Mesopotamia Overview
Details of e-lessons at http://members.cox.net/e-lessons (Email David at tei@cox.net)
These 38 e-lessons are based on the Waldorf/WideHorizon Teaching Packs: Ancient Civilizations
Details of WideHorizon Resources (9 Teacher Packs) at: http://members.cox.net/waldorfedu/weredu/index.html
Details of Waldorf Resources lessons and packs(9 Units divided into 32 SubUnits) at:
http://members.cox.net/waldorfedu/waldorfeduPages/WorldH.html
Powerpoint presentation at: mhtml:http://members.cox.net/waldorfedu5/powerpoint/P_Mesopotamia.mht
The first number of the e-lessons is based on the numbering of the nine Units (1-9).
The full list of e-lessons is included at the end of e-lesson 1, 7, 13, 19. 26 and 32.
Please abide by copyright.

G6 Unit 2 Mesopotamia (list of e-lessons at end of overview)
Thirty-eight free e-lessons on Mesopotamia are provided. E-lesson 2.1 introduces teachers to the study of Mesopotamia. E-L 2.2 introduces students to the study of Mesopotamia and helps students understand new vocabulary by introducing it in context. The lesson also includes a glossary activity. Map work on locating Mesopotamia and the climate of Mesopotamia are covered in E-L 2.3.

A story with guided reading activity introduces students to the life-style of citizens of Ur in E-L 2.4 Mara, Citizen of Ur. The aim is to develop students’ cultural understanding, reading and critical thinking skills. E-L 2.5 describes why we call Sumer a civilization. It includes a review exercise on Early Settlements. The Standard of Ur is introduced through activities in E-L 2.6. It shows the Sumerians, when spared from the responsibility of food production and provision of basic needs, engaged in music and art.

E-L 2.7 introduces teachers to the study of Sumer. A story together with a guided reading activity Introduce the work of Sir Charles Leonard Woolley in E-L 2.8. The story introduces students to the wonder and excitement of an archaeological excavation. E-L 2.9 contains a number of assignments on The Gold Wig of Mes-Kalam-Dug and the Headdress of a Lady of Ur, a board game and “detective work”.

Locating Mesopotamia in Time is covered in E-L 2.10 and includes activities on how to create a timeline. E-L 2.11 The First Empire describes the building of the first empire ever known and includes a glossary activity. Sargon of Akkad is introduced through a story Sargon: First Emperor in E-L 2.12.

E-L 2.13 Teacher Guide and Lesson Guidelines Module 3 introduces teachers to writing and mythology in Mesopotamia. In E-L 2.14 a story, Amush the Scribe introduces students to the invention and development of writing and describes how writing developed gradually from a pictorial script to a cuneiform script. The lesson also instructs students on how to make a cylinder seal. The story, Henry Creswicke Rawlinson in E-L 2.15 describes the breakthrough to deciphering cuneiform script. It includes a guided reading activity and shows how historical research can be exciting and rewarding. The lesson concludes with an introduction to cuneiform numerals.

In E-L 2.16 The Story of the Flood, students are given the opportunity to develop cultural understanding through a study of Mesopotamian mythology as well as developing group interaction and comprehension skills. Students also learn to use Venn diagrams to organize information. E-L 2.17 The Story of Gilgamesh and E-L 2.18 The Epic of Gilgamesh are about Gilgamesh, the first recorded hero. E-L 2.17 also includes activities on the death of Enkidu while E-L 2.18 includes an activity on the Journey of Gilgamesh and information on writing a drama.

E-L 2.19 introduces teachers to law and religion in Mesopotamia. E-L 2.20 contains a drama Court of Law about the first recorded rule of law. E-L 2.21 includes a number of activities about Hammurabi’s Law-Code including samples of the laws. In E-L 2.22 a story, Religion in Everyday Life, together with a guided reading activity, introduces students to the oldest recorded religion. E-L 2.23 Religion: An Overview provides students with information and activities about the oldest recorded religion and includes two poetry forms.

E-L 2.24 Ziggurats describes the first religious monuments and their construction and purpose. It also contains an activity sheet on building religious monuments. E-L 2.25 The New Year Festival is about one of the world’s first religious festivals. It includes a number of activities and review exercises.

E-L 2.26 introduces teachers to the Empires of Assyria and Babylonia. In E-L 2.27 Empires of Assyria and Babylonia, students have the opportunity to study Assyria as a “war machine.” It includes activities on Assyria at War and information on the Assyrian Army. It concludes with an activity sheet on Byron’s poem, The Destruction of Sennacherib. E-L 2.28 Rulers of the Empire contains information, activities and sources about the different rulers of the Empire.

