Alas, no. This entry is for all of the (okay, maybe the FOUR) people who will ever read this who happen to teach sixth grade social studies.
Poor social studies. The forgotten, unloved cousin of curriculum. The only-if-you-have time subject...Many administrators believe social studies can be summarized in a few texts to be taught quickly during the literacy block. Some of my colleagues don't teach social studies at all. I happen to believe that social studies is important. As evidenced by the number of children who count Texas, Mexico, and even Orlando as CONTINENTS, I am concerned that this generation will grow up culturally illiterate if someone doesn't stop and say: Wait! social studies DOES matter!
Learning about the past helps us better understand our lives today (Sorry, Santayana, your quote has been mangled beyond recognition). If nothing else, social studies helps you locate yourself on a map!
ANYWAY... we are studying Mesopotamia in sixth grade (often neglected because it lacks the glitz and bling that ancient Egypt offers). Mesopotamia provided many things to the civilizations that followed... including (many believe) the wheel, a code of written laws, an early type of plow, even one of the first Super Heroes (gotta love Gilgamesh!).
So if you are one of those four people that have the JOY of teaching Mesopotamia, I have provided a little song for you... sung to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat...
Mes-O-Po-Ta-Mia
Mesopotamia
An ancient civilization was born
In Mesopotamia!
And if you want to learn all of the verses, click on the google.docs link here: The Mesopotamia Song
And, since many sixth graders begin our study thinking that I AM saying Messy Potatoes, it's okay to have a little respect for the spud. Much like my beloved Mesopotamia, potatoes have been playing second fiddle to the turkey for a very long time. I personally adore potatoes above all of the other feast day dishes... but then again, I'm the one who is blogging about Mesopotamia!
