TeachersFirst's Ancient Mesopotamian Civilizations Resources
Discover a collection of educational materials about ancient Mesopotamian Civilizations and the cultures that flourished between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. From interactive timelines that trace the rise and fall of these empires to high-resolution images of archaeological artifacts, our resources bring the ancient world to life. This collection features primary sources and multimedia presentations on daily life in ancient cities like Ur and Nineveh. Share these resources with your students to aid in understanding the foundational civilizations that laid the groundwork for human progress in law, science, literature, and government.

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Explore Ancient Worlds Through Art - Getty Museum
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): africa (144), asia (109), cultures (171), europe (83), greek (44), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Ask students to design and present an ancient civilization, considering key aspects like government, art, religion, and daily life. They can create maps, cultural artifacts, and stories about their civilization. Have students create the maps with online tools such as Google My Map, reviewed here or MapHubs, reviewed here. Create a "mystery box" filled with images or replicas of ancient artifacts from various civilizations (ex., Egyptian, Greek, Roman). Have students guess which civilization the artifacts belong to and encourage them to explain their reasoning. Introduce students to myths and legends from ancient civilizations, such as Greek gods or Egyptian creation stories. Have students choose a myth to retell in their own words, or ask them to write an original myth, incorporating the themes and values of an ancient civilization.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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6 Early Human Civilizations - History.com
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): china (80), egypt (50), india (32), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Students can create a chart comparing the key characteristics (including government, agriculture, writing, and religion) of the civilizations in the article. The chart can also be made digitally using a tool such as Infogram, reviewed here. Using an online mapping tool like Google Earth, reviewed here, have students locate the geographic regions of the earliest civilizations and analyze how natural features (rivers, mountains) influenced their development. Students can design a mini-museum exhibit on a chosen civilization using posters, models, or dioramas showcasing key features like artifacts, buildings, and cultural practices. Students can also write a creative story imagining a day in the life of someone living in one of the early civilizations, incorporating details from the article.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Khan Academy Ancient Indus Valley Civilization - Khan Academy Ancient Indus Valley Civilization
Grades
4 to 10tag(s): cultures (171), egypt (50), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Challenge students to create a video using Adobe Express Video Maker reviewed here with information from each topic from the video and/or all the ancient civilizations. Students can compare and contrast the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization with other civilizations from the same time. Finally, students can debate which civilization impacted society most significantly. Students can use an online debate tool like Kialo Edu reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient Indus Valley Civilization - Learni History for Kids
Grades
4 to 10tag(s): cultures (171), egypt (50), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Students could create a book using Elementari, reviewed here utilizing the information from each of the topics from the video. Students can compare and contrast the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization with other civilizations from the same time. Finally, students can debate which civilization impacted society most significantly.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Rise and Fall of History's First Empire - TED-Ed
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Assign students to research another ancient empire (ex., Egypt, Indus Valley, or China). In a short presentation, they can compare its achievements, government, and eventual decline with Sumer. The presentation can be made using Google Slides, reviewed here, or they can make a webpage using a tool such as Webnode, reviewed here. Have students make maps of Mesopotamia in Google My Maps, reviewed here, and locate key cities like Ur and Uruk. Discuss how geography (rivers, fertile land) influenced Sumer's development and why these features were vital to survival. Students could also use Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here to create a visual timeline of key events from Sumer's history based on the video. Include the development of cities, cuneiform writing, and other milestones.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient Map of Mesopotamia - Brookings School District
Grades
4 to 6tag(s): asia (109), maps (215), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Have students label key features such as the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Fertile Crescent, and major cities like Babylon and Ur. Use the map to discuss why civilizations settled near rivers and how the geography of Mesopotamia supported farming, trade, and city growth. Have students trace potential trade routes and discuss how Mesopotamians might have traded goods with neighboring regions. Show students a modern map of the Middle East and compare it to the ancient map. Discuss which modern countries are in the area of ancient Mesopotamia.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mesopotamia Outline Map - Don Dellinger
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): asia (109), map skills (59), maps (215), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Draw and analyze ancient trade routes and discuss what goods were traded and how geography influenced commerce. Have students label key rivers, cities, and regions. Assign groups to research cities or regions on the map and present their findings. Discuss how the rivers influenced agriculture, led to the invention of irrigation, or caused environmental challenges.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mesopotamia Map Activity - Becky Carson
Grades
6 to 8tag(s): asia (109), maps (215), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Have students label and analyze the map to identify key cities, rivers, and regions. Pair the map with lessons on early civilizations, discussing how geography influenced Mesopotamian culture and trade. Combine with writing tasks such as creating a travel guide. Use a tool like SWAY, reviewed here, to quickly create online travel guides. Use the map to create quiz-style challenges such as Quizizz, reviewed here or Gimkit, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mesopotamia - What is Civilization - Learni
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
In the classroom, students can create a map of the land of Mesopotamia using the Mesopotamia Outline Map, reviewed here. Students can debate the most important contribution that Mesopotamia gave to society today or the class system's role in society. Students can use an online debate tool like Kialo Edu reviewed here for discussion. Finally, students can compare and contrast other ancient civilizations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mesopotamia for Kids - Happy Learning
