Mesopotamian Infomercial
Probably the most well known infomercial personality, Billy Mays.
In small groups of 3 students, you will create an infomercial for a Mesopotamian invention. There will be a drawing to see what invention your group gets, and there will be no duplicating inventions within classes.
Today - time to research your product in your books, and premliminary planning with your group
Tuesday - computer lab to do research, collect data, find visual aides
Wednesday- work time in class to make a poster, props, and practice your skit
Thursday- about 20 minutes to do final practice, then the checkers, the wheel, plow or cylinder seals group presents
Friday - the glass group presents
Tuesday the 21st - the bronze group and any remaing groups present
Your group should not need to meet outside of class for this, but, each member may have work to do to prepare for the presentation.
Mesopotamian Inventions
the seeder plow the wheel glass bronze checkers cylinder seals
Requirements
- large posterboard about invention
- props for the infomercial
- about a 4 - 7 minute skit
Poster
- include name, use, materials, how it worked, how invented, approximate time period, etc
- show images of invention; not just printed, some drawings are necessary too
- fill entire board, make it look good, make it look like an advertisement
Props
- Make a model of your invention. In some cases, drawings will work fine. Otherwise, create props, or adapt other materials to be used as props for the infomercial
Skit
- Plan a skit that shares information about your invention. This information should be the same as what is on the posterboard. Ideas - have a host, pick a 'crowd participant', celebrity guest star, show Mesopotamians struggling to do something without that invention and show how life is better with it, etc.
Links for Mesopotamian Invention Information
Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids - info on many inventions
University of Chicago - the seeder plow
History World - many inventions, though not all are Mesopotamian
History Channel - video on the wheel
The British Museum - writing
The British Museum - time
History of Glass - glass history; obsidian, Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Syrians, Phoenicians, glass blowing, etc
Glass Museum - Mesopotamia or Egypt?
History for Kids - what is bronze?
How its Made - video on how bronze bells are made; the bells aren't Mesopotamian, but bronze was
Mesopotamian numbers - seconds, minutes, hours, and counting
Another school's website - seeder plow, cuneiform, wheel and the sun dial
Your Grade
- Individual Grade - How well did you work in the group? I will observe you during research time, and planning time, as well as your enthusiasm and involvement in the actual infomercial
- Group Grade - most important is accurate sharing of facts regarding your Mesopotamian invention. Next, use of work time, creativity and teamwork will be assessed.
Your entire project is worth 80 pts
Poster = 20 pts
Skit = 20 pts
Individual Grade = 20 pts
Group Teamwork/Creativity Grade = 20 pts
Hammurabi's Code of Laws - This PowerPoint was shown in class on Feb 9th.