The Alberta Grade 5 New Social Studies Curriculum emphasizes not only understanding key facts but also exploring how early societies influenced the development of modern civilizations. As we prepare to introduce students to ancient civilizations, it’s important to find ways to spark curiosity and engagement right from the start.
Launching your unit with the right approach can set the stage for a year of meaningful learning. Let’s be honest, this new curriculum is very complicated, difficult to understand and students have a hard time connecting with it. So it’s up to us to save the day! Put on your superhero cape and let’s get started.
One excellent way to introduce your students to this unit is with the “Ancient Civilizations: Where Was It Invented?” game. This interactive game offers an engaging and educational way to kick off your ancient civilizations unit, giving students a fun, hands-on experience while aligning with the curriculum’s goals.
Why Use a Game to Launch Your Ancient Civilizations Unit?
Games are a powerful tool for engaging students, especially when introducing new material. Here are a few reasons why starting with a game like “Ancient Civilizations: Where Was It Invented?” is an ideal way to launch your unit on ancient history:
- Immediate Engagement: Games capture attention and foster excitement, making students eager to dive into the subject matter. The “Where Was It Invented?” game introduces key ancient civilizations through inventions and discoveries, giving students an active role in learning from the start.
- Connecting Past and Present: The game highlights inventions that continue to impact modern society, allowing students to see the relevance of ancient civilizations in their everyday lives. Whether it’s the invention of the Olympics by the Greeks or early forms of plumbing from the Romans, students will gain a concrete understanding of how these ancient innovations shaped the world today.
- Collaborative Learning: The game encourages teamwork and discussion, helping students develop collaboration skills while deepening their understanding of ancient history. As they work together to match inventions with their civilizations, they’ll be engaging in critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication—key skills outlined in the Alberta Grade 5 New Social Studies Curriculum.
- Early Exposure to Key Concepts: Starting with a game allows students to be introduced to the names of major ancient civilizations (e.g., Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient China) and some of the key inventions or ideas these societies contributed. This primes them for deeper exploration as you continue with the unit.
How to Use the Game to Launch Your Unit
Here’s a step-by-step guide to incorporating “Ancient Civilizations: Where Was It Invented?” into the first lesson of your ancient civilizations unit:
Step 1: Set the Stage
Before jumping into the game, provide a brief introduction to the concept of ancient civilizations. Explain that these early societies laid the foundation for much of what we experience in the modern world, from technology and government to art and culture. Let students know that they’re about to play a game that will explore the inventions of these fascinating cultures.
Step 2: Play the Game
Display a slide and have students choose the ancient civilization that they believe invented the item shown. There are several ways that they can demonstrate their choice including hand signals, numbers, or even dancing to a certain side of the classroom.
As students work through the game, encourage discussion about why they think certain inventions originated in certain places. This conversation helps build the foundational knowledge they’ll need as they dive deeper into the unit.
Step 3: Debrief and Discuss
Encourage students to reflect on what they found surprising or interesting about the inventions. This debrief allows them to solidify their new knowledge and primes them for further exploration in the weeks ahead.
Step 4: Introduce the Big Ideas of the Unit
After the game and discussion, introduce the essential questions that will guide your ancient civilizations unit. Ask students questions like:
- How did ancient inventions shape the world we live in today?
- What can we learn from the successes and challenges of ancient civilizations?
These questions will help students see the “big picture” as they continue to learn about various civilizations throughout the unit. The game acts as a springboard to these larger discussions, providing a hands-on, interactive foundation for the knowledge to come.
Alignment with the Alberta Grade 5 New Social Studies Curriculum
The Alberta Grade 5 New Social Studies Curriculum emphasizes understanding the development of civilizations and their impact on modern societies. By using “Ancient Civilizations: Where Was It Invented?” as an introductory activity, you’re setting students up to explore the key themes of the curriculum in an engaging and interactive way. The game encourages:
- Critical Thinking: Students analyze and debate which inventions match each civilization, fostering critical thinking skills.
- Collaboration: Working in teams builds communication and cooperation, two important skills emphasized in the curriculum.
- Cultural Understanding: Students begin to explore the diversity of ancient civilizations and the unique contributions each made to the world.
Conclusion
Launching your ancient civilizations unit with the “Ancient Civilizations: Where Was It Invented?” game offers a fun and meaningful way to engage your Grade 5 students while aligning with the Alberta Grade 5 New Social Studies Curriculum. By making learning interactive from day one, you’ll spark curiosity, build foundational knowledge, and set the tone for an exciting journey through ancient history.
This game helps students immediately see the connections between the ancient world and their everyday lives—encouraging them to think critically about the ways in which history shapes our present. For an engaging start to your unit, consider incorporating “Ancient Civilizations: Where Was It Invented?” into your lesson plan today!
Looking for more Social Studies ideas? Click HERE to read a blog post all about the 3 Best Wordless Picture Books for teaching history!