TeachersFirst's Indus Valley Civilization Resources
Embark on a journey to one of the world's earliest and most mysterious urban cultures with our comprehensive collection of Indus Valley Civilization resources. This list unveils the secrets of an advanced Bronze Age society that flourished along the Indus River and its tributaries from about 3300 to 1300 BCE. The collection showcases the civilization's technological marvels, from their advanced drainage systems to standardized weights and measures, offering insights into their sophisticated urban planning and trade networks. Examine virtual exhibits and videos of intricately carved figurines, jewelry, and pottery that reveal the artistic prowess and daily life of Indus Valley inhabitants. Use these engaging resources to help your students who may need extra support. Share these resources with your students for research projects, history lessons, and invention units.
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The Oriental Museum's Indus Valley Myster - The Oriental Museum's Indus Valley Myster
Grades
8 to 12
The Oriental Museum's Indus Valley Mystery is a site that allows you to gain information on the mystery of the Indus Valley civilization. The site helps you answer the when, ...more
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The Oriental Museum's Indus Valley Mystery is a site that allows you to gain information on the mystery of the Indus Valley civilization. The site helps you answer the when, where, who, what, why, and how through artifacts and photographs. There is a disclaimer that there are images of human skeleton remains.
In the Classroom
Students can debate the mystery of the Indus Valley and how the civilization ended. Students can create a timeline from the beginning to the end of the Indus Valley civilization using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here, Figjam, reviewed here, or Google Drawings, reviewed here. Students could virtually interview a scientist or historian to learn about the Indus Valley Civilization.Daily Life in the Indus Valley - BBC
Grades
4 to 8The BBC Bitesize website offers an engaging and interactive resource for teaching students about the Indus Valley Civilization. The page includes concise explanations, vibrant visuals,...more
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The BBC Bitesize website offers an engaging and interactive resource for teaching students about the Indus Valley Civilization. The page includes concise explanations, vibrant visuals, and quizzes to reinforce learning, making it accessible and appealing for middle school students. Key topics such as city planning, daily life, and trade are covered, helping students understand the significance of this ancient civilization. Teachers can use this resource to accompany history lessons with interactive activities, encourage independent research, and assess understanding through integrated quizzes. It's an excellent tool for blending learning with exploration.
In the Classroom
Use the built-in quizzes as a classroom game, dividing students into teams to answer questions based on the content. After exploring the website's content on city planning, have students design an Indus Valley-inspired home using grid layouts or 3D models. Have students compare the Indus Valley Civilization with another ancient civilization, such as Mesopotamia or Egypt, focusing on city planning, trade, and cultural practices. Encourage students to research one aspect of the civilization, such as trade, artifacts, or religion, and use the website to create a multimedia presentation to share with the class. Use an online tool such as Powtoon, reviewed here or moovly, reviewed here.Ancient Indus Civilization Videos - Harappa.com
Grades
6 to 12The Harappa website offers a rich collection of educational videos that delve into topics related to the Indus Valley Civilization and ancient history. Many videos are in-depth, lasting...more
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The Harappa website offers a rich collection of educational videos that delve into topics related to the Indus Valley Civilization and ancient history. Many videos are in-depth, lasting 45 minutes or more, making them ideal for detailed learning or research. The platform is a valuable resource for educators, students, and history enthusiasts looking to explore ancient civilizations through a multimedia lens. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
In the Classroom
Due to the length of some of the videos, teachers may be interested in editing the videos using tools like Clipchamp, reviewed here18306, Clipgrab, reviewed here, and ReClipped, reviewed here helpful for customization, annotation, or sharing key moments. Assign students to watch specific videos and create presentations or reports on topics like urban planning in Harappa or the significance of trade and seals in the civilization. Incorporate the videos into lessons that blend history with geography, science, or art, such as analyzing the engineering behind the drainage systems or recreating Harappan artifacts. Encourage students to use tools like Edpuzzle, reviewed here or PlayPosit, reviewed here to edit or annotate key parts of the videos, creating their own narrated summaries or visual analyses.6 Early Human Civilizations - History.com
Grades
4 to 12The History.com article The Earliest Human Civilizations explores the emergence of some of the world's first civilizations, including Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Indus Valley, and...more
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The History.com article The Earliest Human Civilizations explores the emergence of some of the world's first civilizations, including Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Indus Valley, and Ancient China. It highlights key features of these societies, such as agriculture, urbanization, written language, and organized government, which marked the transition from nomadic to settled lifestyles. This resource provides educators with an overview of foundational civilizations that shaped human history, making it ideal for lessons in world history or social studies. Teachers can use this content to introduce students to the characteristics of early civilizations, foster discussions about their similarities and differences, and connect ancient achievements to modern society.
