Social Studies 7
Economy and Technology: Ancient World Cultures to A.D. 500

Prescribed Learning Outcomes

It is expected that students will:

• describe various ways ancient peoples exchanged goods and services
• assess how settlement patterns, economies, and occupations of ancient peoples were influenced by their physical environments
• assess ways technological innovations enabled ancient peoples to modify their environments, satisfy their needs, and increase exploration and trade
• demonstrate understanding of the contributions of ancient cultures to science and technology
• compare ancient and modern communications media

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Economy and Technology in other grades click on an icon below.

• Have students compare three ancient cultures by developing flow charts that explain how natural resources and physical features influenced settlement patterns, economies, and occupations (e.g., river systems and associated technologies were important for transportation and productivity).
• As a class, brainstorm factors contributing to the growth of cities (e.g., location, resources, transportation, labour). Then ask groups of students to each select an ancient city to research and present to the class. Groups should examine factors that contributed to the development of their cities, consider which regions the cities depended on for economic trade and why, and consider why their cities may have lost prominence.
• Ask teams of students to select and research technological innovations from ancient cultures (e.g., glasswork in Egypt, Sto:lo Nation fishing weirs). Teams can then present their findings on the impact of these innovations to classmates, using visuals where appropriate.
• Have students work in groups to select fields of scientific inquiry and technological innovation and then research the contributions of selected ancient cultures in these fields. Students can create booklets or use other formats to present their research.
• Ask each student to role-play an ancient scientist, inventor, or artisan. Have each create models or charts showing her or his contributions to humanity and present them to their peers. Compare the role and status of these professions today.
• Have students identify various modern means of communication and then brainstorm how ancient cultures might have communicated. Ask them to select a contemporary issue and illustrate how it might have been communicated in an ancient culture.

Suggested Assessment Strategies

• When students develop flow charts comparing three ancient cultures, look for evidence that they:
  • locate and apply accurate information about natural resources and physical features, settlement patterns, economies, and occupations
  • determine logical cause-and-effect relationships among various factors
  • address some of the complexities in the relationships
  • use information about various cultures to develop generalizations
• Generate a list of assessment criteria as students research the scientific or technological contributions of ancient cultures. Criteria might include:
  • describes the invention or process clearly and accurately, including a diagram
  • includes accurate details describing how the invention or process was used
  • provides a logical explanation of how the invention or process changed people's lives
• When students research and report on the contributions of selected ancient cultures to science and technology, note the extent to which they:
  • base their reports on a variety of credible sources
  • identify key contributions
  • provide accurate details about how these contributions were developed and used in the ancient cultures
  • describe how the contributions have evolved and are used today
  • include accurate visual representations of inventions or processes where appropriate
• In their illustrations of how an ancient culture might have communicated a contemporary issue, look for evidence that students are:
  • knowledgable about details of communication in the ancient world
  • able to apply their understanding to create believable illustrations or examples
  • aware of some features that are common to communication in ancient and contemporary worlds