E-L 2.29 Spread of Culture introduces students to the concept of diffusion of culture. It also includes activities on Assyrian sculpture, information on stone reliefs and an activity sheet on making a clay relief. In E-L 2.30 The New Babylonian Empire, students study the empire of Babylonia. It includes activities on the transportation to Babylon of defeated people as slaves. The last lesson before the review exercises is E-L 2.31. It contains a story, The Fall of Babylon together with guided reading assignment.

Each of E-L 2.32, E-L 2.33, E-L 2.34, E-L 2.35, E-L 2.36, E-L 2.37, and E-L 2.38 contain a variety review exercises. E-L 2.32 is on geography, climate and early settlements of Mesopotamia. E-L 2.33 is on occupations, trade, Sumer, and E-L 2.34 on Gilgamesh, and religion and mythology in Mesopotamia. E-L 2.35 is on writing, numerals and early empires in Mesopotamia, E-L 2.36 on Mari, Hammurabi’s Law-Code and Assyrian Rulers in Mesopotamia, E-L 2.37 on Assyrian art and its army and archaeology in Mesopotamia and E-L 2.38 on Sennacherib, city of Babylon and Mesopotamian words and names.

The following 38 Mesoptamia e-lessons are available:
E-Lesson 2.1 Teacher Guide and Lesson Guidelines Module (original pages WER Teacher Guide pp1-6)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_1TeacherGuideLessonGuidelinesModule1.pdf
Free lesson introducing teachers to the study of Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.2 Introduction to Mesopotamia (pp7-9)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_2Introduction.pdf
Free lesson introducing students to the dawn of civilization

E-Lesson 2.3 Locating and Climate of Mesopotamia (pp10-14)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_3LocatingClimate.pdf
Free lesson introducing students to the location and climate of Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.4 Mara, Citizen of Ur (pp15-19)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_4MaraCitizenofUr.pdf
Free story/guided reading introducing students to the lifestyle of citizens of Ur

E-Lesson 2.5 Geography and Resources of Mesopotamia (pp20-22)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_5GeographyResources.pdf
Free lesson on why we call Sumer a civilization

E-Lesson 2.6 The Standard of Ur (pp25-27)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_6StandardofUr.pdf
Free activity sheets introducing students to the Standard of Ur

E-Lesson 2.7 Teacher Guide and Lesson Guidelines Module 2 (pp28-32)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_7TeacherGuideLessonGuidelinesModule2.pdf
Free lesson introducing teachers to the study of Sumer

E-Lesson 2.8 Sir Charles Leonard Woolley (pp33-38)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_8SirCharlesLeonardWoolley.pdf
Free story/guided reading introducing students to the work of Sir Charles Woolley

E-Lesson 2.9 The Gold Wig of Mes-Kalam-Dug & Headdress of a Lady of Ur (pp39-45)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_9GoldWigofMesKalamDugHeaddresLadyofUr.pdf
Free lesson/activities/board game and “detective work”

E-Lesson 2.10 Locating Mesopotamia in Time (pp46-49)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_10LocatingMesopotamiainTime.pdf
Free lesson/activities/creating timeline

E-Lesson 2.11 The First Empire (pp50-51)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_11FirstEmpire.pdf
Free lesson/activities on building the first empire

E-Lesson 2.12 Sargon: First Emperor (pp52-56)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_12SargonFirstEmperor.pdf
Free lesson/story/activities about Sargon of Akkad

E-Lesson 2.13 Teacher Guide and Lesson Guidelines Module 3 (pp57-61)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_13TeacherGuideLessonGuidelinesModule3.pdf
Free lesson introducing teachers to Writing and Mythology in Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.14 Amush the Scribe, Writing and Cylinder Seals (pp62-67)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_14AmushtheScribeWritingCylinderSeals.pdf
Free lesson/story/activities about writing and making a cylinder seal

E-Lesson 2.15 Henry Creswicke Rawlinson & Cuneiform Numerals (pp68-75)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_15RawlinsonCuneiformNumerals.pdf
Free story/guided reading on cuneiform and cuneiform numerals

E-Lesson 2.16 The Story of the Flood (pp76-81)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_16StoryofFlood.pdf
Free lesson/story/activities on the Story of the Flood

