If you are wrestling with the best way to cover all ancient civilizations, rather than just looking at Ancient Egypt, you might be grateful for this new overview activity in which pupils have to work out what makes a society in ancient times a civilization.
This activity is designed to test pupils’ misconceptions. Having been introduced to a few PowerPoint slides to warm them up to the activity, pupils in groups of 3 are presented with statements they have to work out whether they are true (bell), false (whistle) and about which they are unsure(?). They have 3 cards with images (slide 7 of Powerpoint) and they have to agree on just one and hold it up. The PowerPoint presentation is timed for 20 seconds thinking time after which they must show their answer before the presentation reveals the answer and supplementary reinforcing detail.
By introducing the notion that it is acceptable to be uncertain if the evidence is not conclusive, pupils grasp the need to use evidence to back up assertions and not to make sweeping unsubstantiated assertions. A real life lesson if ever there was one.
Accompanying the PowerPoint presentation with its statements and images are 2 separate resource sheets. One RS1 has the statements if you want pupils to create a written record with RS1a for answers. This will help you to establish where pupils’ misconception lie. Which part might need over-teaching before you move on?
The RS2 has supplementary detail, should you want to add to the on-screen feedback.
