The Grade 5 started second term with a fascinating unit on one of the ancient civilizations - the Indus Valley or the Harappan civilization.

Each ancient civilisation left a legacy to future generations.  The Indus Valley people did not leave great structures.  Their cities have almost vanished.  Yet long after the Indus civilisation, skills such as trading, farming and brick-making were passed on. Indus people helped shape the later cultures of India and Pakistan.

To begin with, the children created maps of area.  They drew the Indian subcontinent surrounded by the Arabian Sea and filled their maps using modelling clay. The children carefully laid out India, Pakistan, the Himalayan Mountains and the Indus River. They learned that this civilization flourished in this particular area because of the availability of water and rich soil.

The children found out where the archaeologists uncovered the important sites and how they study the artefacts to understand the life of people who lived 5000 years ago. In the Art class, the children created the Harappa seals using wet clay. They learned that the merchants used them as stamps to show ownership. In class we researched and discussed different designs of the seals that were uncovered and what were the pictures and symbols on them. After, the children were able to draw and design their own seals using chisels and carving tools. Click here for more information about this ancient civilization: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/indus_valley/