Honors Ancient Civilizations-Help

Hi Rebecca Sloat ! I would add Agricultural/Neolithic Revolution to your first quarter and then something on the different types of communities that coexisted during this period (foragers, pastoralists, farmers) along with increasing urbanization (rise of cities / village networks). Then, you could add Assyrians and Phoenicians to that quarter as well. Bennett Sherry might also have some ideas. But if you're having trouble finding the materials you need in our Origins course, check out the outline: https://www.oerproject.com/OER-Materials/OER-Media/PDFs/Origins/Teacher-Resources/Origins-Course-Outline We'll be updating it over the summer with some new graphic bios and videos but the link will stay the same.

Thank you for the response.  Do we have resources for all of these topics?  I looked earlier this year and we had nothing on the Vikings, until someone posted a blog just a couple of weeks ago.  I guess I am just struggling, because with OER I am just used to such structure, and with this course, I am having trouble finding exact structure for it.  I will have to create my own.  I was definitely going to start with Agricultural/Neolithic Revolution, and the different types of communities that coexisted during this period (foragers, pastoralists, farmers).  I know once I start to build it, it will be easy, it is just the starting.  Especially when I have asked for help from the other teacher who teaches it in the district, and this is pretty much all she gave me.  :(

Hi Rebecca, here's a very quick table I pulled together. Yes, I think we have the assets in the course to cover almost all of these topics. One exception is the ancient wonders. However, please note that this is just a very quick list, so there's plenty more that could be added, especially activities. As you work, please let me know how I can support--we often get teachers asking for an Ancient Civ module.

Rebecca Sloat Oh, and just to flag: we do have a video in the works on the Viking Age that should be ready in the fall. 

OMGosh!  Thank you for all of this Bennett Sherry I really appreciate this.  You have probably saved me.  I think an Ancient Civs Module would be a great asset.  I knew we had a lot of this, I just am still learning the new format.  (I am not a fan, but we all hate change until we get used to the new.  Thats how we grow, right?). 

I will say, some of the new formats of the activities are easier to understand, and some of them I think are oversimplified.  I am glad to have access to the old still on my Drive.  :) 

I know this might not be the place for it, by having to search for the key in the Tools section, kind of stinks. I liked the convenience of having it right there with the assignments. On the other hand, I do see the point of it, with the new structure.  

Regardless, thank you for all your help.  

   for the win!  I also teach an Ancient Civs course (though we start the first quarter with Geography) and pull heavily from the Origins curriculum, as Bennett has suggested.  

As for adjusting to the new format, I find the Teacher Tools ("tap the hammer" in the upper righthand corner) to be really helpful unit/lesson planners.

Thanks for asking the question, Rebecca Sloat 

Rebecca Sloat you got excellent resources to start planning this new course. In addition to what everybody said here, I would add the Museum Project. It is a lot of fun for students to explore in depth ancient civilizations. I am sure they will remember this project for years to come. They will transform your classroom into a museum with stations and artifacts made by them to represent their civilization of their choice. It is fantastic! Next year I will teach a course in Latin America and I am planning to incorporate this project in that course as well. 

I second Laura Massa 's advice!

Thanks Carrie Emmerson I have used the Teacher Tools.  They are helpful.  But I miss the old way.  I guess that is just the nostalgia.  Lol.  I feel like I have to go print out all the Teacher Tools for each unit, or download them all, when before I could just go to the unit, look at a lesson and decide if I wanted to use it and if it fit my kids, without having to take the extra steps. 

I have been working with OER almost since 2018 and really love everything thing they provide for us.  They have completely changed the way I teach, and for that, I am so thankful for.  

Ah, yes - I can totally see that, Rebecca Sloat !  I'm a relative newbie and did, in fact, print out all of the lesson guides over the past year, so that is what I am more used to now.