Posted on 07/31/2013 9:31:04 AM PDT by Kip Russell
I'll be the first to criticize public education for not being challenging enough and simply passing kids on to the next grade without teaching them anything...but is this too much for first graders?
Here's a partial list of what 6 year olds will allegedly be able to do after completing this lesson plan:
2. Explain the importance of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the use of canals to support farming and the development of the city of Babylon
4. Identify cuneiform as the system of writing used in Mesopotamia
6. Explain the significance of the Code of Hammurabi
9. Explain the significance of gods/goddesses, ziggurats, temples, and priests in Mesopotamia;
12. Describe how a civilization evolves and changes over time
21. Identify Hatshepsut as a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and explain her significance as pharaoh
26. Define monotheism as the belief in one God
34. Explain that, according to an important story in the Torah, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God and that the Ten Commandments are rules that tell people how to behave or live their lives
41. Identify that Christians believe Jesus to be the Messiah and the son of God
47. Identify the Qur’an as the holy book of Islam, containing laws for daily living and many stories that appear in Jewish and Christian holy books
"Timmy, what was the impact of the Code of Hammurabi in Mesopotamian society?"
(deer in the headlights look) "Um...I like ice cream!"
I think we learned about that in fourth or fifth grade. Not opposed to that so long as they aren’t dropping George Washington and the Constitution to make time for it (which, I’m sure they are)
That has got to be the most stupid thing I have heard of since Shelia Jackson Lee was suggested for Secretary of Homeland Security.
Why would first graders need to know about anything in the middle east at that point of their lives. Knowledge of the judo-Christian history and influence should have already been conveyed to them in simple form in Sunday school. What the heck is wrong with teaching them about something closer to home and more important to them, like American history!? Sheesh.
Yeah I too learned about it later on in grade school. The code was the first written down series of laws. I remember the nuns teaching it in parochial school I went to grades 1-8. Then 9&10 in a catholic HS with Marist Brothers. They tought us all about history both world and US. and how to be a patriotic American. Pretty good education all the way around.
It depends on how this is being presented. First grade is the time for memorization of facts so that the student has pegs upon which to hang future knowledge. In our home school, children as young as 4 memorize the timeline of history, focusing on the major events included above.
47, really?
Welcome to FR. Mad Mo’s lies are not well-tolerated here.
BTW, I’ll take the Holy Bible and nothing else, if I didn’t make that abundantly clear.
Nothing was taken from the Koran coloring book and used in the Bible or Torah, those books were written FIRST.
Sixth grade here. Too complex and too foreign for first-graders. Most of them are very concrete thinkers at that age and anything they say about how a civilization evolves will be mere parroting.
This is ridiculous, most of the kids still can barely write their names and a lot still wet the bed.
I do not beleive these are real questions.
There’s no way this stuff should be in 1st grade. First graders need to learn something about what is expected of them here and now, that is, the virtues. And connected with this, things such as honesty in political leaders, honesty in their selection, voting mechanisms, etc., mostly expressed through stories about the persons of important and inspiring figures such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
This is obviously directed at teachers and is an attempt to prepare Americans for the imposition of Islam, since even though the code of Hammurabi pre-dated Islam by many centuries and is actually rejected by Islamic law, the preponderance of references to the Middle East (with one modest mention of Judaism, which influenced our culture much more than did the Code of Hammurabi) and total neglect of Greece and Rome is clearly meant to blank out the West entirely.
When I was in school, we discussed the Egyptians and others around 4th or 5th grade, but in the context of what we already knew (which was the US and Greco-Roman culture, with the children individually knowing about Judeo-Christian culture through their religious instruction).
Fourth grade (in NYC) was devoted almost entirely to local state history, and I remember really liking it. We went on lots of field trips...
But the “Common Core” has nothing to do with reality and everything to do with indoctrination.
First graders will learn anything you’ll read to them or show them a video on. Egypt and Mesopotamia are cool. (In Sunday School, we call these subjects “Genesis” and “Exodus.”) I’d choose ancient history over environmentalist claptrap and “Anything’s a Family!” any day, if it was an either/or.
On the other hand, maybe that’s why my kids are so weird.
47. Identify the Qur’an as the holy book of Islam, containing laws for daily living and many stories that appear in the Nazi holy book, Mein Kampf.
There, fixed it.
bump
They teach that the Bible is archaic and the Koran is holy. They teach that Christians are intolerant and that Islam is peaceful.
Teaching the Christian focuses on Crusades and witch burnings
Teaching Islam has them dress up and hear nice things about their culture
This is what they do in classes these days
Last year I taught 6th grade social students (focus on ancient civilizations) and they are questions I would expect them to answer on exams.
BTW our text book was excellent (Glencoe) There were entire chapters on the rise of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
This looks like middle school material.
Exactly. First grade is the Grammar Stage in classical learning, and rote memorization is what should be done during this stage. Like I said, first graders learning that the Code of Hammurabi exists as an important event in history is appropriate. Asking First graders to understand why it exists and to extrapolate the meaning behind the Code would be too abstract for them. That’s why I said it depends on how the information is presented :)
The Code of Hammurabi ... :There was no interest in teaching anything Jewish or Christian in public schools until it became cover for early teaching about “the Qur’an as the holy book of Islam, containing laws for daily living and many stories that appear in Jewish and Christian holy books.”
Well, if the Ten Commandments are going to be taught, you may as well teach theirs source material.
Personally, I think reading, math, and science may be more helpful - but, hey, who am I to judge?
This is one part of the Code which I remember well (from my 1st grade “Contractor’s Liability” class)
“If a builder build a house for a man and do not make its construction firm, and the house which he has built collapse and cause the death of the owner of the house, that builder shall be put to death”
It was all I could do to learn to read in first grade.
