Holy Mesopotamia Batman: First Grade Common Core Social Studies vocabulary

[cali]

78. so your kid could do the following by the end of first grade?

This is just one “domain” of 10 in first grade? And 16 lessons that cover the following points? All taught in one month? Who are they kidding? Why Mesopotamia and then Egypt, and then Judiasm, Christianity, and Islam? That is so unnecessary. Here are the items 6 yr olds (I have one) are to be able to explain. My 9 yr old said, “no way!”
By the end of this domain, students will be able to:

Locate the area known as Mesopotamia on a world map or globe and identify it as part of Asia;
Explain the importance of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the use of canals to support farming and the development of the city of Babylon;
Describe the city of Babylon and the Hanging Gardens;
Identify cuneiform as the system of writing used in Mesopotamia;
Explain why a written language is important to the development of a civilization;
Explain the significance of the Code of Hammurabi;
Explain why rules and laws are important to the development of a civilization;
Explain the ways in which a leader is important to the development of a civilization;
Explain the significance of gods/goddesses, ziggurats, temples, and priests in Mesopotamia;
Describe key components of a civilization;
Identify Mesopotamia as the “Cradle of Civilization”;
Describe how a civilization evolves and changes over time;

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http://atthechalkface.com/2013/07/29/holy-mesopotamia-batman-first-grade-ccss-vocabulary/

Teach them to read. Teach them to love reading by letting them read what they want. Introduce them to books and stories that they'll love. Stories about Egypt and mummies are fine- if a kid is interested in that, but the important thing in the early elementary years is teaching them to read and to enjoy it. That's so vital it can't be overstated when it comes to later successes.