Standard 2: Describe the emergence of early civilizations (Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, and Yellow Rivers, Meso and South American).

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General Information
Number: SS.6.W.2
Title: Describe the emergence of early civilizations (Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, and Yellow Rivers, Meso and South American).
Type: Standard
Subject: Social Studies
Grade: 6
Strand: World History

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

SS.6.W.2.AP.1
Identify the similarities and differences in the lifestyles of hunter-gatherers with settlers of early agricultural communities.
SS.6.W.2.AP.2
Identify ways that agriculture and metallurgy changed life in early civilizations.
SS.6.W.2.AP.3
Identify the characteristics of civilization.
SS.6.W.2.AP.4
Identify the economic, political, social, and religious institutions of ancient river civilizations.
SS.6.W.2.AP.5
Identify important achievements of the Egyptian civilization.
SS.6.W.2.AP.6
Identify the contributions of key figures from ancient Egypt.
SS.6.W.2.AP.7
Identify important achievements of the Mesopotamian civilization.
SS.6.W.2.AP.8
Identify the impact of key figures from ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.
SS.6.W.2.AP.9
Identify key figures and a basic belief of the ancient Israelites and how they differed from those of others in the geographic area.
SS.6.W.2.AP.10
Identify the emergence of the early river civilizations with the advanced civilizations in Meso and South America.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Lesson Plans

The Israelites and the Rule of Law:

In this lesson, students will learn about key figures from Judaism (Abraham and Moses) as well as the practices of law in Israelite civilization. Then, students will apply what they know about the rule of law in Mesopotamia and in ancient Egypt to determine how the Israelites compared to them. Students will do this by comparing passages from Hammurabi’s Code to Jewish laws, then explaining the similarities and differences in how the rule of law was practiced in Mesopotamia, Israel, and Egypt.

Type: Lesson Plan

Egyptian Achievements and the Rule of Law in Egypt:

In this lesson students will be introduced to the politics, society, and culture of ancient Egypt through guided notetaking. Students will learn about the different achievements of ancient Egypt by reading small passages and answering questions across multiple stations, requiring students to work through cooperative learning. Then, students will complete a brief exit slip addressing how the rule of law in Egypt compares to the rule of law in the United States.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Rule of Law in Mesopotamia:

In this lesson, students will learn some information about the political structure of Mesopotamian civilizations.  Students will be introduced to Hammurabi and Hammurabi's Code.  Then, students will complete a group activity focusing on excerpts of Hammurabi's Code, then applying them to U.S. laws and principles independently.

Type: Lesson Plan

Rule of Law: How Ancient Ideas Influence Laws in the United States:

The purpose of this lesson is to illustrate that the concept of “rule of law” not only appears in the U.S. government, but traces back to several ancient civilizations. Secondly, the lesson provides examples of “weak rule of law” and “strong rule of law” in both ancient civilizations and the United States.

Type: Lesson Plan

Analyzing Rule of Law in a U.S. Supreme Court Case:

In this lesson plan, students will learn about how the rule of law originated in the ancient world and how it has influenced our democracy by analyzing a U.S. Supreme Court case, Gideon v. Wainwright. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Meet the Queens of Ancient Egypt:

In this lesson, students will focus on learning about some of ancient Egypt's great queens Nefertiti, Tiy, and Nefertari. Students will learn about what made these women powerful as well as how they influenced the lives of the common people by being held in such high regard by their husbands, the pharaohs.

Type: Lesson Plan

Great Leaders of Ancient Egypt:

In this lesson, students will learn about seven of Egypt's most famous pharaohs. They will discuss leadership styles and draw conclusions about the success of each of these pharaohs. After learning about the personality and life of each pharaoh, students will break into groups to create in-depth projects about one of these seven pharaohs and will teach others in the class about this leader.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Day in the Life of an Egyptian:

In this lesson, students will learn about the daily lives of ancient Egyptians from every social class. Life varied dramatically for people based upon their rank in the social order, and students will examine how people from all walks of life lived. Students will use creative means to present what they have learned about the lives of Egyptians from all social classes.

Type: Lesson Plan

Teaching Idea

A is for Ancient Egypt:

This teaching idea describes a project sixth graders participated in after studying Ancient Egypt. Students created topics to feature in a children's alphabet book, and they researched, wrote, and illustrated a page for each letter of the alphabet on Egyptian related topics.

Type: Teaching Idea

WebQuest

Pyramids, and Hieroglyphics, and Mummies! Oh My!:

This WebQuest allows students to investigate ten aspects of ancient Egyptian life through stories, exploration, and interactive challenges. Students will have a chance to "wander" around an ancient Egyptian temple, learning some of its secrets.

Type: WebQuest

Student Resources

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Parent Resources

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