Excavate! Mesopotamia

Learn History in a new way with Excavate! Mesopotamia, a world history game for students! Use Archaeological thinking to apply skills of Inquiry and Evaluation of Evidence to aspects of Babylonian, Sumerian, and Assyrian daily life not covered in textbooks. By excavating and analyzing three significant locations, players will:
 
· Explore the significance of Sumerian art
· Gain a new perspective on the role of the military in ancient Assyria
· Describe the role of gods in Babylonian society
· Distinguish the roles of women and men in Mesopotamian societies
· Compare and contrast the lifestyles of the Babylonians, Assyrians and Sumerians
· Piece together daily life
· Explain architectural innovations that were used to build temples and palaces
 
“The quality of information and the methodology behind the questions is stronger than any educational game I've ever played.” K-12 Director of Technology, MD
 
Players can explore the sites in any order; progress is recorded in journals that log collected artifacts, field notes and achievements. Throughout the game, players use C3 skills to analyze and make connections. They carefully deduce the facts about each area, stratum by stratum and artifact by artifact. At each location, players make meaning of how artifacts were used through a series of analysis questions and reports that require players to make connections, read closely and consider the historical context of the primary source artifacts. Finally, players see each site come alive as artifacts populate historically accurate images of Babylonian, Sumerian or Assyrian life.
 
Features:
• Engage with objects of daily life textbooks never include
• Use archaeological thinking to piece together historical understanding
• See artifacts in context in the ancient world 
• Design input from Social Studies teachers 
• Historically Accurate Skills-Based learning
• Free Teacher Guides, Lesson Plans, and Extension Activities online
• Bundle with other Excavate! games for a complete curriculum solution

What people are saying about Excavate!™

“Excellent illustrations and collection of source material. I could see using this as a resource for a project. Good Collections of terms and other historical objects.” 7th Grade Social Studies, MD

“I LOVED the analysis questions because it assisted the kids in seeing the "big" picture and making connections.” – 5th Grade Social Studies, OH

Excavate! Series:
Built in consultation with history teachers, Excavate! uses overarching questions to focus student inquiry as they dig, analyze, report and learn through object-based evaluation. Highly detailed, historically accurate illustrations and artifacts help students make connections and see the “big picture” of ancient history. Interaction with artifacts, including detailed 3D models, allows students to understand what life was really like for people of different social roles. Extensive in-game resources such as comprehensive location and artifact information and an interactive glossary make it easy to extend the learning off the screen. Supporting educator materials, standards information and extension activities help educators seamlessly include Excavate! in any ancient history curriculum. Track student performance using the new GBLxAPI learning data format, which reports student progress against C3 and ELA standards in an easy to read format.

Excavate! is a multi-game world history series that includes old and new world civilizations such as Rome, Greece, Egypt, Maya, Inca and more. All Excavate social studies games have accompanying lesson plan materials and additional activities available from our website for free.