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Cuneiform Writing Workshop Plan

This document provides a lesson plan for teaching students about writing in ancient Mesopotamia. The objectives are for students to experience recreating activities from a Mesopotamian school and learning to read and write cuneiform script on clay tablets. The procedure has students form clay tablets, use a chart to write messages in cuneiform by making wedge-shaped marks with a reed, let the tablets dry, and try to decode each other's messages.

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Mona Lall
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101 views2 pages

Cuneiform Writing Workshop Plan

This document provides a lesson plan for teaching students about writing in ancient Mesopotamia. The objectives are for students to experience recreating activities from a Mesopotamian school and learning to read and write cuneiform script on clay tablets. The procedure has students form clay tablets, use a chart to write messages in cuneiform by making wedge-shaped marks with a reed, let the tablets dry, and try to decode each other's messages.

Uploaded by

Mona Lall
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Life in Ancient Mesopotamia

Hands-on! The Invention of Writing


Write on Clay in an Ancient Script
Meets Illinois State Standards: 16, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27
(Subject Areas: Social Studies, Fine Arts)

Objectives Recreate activities that took place in a Mesopotamian school Experience the complexities of learning how to read and write in cuneiform script on clay tablets Experiment with various art materials Materials Needed Self-hardening clay Stiff reeds or stemspencils can also be used Newspaper Copies of Student Stuff hand-out: Write on Clay in an Ancient Script for each student Suggested Time Needed One-and-a-half class periods Suggested Procedure 1. Cover desks or tables with newspaper. 2. Give each student a Write on Clay in an Ancient Script hand-out. 3. Tell students that the chart on their sheet shows cuneiform versions of the letters in our alphabet and that they can use these cuneiform signs to write messages on clay as the Mesopotamians did. 4. Tell the class that the Mesopotamians wrote from left to right in lines going from the top to the bottom of the tablet, just as we do on a piece of paper. 5. Have students decide what message they would like to write in cuneiform. They could write their name, or they could create a message. 6. Hand out lumps of clay and a reed or pencil to each student and have them create a tablet, following the directions on their sheet. 7. Let tablets dry overnight. At the start of the next class, have students exchange their tablets and see if they can decode each others messages.

Lesson Plan
The Invention of Writing

The Oriental Institute Museum 1155 East 58th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637
[Link]

Life in Ancient Mesopotamia

Hands-On! The Invention of Writing


Write on Clay in an Ancient Script
A Cuneiform Alphabet

Student Stuff

1. Take enough clay to fit in the palm of your hand and form it into a flat square about an inch thick.

2. Use the chart on this page to find the cuneiform versions of the letters you want to write. Hold the clay in one hand and take a reed or pencil in the other, pressing into the clay to make wedge-shaped marks.

3. Let the clay dry overnight. Pass your tablet to a friend and see if they can decode your message!

The Invention of Writing


The Oriental Institute Museum 1155 East 58th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637
[Link]

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