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Enhance students' learning by having them label a map of the land of Mesopotamia using the Mesopotamia Outline Map, reviewed here. Students can debate which is the most important contribution that Mesopotamia gave to society today. Finally, students can compare and contrast other ancient civilizations. Compare using a tool such as ClassTools Interactive Venn Diagrams reviewed here. You can click on the right side to choose between a two or three-circle Venn diagram.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mesopotamia - Twinkl
Grades
6 to 10tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
In the classroom, students can complete the activities posted on the website. Additionally, students can develop any of those activities into a book using Book Creator, reviewed here, or a podcast using Podcast Generator, reviewed here. Finally, students can compare and contrast other ancient civilizations using a Venn Diagram tool such as ReadWriteThink Venn Diagram Interactive reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mesopotamia - Creative Classroom Core's Mesopotamia
Grades
6 to 10tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Students can participate in the activities that Creative Classroom Core shares. Students can create a presentation using a tool such as Genially, reviewed here with all the information they learned about Mesopotamia. Finally, students can create a scavenger hunt or digital escape room for other class members to complete. Genially reviewed here also offers free templates to create digital escape rooms.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient Mesopotamia - Code of Hammurabi - Test Quiz - Ducksters
Grades
4 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (109), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Have students read the page as a class or independently in a guided reading activity using eMargin, reviewed here, and discuss the key points, such as the significance of the Code and how it influenced justice systems. Use the quiz questions to guide comprehension. Ask students to write a diary entry or short story from the perspective of a Mesopotamian citizen living under Hammurabi's Code. The students can complete the entries on paper or using a tool like Blogger, reviewed here or ePubEditor, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mesopotamia Smartboard Review - Not provided
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32), slides (43)
In the Classroom
Use the information in the slides to create a game using Quizizz, reviewed here or Gimkit, reviewed here that can be used to help review. Have students work in collaborative groups to work through the links on the slides. Have students compare and contrast Mesopotamia with another ancient culture.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mesopotamia - History.com
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Have students construct a model ziggurat using building blocks, sugar cubes, or cardboard and discuss their purpose in Mesopotamian society. Provide students with clay or playdough and wooden sticks to practice creating cuneiform symbols. Use examples from the article to guide students, encouraging them to write simple messages or their names in "Mesopotamian writing." Ask students to compare Mesopotamia with another ancient civilization (e.g., Egypt or Indus Valley).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The First Emperor of Babylon - History Explained
Grades
5 to 9This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (109), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Students can complete a timeline of Hammurabi's reign using Class Tools, reviewed here or Timelinely, reviewed here. In groups, students could create a skit depicting Hammurabi's leadership, military campaigns, and lawmaking process. Compare Hammurabi's law code with modern legal systems, discussing similarities and differences using Canva's Venn Diagram Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient Mesopotamia 101 - National Geographic
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Have students create a timeline of major events mentioned in the video, such as the rise of Cyrus the Great, the construction of the Royal Road, and the fall of the empire, using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here or Timelinely, reviewed here. Have students compare the Persian Empire with other ancient empires, such as the Roman or Mauryan Empires. They can create a Venn diagram or write a short essay on similarities and differences.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient Civilizations: The Persian Empire - elephango
Grades
6 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Have students research how Persian innovations, such as infrastructure, bureaucracy, or cultural tolerance, influence modern governance or society. Students can present findings in a mini-report or slideshow using resources such as Google Slides, reviewed here or Canva, reviewed here. Set up stations with Persian art, architecture, religion, and governance information. Include images, artifacts, and video clips. Have students rotate through and complete a quick reflection at each station. They can create a page for each station in Book Creator, reviewed here. Provide students with blank maps and ask them to outline the Persian Empire's borders at its peak, label significant cities, and mark the Royal Road.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Getty Villa- Mesopotamia - Getty Museum
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Students could research ziggurats on the website and design their own. The model can be made digitally using a resource like CoSpaces, reviewed here or Google Drawings, reviewed here, on paper, or as a 3D model. Students can role-play a Mesopotamian marketplace where students act as traders. Each is assigned a region and good (e.g., grain, textiles, lapis lazuli). Using the "Trade in the Ancient World" tool, students explore "The Story of Writing" and practice writing their names or a short message in cuneiform using clay or printable worksheets.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient Civilization: Mesopotamia - Ms. Jenkins
Grades
4 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (109), cultures (171), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Students can construct mini ziggurats in small groups using LEGO bricks, sugar cubes, or recycled materials. Discuss the purpose of ziggurats in Mesopotamian society and compare them to modern-day architectural structures. Have students use clay and styluses (or toothpicks) to write messages in cuneiform, mimicking ancient Mesopotamian scribes. Pair this with a decoding activity where they interpret classmates' "inscriptions." Using maps and information from the site, students can label the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, trade routes, and key cities using a resource like Google My Maps reviewed here. Assign students an invention (e.g., the wheel, irrigation systems, or the plow). They can research its origin and importance, then create a visual presentation or demonstration to show how it transformed life in Mesopotamia. Canva Edu, reviewed here offers many options for visual presentations, from timelines to posters to comic strip creators and more!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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