Acton Public Schools Interdisciplinary Rivers Project for 4th Grade Social Studies and Science Developed by Acton teachers in the summer of 2000. Contributors include: David Rachlin, Lesley Javarone, Barbara Norton, Liz Cox, Suzanne Corvi, Ginny LoDßuca, & Eileen Sullivan Website development funded in part by Title VI funding. River Website developed by Ginny LoDuca.

Framework Connections includes activities and lessons	The purpose of this unit is to explore the interdisciplinary connections between rivers and the ancient cultures that sprang up along their banks. It is not our intention that this unit become a complete study of ancient river valley civilizations. Instead, it is our hope that a rich interdisciplinary study develops, focusing on human and geographic relationships. The inspiration for this unit came about as a result of a great deal of thinking about ways in which to integrate an introduction to some ancient civilizations with our existing Land and Water Science unit (STC). We feel this is a reasonable approach for fourth graders. No study of rivers would be complete without the richness of music and the arts. To that end, we have included suggested activities, songs, poetry, and visual arts.
Resources includes URLs and maps
Glossary of terms needed in study
Bibliography includes titles of books, music, CD Roms, poetry, videos & field trips
Home-brings you to the first page

Questions for Study

1. What are the effects of water on land and people?

2. How do people's lives change as they started to live in cities?

3. How is water useful ?

4. How did life along the river shape people's world view?

5. Why did civilizations rise up along some rivers (and not others)?

List of Major Rivers Involved in the Study

Possible Schedule of Activities and Lessons

	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
Social Studies	Geography-Using maps and globes, find continents and major rivers	Sumeria-Map world rivers	Sumeria- Teacher Model	Reports/ Research	Research	Research	Research	Culminating Events Sharing reports
Science	Pre-assessment water cycle	Land and Water Activities- STC book	Land and Water Activities- STC book	Land and Water Activities- STC book	Land and Water Activities- STC book	Land and Water Activities- STC book	Land and Water Activities- STC book	Land and Water Activities- STC book
Math	Introduction to different civilizations and their number systems	Calculate & graph the size of the continents and rivers	Measure distance from Boston to river's length of rivers	Find civilization's Longitude and latitude, use coordinates to find river's locations	Use data collected throughout research (river facts) to chart and graph differences.	Continue week 5 activities	Create topographical map of river and landscape (3D)	Share map during presentation
Language Arts	Begin reading Paddle to the Sea. Set up learning log for new vocabulary.	Introduce examples of cuneiform writing. Read Sumerian creation myth.	Assign research reports. Review and support research skills.	Read modern poems about rivers. Introduce other writing systems.	Students write about the course of a river from source to mouth.	Students write river poetry	Students work on presentations.	Students develop rubric to self-assess unit work.
The Arts	Paint landscape watercolor paintings can use cards from L & W			2D Papyrus Paper Making	2D Big Wave water color Paintings 3D basket-weaving	3D Display Boxes	3D Display boxes, 2D Hudson River School	Performance

Note: Explanation of activities will follow on the frameworks connection pages.

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