撰文：程燕雯 Ali
摄影：国际部五年级组老师
Ancient Civilizations was the first unit of year 5. The central idea is that past cultures shape present-day systems and technologies. In this unit of inquiry, students explored several aspects of civilizations and learned about four civilizations: ancient China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
在国际部的五年级学习之旅中，首个探究单元犹如一扇穿越时空的神秘之门，缓缓开启，引领着学子们步入“古代文明”的辉煌殿堂。这一单元的中心思想是：过去的文化塑造了当今的体制与技术。在这个充满文化气息的单元中，学生们穿梭时空，深入探索了文明的多个方面，并了解了四大文明：古代中国、埃及、希腊和罗马。
We started the unit with our provocation activity, Mystery Boxes, where students were introduced to artifacts from various civilizations worldwide. Using different pictures, looking, touching, and analyzing, students had to conclude where this artifact was from, its use and purpose, and how it was made.
学生们以一场别开生面的“神秘宝箱”活动，精彩启幕本单元的学习之旅。在这场活动中，他们仿佛穿越时空，亲手触摸到了来自全球各大文明的珍稀“文物”。学生们细致观察图片，亲身感受“文物”的质感，同时深入分析每一条线索，推断出文物的来源、用途及制作方法。
Ancient Greek Market Place: Students learned how markets worked in the past. We traded many different goods. We learned about how to trade, what to say when trying to make a good deal, and how to communicate, be fair with our class mates and how to work together to run a market shop. We also learned that there are some aspects of trading that are have changed, and some that we still use today!
古希腊市场体验：学生们了解了古代市场的运作方式。他们仿佛穿越回那个辉煌的时代，亲身体验了古代市场的繁荣与运作奥秘。他们置身于琳琅满目的商品之间，从粮食到陶器，从珠宝到手工艺品，每一笔交易都充满了探索的乐趣。学生们不仅学会了如何巧妙地进行商品交易，更掌握了谈判的艺术，如何在唇枪舌剑中争取到最优惠的价格。同时，我们也强调了与“小贩们”建立公平、友好交流的重要性，让每一次交易都洋溢着诚信与尊重。他们还发现，尽管时光荏苒，有些市场交易规则已悄然变迁，而有些则沿用至今！
History of Language: Students learned that there are so many different types of writing in the past! We learned when and where writing began, why it was invented and how people in the past used to write. We learned that many different ancient civilizations had their own types of writing, how they might be the same and how they were different. Students enjoyed learning about the logographs because it looks a lot like Chinese characters!
语言的历史：在历史的长河中，文字如同璀璨星辰，照亮了人类文明的进程。学生们被过去存在的丰富多样的文字类型深深吸引，仿佛打开了一扇通往古老智慧的大门！他们一同追溯了文字的起源，探索了古人如何在龟甲兽骨、石碑竹简上留下智慧的印记。每一种文字，都是一段独特的历史，承载着先人的智慧与情感。学生们惊喜地发现，尽管古代文明相隔万里，但它们的文字却在某些方面有着惊人的相似之处，同时又各自散发着独特的魅力。学生们对象形文字的学习表现出了浓厚的兴趣。这些看似简单的图形，却蕴含着丰富的信息，与现代文字有着异曲同工之妙，让人不禁感叹文字的神奇与魅力。
I.T.: In IT class, students using their knowledge about ancient artifacts and architecture designed a 3D computer model using the program Tinkercad. This model was then 3D printed and displayed along side their mini-exhibition presentation.
在计算机课上，学生们运用他们对古代文物和建筑的知识，使用Tinkercad程序设计出了一个个栩栩如生的三维模型，从构思到建模，每一步都凝聚着学生们的智慧与汗水。他们不仅精心雕琢每一个细节，更在设计中融入了对古代文明的深刻理解与敬仰。最终这些作品被3D打印机打印出来，在他们的小型展览会上与演讲内容一同展示。
Math & ART： A special task was assigned at the beginning of the mathematics unit: to collaboratively create an "Ancient Civilizations Math Board Game.” This endeavor aimed to blend learning about ancient civilizations with consolidating mathematical knowledge through engaging in interactive gameplay and fostering a joyful learning environment. Upon completing the designs, we invited students from the third and fourth grades to join in playing the board game, sharing in a feast that equally valued knowledge acquisition and entertainment. It is worth mentioning that the design of the board game boards could not have been achieved without the support of the art teacher. During art classes, students explored the diversity and interconnectedness of various ancient cultures, investigated the influence of ancient art on modern art and design, and completed their respective board game board designs themed around their ancient civilizations.
