This is a social studies, library media, technology, and language arts integrated research module. It is designed as a culminating activity following the studies of ancient civilizations in grade 6. This project was designed with the Maryland State Voluntary Curriculum guidelines in mind.

Length of Unit: 4-5 blocks

Day #1 Students will brainstorm and pre-search potential topics and complete a topic web page.

Days #2-4 Students will work through the research module beginning with the Task and ending with self-Evaluation.

(Allow students approximately a week to produce the tri-fold museum display outside of the classroom.)

Day #5 Gallery walk presentations of the museum displays.

Assessment Student Rubric
Click here for a printer friendly version of the Student Rubric (pdf format).

Enduring Understanding
Civilizations are built on the legacies of previous societies.

Essential Questions
How have legacies of ancient civilizations influenced the modern world?
How will modern legacies impact the future?

The teacher may post a chart showing ancient cultures and their legacies. Examples are shown below.

Social Studies VSC Standards & Outcomes
Students will examine significant ideas, beliefs, and themes; Organize patterns and events; and analyze how individuals and societies have changed over time in Maryland, the United States and around the world.

B. Emergence, Expansion and Changes in Nations and Empires
1. Explain how civilizations emerged in the river valley areas
b. Describe major cultural, political and economic achievements of river valley civilizations such as: the Tigris and Euphrates River Valley, the Huang River Valley, the Indus River Valley and the Nile River Valley including Egypt, Nubia and Kush.

2. Analyze the emergence and enduring influence of Aegean civilizations
a. Describe the major cultural achievements of the Greek civilization such as: art, science, political systems and philosophy.

3. Describe the emergence, expansion, and decline of the Roman Empire
a. Describe the major achievements of the Roman Era such as: legal, artistic, architecture, technology, and literary.

4. Describe the emergence and expansion of dynasties and empires in ancient China
c. Explain China’s cultural, political and economic influence on Japan, Korea, and countries in Southeast Asia

C. Conflict between Ideas and Institutions
2. Describe the major traditions, customs and beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism and their expansion throughout Asia
a. Describe the major traditions, customs and beliefs of Buddhism from India throughout Asia
b. Describe the major traditions, customs and beliefs of Hinduism and its political and social impact on India

3. Describe the emergence and expansion of Islamic civilization
b. Analyze the influence and impact of the Islamic culture and its contributions such as: art, science, medicine, literature, and philosophy

Library Media Outcomes
1.0 Students will access information to address personal or curricular information needs.
1.2 Form questions based on identified information needs
1.3 Identify a wide range of potential sources of information
1.4 Develop successful information seeking strategies.
2.0 Students will review, evaluate and select information in order to address their identified questions or information needs.
2.1 Comprehend content in print, visual, audio and electronic media.
2.2 Evaluate content from print, visual, audio and electronic media.
2.3 Select appropriate information.
3.0 Students will use information effectively to address their identified questions or information needs.
3.1 Record pertinent information.
3.2 Organize information to achieve clarity.
3.3 Synthesize information.
3.4 Communicate results.
4.0 Students will use information and technology ethically.
4.3 Respect intellectual property rights.
4.4 Use information products and technology responsibly.
5.0 Students will monitor the quality of their own information seeking process.
5.1 Evaluate one’s own information seeking process and product.
5.2 Devise strategies for improving the process and product.
7.0 Students will participate in groups to pursue and generate information.
7.1 Work cooperatively with others, in person or remotely, to identify personal or curricular information needs.
7.2 Work cooperatively with others, in person or remotely, to use information effectively when addressing identified information needs.

Technology Foundations Standards for Students
2.0 Social, ethical, and human issues
•Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology.
•Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.
•Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
3.0 Technology productivity tools
•Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
•Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works.
5.0 Technology research tools
•Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
•Students use technology tools to process data and report results.
•Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness for specific tasks.

Language Arts Outcomes

3.6.2 Research Process
A. identify topics and develop ideas leading to research
B. understand and use organizational features of printed text
C. use appropriate traditional and electronic library resources to retrieve information for specific purposes
D. use a bibliography
E. write a research report for an intended audience
3.6.5 Writing to Inform
A. follow an organizational pattern
B. offer relevant evidence in the form of facts and details to support the main idea