tag(s): china (83), egypt (59), india (32), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Students can create a chart comparing the key characteristics (including government, agriculture, writing, and religion) of the civilizations in the article. The chart can also be made digitally using a tool such as Infogram, reviewed here. Using an online mapping tool like Google Earth, reviewed here, have students locate the geographic regions of the earliest civilizations and analyze how natural features (rivers, mountains) influenced their development. Students can design a mini-museum exhibit on a chosen civilization using posters, models, or dioramas showcasing key features like artifacts, buildings, and cultural practices. Students can also write a creative story imagining a day in the life of someone living in one of the early civilizations, incorporating details from the article.Here's Why These Six Ancient Civilizations Mysteriously Collapsed - History.com
Grades
6 to 12The History.com article 6 Civilizations That Mysteriously Collapsed examines the sudden and often unexplained declines of six ancient civilizations: the Maya, Indus Valley, Ancestral...more
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The History.com article 6 Civilizations That Mysteriously Collapsed examines the sudden and often unexplained declines of six ancient civilizations: the Maya, Indus Valley, Ancestral Puebloans, Cahokia, Easter Island, and Greenland's Norse settlements. The article explores contributing factors such as drought, deforestation, resource depletion, social upheaval, and climate change, providing insights into how these societies thrived before facing challenges that led to their downfall. This resource is ideal for educators teaching history, geography, or anthropology, as it encourages students to analyze the interplay between human activity and environmental factors. Teachers can use it to promote critical thinking through discussions, research projects, or comparative studies on the rise and fall of civilizations throughout history.
tag(s): india (32), mayans (32), mexico (46), native americans (116), vikings (10)
In the Classroom
Students can work in teams to design a hypothetical civilization that could thrive while addressing challenges faced by the ancient ones. Teams present their civilization plans as a poster, model, or digital presentation such as Visme, reviewed here or Google Slides, reviewed here. Using an online tool such as Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here, students could create a collaborative timeline showing when and how each civilization flourished and eventually declined. Students research a modern society facing similar challenges, including climate change and resource depletion, and compare it to one of the ancient civilizations discussed.Indians - A Brief History of a Civilization: Ep 1 - The Harappans - Harappa.com
Grades
6 to 8"Indians: A Brief History of a Civilization - Episode 1: The Harappans" introduces the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, also called the Harappan Civilization. This video explains...more
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"Indians: A Brief History of a Civilization - Episode 1: The Harappans" introduces the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, also called the Harappan Civilization. This video explains how the Harappans built well-planned cities with excellent water systems and had a unique society without prominent temples or palaces. It also explores daily life, trade, and the artifacts they left behind. The video visits sites like Dholavira to show how advanced the Harappans were and discusses possible reasons why their civilization declined. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
In the Classroom
Students create an interactive timeline of key events and features of the Harappan Civilization using tools like Class Tools, reviewed here or Timelinely, . Use printed maps and photos of archaeological sites for students to analyze in small groups. Students design their own Harappan artifacts, such as seals, pottery, or jewelry, using modeling clay or paper. Students create a digital storyboard or comic strip showing the daily life of a Harappan child using tools like Canva, < a href="/single.cfm?id=17570">reviewed here.Edtomorrow's First Five - Edtomorrow's First Five
Grades
K to 12Edtomorrow's First Five is a free website that shares resources for practical, restorative tools and daily resources that foster strong connections, build authentic classroom communities,...more
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Edtomorrow's First Five is a free website that shares resources for practical, restorative tools and daily resources that foster strong connections, build authentic classroom communities, and inspire student engagement. Each day, you can receive more than 18 activities and ideas that focus on classroom connections, self-care, care for others, and character development. Activities includes a funny meme questions, at-the-door (greeting), quick connect, check in, mindfulness, positivity, quote, and video. These activities are 5 minutes or less and can be used throughout the day. The First Five is divided into Primary (Pre-K to 5) and Secondary (6-12). You can also access archived First Fives.
tag(s): classroom management (118), social and emotional learning (110)
In the Classroom
The First Five can be used in classrooms as part of a morning meeting or student check-in activity. Students can use the First Five to discuss the question, quote of the day, or video. Finally, students can use the activities and ideas in the First Five to demonstrate being role models to other students.Khan Academy Ancient Indus Valley Civilization - Khan Academy Ancient Indus Valley Civilization
Grades
4 to 10Khan's Ancient Indus Valley Civilization is a free 11-minute video on the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization. The video highlights its geography, the structures created with precise...more
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Khan's Ancient Indus Valley Civilization is a free 11-minute video on the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization. The video highlights its geography, the structures created with precise units of measurement, artifacts, jewelry, writing, religion, decline, and more.