数学学科在单元伊始就布置了一项特别的任务：小组合作完成一款“古代文明数学桌游”，旨在通过趣味横生的游戏互动方式，让学生在欢乐中学习古代文明与巩固数学知识。设计完成后我们还邀请了三四年级同学们一起来玩桌游，游戏中的每一次互动，都是对古代智慧与现代思维的美妙融合，学生们在欢声笑语中，不知不觉间构建起知识的桥梁。值得一提的是，桌游板的设计离不开艺术老师的悉心指导与孩子们的创意无限。在艺术课上，学生们探索了各种古代文化的多样性和相互联系，也探究了古代艺术对现代艺术和设计的影响，并且在艺术课上完成了各自古文明主题的桌游板设计。
Grasp Task and Taking Action: The Taking Action for this unit allowed students to inform their class and schoolmates about an ancient civilization they chose. We researched the different aspects of civilization, created a history timeline, and compared ancient civilization to modern society. Students were tasked with teaching a lesson to grade 3, 4, and 5 students about their chosen civilization. Not only did we learn a lot, but we could share what we learned through a presentation and a creative activity.
Grasp任务&采取行动：本单元的“采取行动”环节是让学生们有机会向班级和学弟学妹介绍他们选择研究的古代文明。学生们分组对各种古代文明的各个方面进行了大量的研究，从多个维度细致剖析这些文明的辉煌成就与独特风貌。通过不懈努力，每组学生不仅成功构建了一条详尽的历史时间线，生动描绘了所选文明的发展脉络，还巧妙地进行了跨时代的对比，揭示了古代文明与现代社会的奇妙联系与相互影响。他们还为三、四、五年级的同学们精心准备并讲授了一堂关于他们所研究文明的课。他们不仅学到了很多历史文化知识，还通过演讲展示与创意纷呈的互动活动有效地分享了自己的研究成果。
Field Trip to Shanghai Museum: We visited the exhibition On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt at the Shanghai Museum. This was the largest exhibition of Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt. We observed artifacts showcasing many aspects of the ancient Egyptian civilization and archeological discoveries. We engaged with the Ancient Egyptian artifacts by going through the three different sections of the exhibition. We even saw mummified cats and the sarcophagus where they used to bury the pharaohs.
上海博物馆实地探访：学生们踏入上海博物馆，沉浸于“金字塔之巅：古埃及文明展”的壮阔画卷之中。这是埃及文物在本土之外的最大规模展示，犹如一座穿越时空的桥梁，引领我们深入探索古埃及文明的奥秘与辉煌。他们细细观赏着每一件文物，这些文物不仅展现了古埃及文明的多元面貌与考古发现，更在无声中诉说着那段遥远而神秘的历史。在展览的三个精彩纷呈的篇章中，学生们仿佛与古埃及的珍贵文物进行了跨越千年的对话，甚至亲眼目睹了木乃伊化的猫咪以及承载法老永恒安息的石棺，这些珍贵的瞬间，无疑为他们的探访之旅增添了震撼与感动。
Through exploring specific aspects of civilizations (such as mythology, types of government, geography, society, economy, etc.) in this unit, students could make connections between the ancient civilizations and the systems we have today. Students were inducted by exploring the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations from local and global perspectives！
在这一单元里，我们深入探讨了文明的多个维度——包括神话故事、政府形态、地理环境、社会架构及经济体系等，以此拓宽了对文明演进历程的理解。通过与现代社会和体制的对比分析，我们构建了古代文明与当代世界之间的桥梁，深刻体会到古代文明对今日社会的深远回响。尤为重要的是，学生们在探寻个人与文明、个人与全球之间微妙联系的过程中，深化了对文化、历史及社会的反思，孕育出多元文化的认知与全球视野，为他们的学习旅程与未来发展奠定了坚实的基础。
彩蛋：五年级学生们倾情演绎的穿越古代文明音乐剧《Dig it》再次登上了大舞台，参加了10月27日，第二十三届中国上海国际艺术节"Arts for the future"国际青少年艺术展演。他们再次亲身扮演历史中的人物，重温了了古代中国、古埃及、古希腊的绚丽文明，感受了跨越时光长河的文化魅力，同时为本探究单元的学习之旅画上了一个圆满而绚烂的句号。