Wrong.
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Ignoring Islam will not make it go away.
funny how we all whine about how little kids learn in school, yet every time changes are proposed to rectify this, we whine all the louder. no wonder schools are all F-up.
I know it’s a very Freeper thing not to actually check the link to source, but if you click through I think you will find this is indeed from a first grade module as developed by the state of NY in keeping with the common core.
My daughter is between 1st and 2nd grade and *is home-schooled* and can probably answer the MAJORITY of those questions.
2. Explain the importance of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the use of canals to support farming and the development of the city of Babylon
4. Identify cuneiform as the system of writing used in Mesopotamia
6. Explain the significance of the Code of Hammurabi
9. Explain the significance of gods/goddesses, ziggurats, temples, and priests in Mesopotamia;
12. Describe how a civilization evolves and changes over time
21. Identify Hatshepsut as a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and explain her significance as pharaoh
I think I was absent that day? :-)
Wow. Actually, the Code of Hammurabi *is* historically significant and has NOTHING to do with Islam.
Maybe *you* need some history lessons.
(Hint: Just because something came out of the Middle East, doesn’t mean it has to do with Islam.)
That's what is says...in fact, these are from only one section of 10 1st grade subjects. Here are other selected concepts that the students are supposed to master:
Domain 1: Fables and Stories
2. Identify character, plot, and setting as basic story elements
5. Identify characteristics of fables: short, moral, personification
Domain 2: The Human Body
2. Identify the skeletal, muscular, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems
9. Identify Edward Jenner as the man who developed the first vaccine
Domain 3: Different Lands, Similar Stories
10. Use narrative language to describe (orally or in writing) characters, setting, things, events, actions, a scene, or facts from a fiction read-aloud
17. Plan and/or draft and edit an informative/explanatory text that presents information from a nonfiction/informational read-aloud that includes mention of a topic, some facts about the topic, and some sense of closure
Domain 5: Early American Civilizations
1. Explain that a shift occurred from hunting and gathering to farming among early peoples; compare and contrast hunter-gatherer societies and Mayan society
10. Identify the Aztec capital as Tenochtitlan; identify that Machu Picchu is an Incan city
Domain 6: Astronomy
16. Identify the four phases of the moon—new, crescent, half, full
23. Classify Pluto as a dwarf planet
Domain 7: The History of the Earth
5. Identify the layers of the earth: crust, mantle, and core (outer and inner)
13. Describe how heat, pressure, and time cause the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
Domain 8: Animals and Habitats
5. Explain how Arctic animals have adapted to the Arctic tundra and Arctic Ocean habitats
24. Explain why and how habitat destruction can cause extinction
Domain 9: Fairy Tales
4. Identify common characteristics of fairy tales, such as “once upon a time” beginnings, royal characters, elements of fantasy, problems and solutions, and happy endings
17. Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure
Domain 10: A New Nation: American Independence
4. Describe how the thirteen colonies in America evolved from dependence on Great Britain to independence as a nation
20. Describe the roles of African Americans, Native Americans, and women during the evolution from thirteen colonies in America to independence as a nation
I am sure it is. It’s just that I find it amazing that those questions would be asked of 1st graders.
Some of those questions are damn fine ones, just not appropriate for 1st graders to answer.
Dude - get a clue. Hammurabi was 17th century BC, waaaaaaaay before the word Islam was even muttered.
We are talking Babylonian mythos - Giglamesh, Shamash, and Marduk. Allah wasn’t even a thought in anyone’s head.
You are only proving your vast ignorance by trying to equate Hammurabi to Islam.
Hey - you come from the United States, right? Mormonism came from the United States! Therefore, YOU must be a Mormon!!!
Or, you must believe in Native American gods!
See?
They repeat it anyway (actually, it echoes). I am increasingly cynical/skeptical/fatalistic with age. Civilizations bloom, mature and finally decline no matter what you do.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Yosemitest, this is CVS calling. We just wanted to inform you that your prescription is ready for pick-up.”
If you want a detailed history of "Mohammed's History" (spelled variously; Mahomet, Muhammed, Mehmet, etc.) then watch William Federer explain it, from Jan. 25, 2012 at CC Chino Hills, CA. Seems to me that these lessons rely on “read-alouds”, so they don’t have to bother with having successfully taught reading.
The creation of Islam exists as an event in history and there is no reason that it should not be presented as a part of history to even a 4 year old as they memorize a timeline of what has occurred on this earth since Creation so that they will have a peg upon which to hang further learning.
My first graders memorized these names and facts, but we didn’t go into too much detail, because they won’t remember it all. But if they can truly memorize the facts, they *will* remember them.
We loved talking about Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Code of Hammurabi, Israel, all of it. All the major civilizations in a timeline.
I don’t think these will be presented in the proper way to grammar school students with the emphasis on memory work.
So, it sounds like torture. When do they play?
Back in the 50s-60s I also remember Hammurabi’s code being a part of the history-social studies content. We were taught how that code was the first written codified set of laws or rules and that along with the ten commandments and other common law practices over many centuries evolved into many of the laws and codes and even our Constitution that we live by today. Nothing wrong with it if it is taught in that manner. Now, I would doubt that Common Core presents it in that context.
I agree completely...if this curriculum was for 4th to 6th graders, I'd think it was ambitious but admirable, overall.
But for 6 year olds?
"Johnny, please contrast the societies of Amerind hunter-gatherers and the Mayans, explaining how this made a difference in the day-to-day lives of their people".
"I hafta pee-pee".
Y'all have much better memories than me. I can't remember a single lesson from all of elementary school now that I am close to 60 (however, that was true when I was close to 20, also). But I can remember details of dirt bike specifications from when I was 10 so it must be selective.
Ah, but I bet you remember the ABC song.
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