Introduction to OUR WORLD & ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS

1. Introduction to OUR WORLD & ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS Primary 5 Social Studies 2014

2. WELCOME TO ADVENTURE! • THIS YEAR, WE WILL TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES OF THE PAST… • …AND DISCOVER HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR LIFE TODAY!

3. Our Past • How did WE come about?

4. How our Earth was Formed • You can read your textbook 5A from pg 4 to 11… • Or would you rather watch a video? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsn3wpVAcjk

5. Our Earth and its Civilisations • Scientists estimate that earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago • However human civilisation (complex societies living in cities) only started about 5,000 years ago • How do the two numbers compare? 4,600,000,000 5,000 !

6. Pause and Reflect • Our Earth is unique among planets – it is the only one we know of suitable for Life • Human life and civilisations have only existed for a very short time compared to our planet • How then should we view our place on this planet? How should we treat it?

7. Big idea: INTERACTIONS • Man interacts with • The natural environment • Human communities • By adapting to the environment, and co-operating with people, Man created ancient Civilisations which still awe us today

8. In the next three weeks, WE WILL LEARN ABOUT… • Our Earth – how it began • The World we live in • Understanding dates in history • How we know about the past • Features of a Civilisation

9. WHAT is a Civilisation? • We will discuss this in more detail in a later lesson • For now, just remember that a Civilisation: • Is a complex society living in cities • Has a large population • Requires large amounts of food and water

10. Civilisations we will explore • SUMER and EGYPT

11. Civilisations we will explore • GREECE and ROME

12. Civilisations we will explore • CHINA and INDIA

13. Civilisations we will explore • As you learn about these 6 Civilisations this year, think about WHY they were selected for you to study

14. Our World and its Civilisations • Work with a partner to complete this worksheet • You have 20 minutes to complete it

15. Our World and its Civilisations • How many continents are there in the world? 7 • The day-to-day amount of rainfall, sunshine, wind speed and cloud cover are known as the weather • Climate refers to the weather pattern in an area over a longperiod of time. • Two important elements of climate are amount of rainfall and temperature levels. These affect the kind of vegetation / plants which can grow in that area. • Climate also affects the design of peoples’ houses, what food they eat and their activities. • All over the world, people learned to adapt to their climate and environment.

16. Our World and its Civilisations *You must compare the FOUR different world maps

17. Our World and its Civilisations 8. Which of the world’s vegetation typesdo NOT appear in the table above? • Rainforest, Tundra (Mountainous Area) and Tundra (Arctic) 9. Based on your answers in parts 7 and 8 above, WHY do you think the six civilisations did not develop in certain areas of the world? (Go to next slide) *You must compare the FOUR different world maps

18. Our Climatic Zones *You must compare the FOUR different world maps

19. Our World and its Civilisations 9. Based on your answers in parts 7 and 8 above, WHY do you think the six civilisations did not develop in certain areas of the world? • They did not develop in the northern and southern Tundra areas as these are very cold climates where crops cannot grow. Hence large numbers of people cannot live there. • Rainforests have thick jungle and it is hard to create farms and large buildings there. • Mountains are cold and windy. It is difficult to grow crops there.

20. Our World and its Civilisations • As you can see, mankind has adapted to different climates • Through human ingenuity, great civilisations arose even in hot, dry desert climates or extremely cold climates. • As you can see on pg 40 - 43, there are examples of people living in the tundra and cities built on mountaintops!

21. Adapting to Our Environment The Bajau They live in the waters around Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. They get their food by fishing.

22. Before After

23. An example of adaptation… • (This won’t be tested, don’t worry!) • We assume that air-conditioning is a very modern invention • We love using it, but it consumes huge amounts of power (ask your parents!) • Older air-conditioners also produce toxic gases which destroy earth’s ozone layer

24. An example of adaptation… • Now, can you imagine air-conditioning technology… • That can make a house cold even in the hottest climates? • That does not require ANY energy • Produces NO pollution • AND IS THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD?

25. An example of adaptation… • Long ago, the people of Persia (Iran) built WIND CHIMNEYS as part of their homes • Their climate is hot, dry and windy. Image from: • http://www.kuriositas.com/2012/06/windcatchers-of-persia.html

26. These “wind chimneys” would direct moving air into homes, forcing out hot air • The moving air would keep the house cool even on hot days

27. Basements were sometimes so cold that food could be kept there without rotting • Even today many homes in desert areas use this ancient technology • Architects around the world have begun to adopt this idea

28. ADAPTATION • As you can see, clever ideas from centuries ago can still inspire and help us today • There are many more such brilliant inventions which man created to master his environment • We will learn about such inventions throughout this year

29. What we have learnt today: • Our earth is much older than human civilisations • Our earth is made up of 7 continents, with different climates • Civilisations are complex societies • Civilisations need enough food and water to sustain a large population • Civilisations arose in different climates • Man has been able to adapt to various climates

30. For our next lesson… • You are a group of ancient settlers trying to find a location to settle down. Which location within the school would you choose? Why?

31. For our next lesson… • HOW do you think large groups of people were able to grow enough food and get fresh drinking water? • YES – RIVERS!

32. Homework! • Complete the worksheet “Rivers and Civilisations” before the next lesson