- Humanities
- Middle School
Grade 6 recently finished their second unit of the year – an exploration into the evolution of early hominins. Over the last three weeks, students worked in partnerships to delve into the characteristics and societal structures of Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo Neanderthalensis, or Homo Sapiens. Each group meticulously researched their assigned hominin group, gleaning insights into their unique characteristics, behaviors, and cultural aspects.
Students collaborated to create vibrant and informative posters that highlighted pivotal information about their assigned hominin group, such as habitat, tools used, societal structures, and any distinguishing evolutionary features that set their hominin group apart. The students also identified connections between these early hominins and ancient civilizations or modern humans. Their recognition of these similarities and influences will continue to resonate as we study ancient societies such as the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Greeks later this year. In addition to their group poster, students wrote a short essay detailing what they considered to be the most interesting thing they discovered in their research.
The projects culminated with each group enthusiastically presenting their findings to the class, showcasing their newfound knowledge and expertise on their specific early hominin. Through these presentations, the rest of the class was treated to a comprehensive overview of the diverse traits and advancements that marked the evolutionary journey of these early human ancestors, fostering a deeper understanding of human history and the fascinating lineage that led to Homo Sapiens.