Unit One -- Geography Group Project

Project Objective Students will show that they understand the idea that we have changed the land and the land has changed us ▫Students will create a civilization and create a plan to bring their civilization to prosperity

Scenario You all are the leaders of your tribes and responsible for the well-being of your people One member has said that they have heard about something called a “city-state” where people don’t have to keep looking for food

Scenario As the tribe leaders, you are responsible for creating a plan to bring your people from hunters-gatherers to citizens of a powerful city- state ▫Your people want to become the most powerful city state in the world

Where do you start? You are all in what is now present day China! ▫Turn to page 198 for a view of the map

Step One– Observe Land Observe the land around your group of hunters- gatherers ▫What is the land like around you? ▫Is there anything that might help you grow? ▫Are there any geographic challenges you will have to find solutions to? ▫***make some notes about the possible advantages and challenges of the land and where you might want to settle***

Step Two– Observe the Land To pick out a starting location, you can describe the location using longitude and latitude

Step Two—Create a Plan After analyzing the land, create a plan to get from hunting and gathering to living in the most powerful city-state in the world.

Step Two– Create a Plan Things to think about…. ▫What worked well in Mesopotamia? ▫How can you use the land to change and grow? ▫How can you continue to use the land to grow powerful? Consider what people did in chapters 3 and 4. Use ideas we have learned about and do not include violent or unrealistic ideas, or nonexistent technology. ***Remember, this goal of this project is to show you understand the ideas we have learned about!

Helpful Hints 1) brainstorm a list of things that people did in chapters 3 and 4 to improve and grow as a civilizations 2) reorder that list in chronological order 3) practice before you write the steps out—talk about each step and WHY it is important for your civilization ***REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE LAND AND HOW YOU WILL USE IT THROUGHOUT THE STEPS!!!***

Step 2- Create a Plan Write your steps out in numbered order and in complete sentences. ▫***Make sure you explain WHY you are doing what you are doing.***

Step 2 example-- If the paper was based on La Bamba and the purpose was how to become a famous singer… Step 1– First, I will figure out what kind of music I want to learn how to sing ▫Reason– If I don’t think about what I want to sing, it might be hard to focus on a certain singing skill. Also, I want to enjoy what I’m singing and not be stuck with some type of music I don’t like. Step 2 – Go to a singing coach so he/she can evaluate my voice ▫Reason– I want to know what my strengths and weaknesses are, and a coach is qualified to tell me. I don’t want to be confused about where to start.

Example 2--If I were starting a civilization in the ancient US… I would be settled right next to the Mississippi River Step one – use agriculture to grow ▫I will use the flat land around me to grow and the river to water my crops. I will do this so I can stay in one place because I now have a stable food supply and I don’t have to spend all day looking for food.

Step Three Once you have completed your plan, draw out your civilizations ▫Please be sure to include the things you have talked about in your plan. ▫Definitely