E-Lesson 2.17 The Story of Gilgamesh (pp82-86)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_17StoryofGilgamesh.pdf
Free lesson/story/activities on the first recorded hero

E-Lesson 2.18 The Epic of Gilgamesh (pp87-91)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_18EpicofGilgamesh.pdf
Free lesson/drama/activities on the first recorded hero

E-Lesson 2.19 Teacher Guide and Lesson Guidelines Module 4 (pp92-96)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_19TeacherGuideLessonGuidelinesModule4.pdf
Free lesson introducing teachers to Law and Religion in Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.20 What Happened to Sumer/Court of Law (pp97-102)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_20WhatHappenedtoSumerCourtofLaw.pdf
Free lesson/drama about the first recorded rule of law

E-Lesson 2.21 Hammurabi’s Law-Code (pp103-106)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_21HammurabiLaw-Code.pdf
Free lesson/activities about Hammurabi’s Law-Code

E-Lesson 2.22 Religion in Everyday Life (pp107-109)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_22ReligioninEverydayLife.pdf
Free lesson/story/guided reading about the oldest recorded religion

E-Lesson 2.23 Religion: An Overview (pp110-115)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_23ReligionAnOverview.pdf
Free lesson/information/activities about the oldest recorded religion

E-Lesson 2.24 Ziggurats (pp116-118)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_24Ziggurats.pdf
Free lesson/activities on the first religious monuments

E-Lesson 2.25 The New Year Festival (pp119-124)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_25NewYearFestival.pdf
Free lesson/story/activities on one of the world’s first religious festivals

E-Lesson 2.26 Teacher Guide and Lesson Guidelines Module 5 (pp125-129)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_26TeacherGuideLessonGuidelinesModule5.pdf
Free lesson introducing teachers to the Empires of Assyria and Babylonia

E-Lesson 2.27 Empires of Assyria and Babylonia (pp130-135)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_27EmpireofAssyriaBabylonia.pdf
Free lesson on Assyria, Babylonia, and activity on the Destruction of Sennacherib

E-Lesson 2.28 Rulers of the Empire (pp136-140)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_28RulersofEmpire.pdf
Free lesson/activities on the rulers of the Empire

E-Lesson 2.29 Spread of Culture (pp141-146)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_29SpreadofCulture.pdf
Free lesson/activities including making a clay relief

E-Lesson 2.30 The New Babylonian Empire (pp147-149)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_30NewBabylonianEmpire.pdf
Free lesson/activities on the fall of the Assyrian Empire and people in exile

E-Lesson 2.31 The Fall of Babylon (pp150-152)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_31FallofBabylon.pdf
Free lesson/story/guided reading on the Fall of Babylon

The following e-lessons are based on the Waldorf Pack: Mesopotamia Review Pack 0-909001-30-8
E-Lesson 2.32 Mesopotamia Review Exercises 1 on geography, climate and early settlements (pp1-5)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_32MesopotamiaReviewExercises1.pdf
Free review exercises on geography, climate and early settlements of Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.33 Mesopotamia Review Exercises 2 on occupations, trade and Sumer (pp6-10)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_33Review2OccupationsTradeSumer.pdf
Free review exercises on occupations, trade and Sumer

E-Lesson 2.34 Mesopotamia Review Exercises 3 on Gilgamesh, religion and mythology (pp11-15)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_34MesopotamiaReviewExercises3.pdf
Free review exercises on Gilgamesh, and religion and mythology in Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.35 Mesopotamia Review Exercises 4 on writing, numerals and early empires (pp16-20)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_35MesopotamiaReviewExercises4.pdf
Free review exercises on writing, numerals and early empires in Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.36 Mesopotamia Review Exercises on Mari, Law-Code & Assyrian Rulers (pp21-25)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons/Mesopotamia/E2_36MesopotamiaReviewExercises5.pdf
Free review exercises on Mari, Hammurabi’s Law-Code and Assyrian Rulers in Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.37 Mesopotamia Review Exercises 6 on Assyrian art and its army and archaeology (pp26-29)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons2/Mesopotamia20-38/E2_37Review6AssyrianArtArmyArchaeology.pdf
Free review exercises on Assyrian art and its army and archaeology in Mesopotamia

E-Lesson 2.38 Review Exercises 7 on Sennacherib, city of Babylon & words/names (pp30-35)
http://members.cox.net/e-lessons2/Mesopotamia20-38/E2_38Review7SennacheribCitBabylonWordsNames.pdf
Free review exercises on Sennacherib, city of Babylon and Mesopotamian words and names