tag(s): cultures (226), egypt (59), mesopotamia (32)
In the Classroom
Challenge students to create a video using Adobe Express Video Maker reviewed here with information from each topic from the video and/or all the ancient civilizations. Students can compare and contrast the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization with other civilizations from the same time. Finally, students can debate which civilization impacted society most significantly. Students can use an online debate tool like Kialo Edu reviewed here.Indus Folklore: An Unknown Story on Some Harappan Objects - Harappa.com
Grades
6 to 10Indus Folklore: An Unknown Story on Some Harappan Objects shares slides, essays, articles, books, and videos from the Ancient Indus Civilization. The site highlights the Indus in 90...more
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Indus Folklore: An Unknown Story on Some Harappan Objects shares slides, essays, articles, books, and videos from the Ancient Indus Civilization. The site highlights the Indus in 90 slides, terracotta figurines, the trade network, diseases, the discovery of the civilization, where artifacts can be found, and more.
tag(s): art history (108), asia (136), middle east (50)
In the Classroom
Flip the classroom by having students choose a topic from the website and share the information using a diorama, Google Slides, reviewed here, a video, or book using Book Creator, reviewed here. Students can reach out to Indus scholars to host a virtual Q&A. Finally, students can compare and contrast the Indus civilization with others around the same time. Compare the civilizations using a tool such as ClassTools Interactive Venn Diagrams reviewed here. You can click on the right side to choose between a two or three-circle Venn diagram.PBS: Economics in Ancient India - PBS: Economics in Ancient India
Grades
6 to 10PBS's Economics in Ancient India highlights economics from the Ancient Indus civilization in the Indus River Valley. It also contains a worksheet that allows students to summarize information...more
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PBS's Economics in Ancient India highlights economics from the Ancient Indus civilization in the Indus River Valley. It also contains a worksheet that allows students to summarize information on the characteristics, unknowns, and trade of the Indus Valley Civilization. The worksheet also has an essay prompt for students to describe the trading patterns.
tag(s): asia (136), india (32), middle east (50)
In the Classroom
Challenge students to complete the information requested from the website. They can also create their own jewelry like the people of the Ancient Indus civilization. Finally, students can compare and contrast the trade from the Ancient Indus civilization with that of other other civilizations.Ancient India Maps - Ancient India Maps
Grades
6 to 10Early Civilizations of Ancient India shares a map for students to label. There is also a chart to fill in from an article that highlights geography, climate, technology, farming, and...more
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Early Civilizations of Ancient India shares a map for students to label. There is also a chart to fill in from an article that highlights geography, climate, technology, farming, and trade.
tag(s): asia (136), india (32), map skills (64), maps (224), middle east (50)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the maps and research as directed on the website. They can compare and contrast maps, climate, technology, farming, and trade from other ancient civilizations. Compare the civilizations using a tool such as ClassTools Interactive Venn Diagrams reviewed here. You can click on the right side to choose between a two or three-circle Venn diagram. Finally, students can create a diorama of the area using clay or another medium, highlighting the features of the geography.Early Civilizations of Ancient India - Early Civilizations of Ancient India
Grades
5 to 10Early Civilizations of Ancient India shares two map activities for students to complete. Students can label the regions rivers, other bodies of water, mountains, and civilizations....more
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Early Civilizations of Ancient India shares two map activities for students to complete. Students can label the regions rivers, other bodies of water, mountains, and civilizations.
tag(s): asia (136), cultures (226), india (32), middle east (50)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the maps as directed on the website. They can also compare and contrast maps from other ancient civilizations. Finally, students can research the bodies of water in the area to learn more about the resources and their importance.World History - Crash Course
Grades
6 to 12Crash Course World History is a free digital tool that contains forty-two world history videos. This series includes videos on the Agricultural Revolution, The Indus Valley Civilization,...more
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Crash Course World History is a free digital tool that contains forty-two world history videos. This series includes videos on the Agricultural Revolution, The Indus Valley Civilization, Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Rome, The Fall of Rome, the Renaissance, capitalism and socialism, globalization, and World War 1. The videos range from ten to fourteen minutes. This is part 1 of a two-part series of videos. This site uses YouTube and has commercials before each video.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): agriculture (52), renaissance (38), world war 1 (77)
In the Classroom
After watching the video series, the students can pick a historical period they would like to time-travel to and explain why. Students can debate which period of world history was the most impactful. Create a virtual bulletin board for an online debate using Padlet, reviewed here. Turn on the commenting features so students can comment on other students' posts.Lothal - On the Indus River
Grades
6 to 12This is an elegant Indian site describing archeological excavations at the site of Lothal, an ancient city on the Indus river. There are interactive maps, descriptions of life in the...more
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This is an elegant Indian site describing archeological excavations at the site of Lothal, an ancient city on the Indus river. There are interactive maps, descriptions of life in the ancient city, and a catalog of artifacts found during the excavations. Beautiful quality, and a little slow as a result, but if you're looking for examples of how archaeologists work, it's worth the wait.
tag(s): archeology (30), india (32)