap a real WOW factor!
Flap 2: The Sumer Life Learner will add their research findings and a small picture related to the research on this flap.
Flap 3: The Religion Researcher will add their research findings and a small picture related to the research on this flap.
Flap 4: The Invention Investigator will add their research findings and a small picture related to the research on this flap.
Flap 5: The Fun Fact Finder will add their research findings and a small picture related to the research on this flap.
Flap 6: Include all group members names, the date, and your class period here.
To find pictures for your travel brochure, you can use the following websites:
http://pics.tech4learning.com/ - Clipart
http://www.squirrelnet.com/search/Google_SafeSearch.asp - Google Safe Search for Kids
**Once you have completed everything above, you will be ready to print your travel brochure!! Raise your hand and I will give you permission to print to my teacher printer!**
Part Three: Presenting your work
Students will present their work to the class in a 5 minute presentation. Your presentation should answer the questions: Why would people want to travel to the amazing place of Sumer, Mesopotamia? What will they find when they go back in time and explore? Your research should have covered all of this!!
Here are the directions for adding your research information to the brochure:
(Remember: Pick out your most important facts to add to the brochure.)
Flap 1: Include the name of the place you are traveling to (Sumer, Mesopotamia), a catchy slogan in order to persuade people to travel there, and a picture to catch people's attention! Give this flap a real WOW factor!
Flap 2: The Sumer Life Learner will add their research findings and a small picture related to the research on this flap.
Flap 3: The Religion Researcher will add their research findings and a small picture related to the research on this flap.
Flap 4: The Invention Investigator will add their research findings and a small picture related to the research on this flap.
Flap 5: The Fun Fact Finder will add their research findings and a small picture related to the research on this flap.
Flap 6: Include all group members names, the date, and your class period here.
To find pictures for your travel brochure, you can use the following websites:
http://pics.tech4learning.com/ - Clipart
http://www.squirrelnet.com/search/Google_SafeSearch.asp - Google Safe Search for Kids
**Once you have completed everything above, you will be ready to print your travel brochure!! Raise your hand and I will give you permission to print to my teacher printer!**
Part Three: Presenting your work
Students will present their work to the class in a 5 minute presentation. Your presentation should answer the questions: Why would people want to travel to the amazing place of Sumer, Mesopotamia? What will they find when they go back in time and explore? Your research should have covered all of this!!