Unit 3- Lesson 8: The Human Story Outside of Afroeurasia Historical Patterns in Different World Zones

Big Ideas of the Lesson

During Era 2, most of the worlds population lived in Afroeurasia. The civilizations
developed in Afroeurasia earlier in Era 2 than did civilizations in other world zones.
Nevertheless, humans lived in every region of the world except Antarctica.

During Era 2, there were four world zones that developed quite independently from
each other: Afroeurasia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. People in
each zone had contact with each other, but the zones were generally isolated from
each other by geographic features (oceans, deserts, etc.).

Humans in these world zones developed in some similar ways, although at different
paces. However, each zone was also different, being shaped by the interactions of
humans with the unique geographies and resources in each place.
Lesson Abstract:
In this lesson, students are introduced to the concept of world zones during Era 2 through a
PowerPoint presentation and connected discussion activities. Students make predictions about
the differences and similarities between these zones, and then engage in group-based, guidedreading exercises about the three zones they have not yet studied: Sub-Saharan Africa, the
Americas, and Oceania. Having looked at these three zones, and having already studied
Afroeurasia in previous lessons, the students focus on one of these four regions. Two groups will
be formed to discuss each region, and students will review what they have read in order to
generate lists of advantages and disadvantages to living in their assigned zone during Era 2.
Students present summaries of their lists and then carry out a Four Corners activity in which they
each select the zone they would have preferred to live and discuss their choice with students who
chose the same area. The teacher closes out the lesson by reviewing what students found most
interesting about each zone. To extend the lesson, students write a one page essay providing a
structured argument about which zone they think would have been the best to live in during Era 2.
Content Expectations: 7th Grade H1.2.1; H1.2.2; H1.4.1; G4.4.1
7th Grade W1.1.1; W2.1.3; W2.1.4; W2.1.5
Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History and Social Studies: RH.6-8.1, 2, 4, 7,
and 10; WHST.6-8.1, 4, 7, 9 and 10.
Key Concepts
cities
civilization
conflict and cooperation
cultural diffusion
intensification
nomadic pastoralism
social hierarchy
technology
world zones