Neolithic Revolution: Hunter-Gatherer or Farmer? Activity

In this lesson, students learn about the effects of the Neolithic Revolution and then form teams to make a presentation over whether they would prefer to be a hunting and gathering or a farming society. Lesson begins with a brief 5 minute powerpoint that reviews life during the Paleolithic Age.

Topics include: 1. Hunters and Gatherers 2. Nomadic lifestyle 3. Low populations.

Then, students are given a 2 page article over the Effects of the Neolithic Revolution. Students have 17 minutes to read the article and write down advantages and disadvantages of the switch to farming and agriculture.

The article discusses how the Neolithic Revolution was the switch to farming and how that led to: 1. Creation of Permanent Settlements 2. Art and Specialized tools 3. New Professions and Job Specialization 4. Governments and Writing 5. Decrease in Diet variety 6. Increase in Disease 7. Social Classes and Inequality 8. War and Theft

Afterwards, students have 23 minutes to group up. They must then decide whether their team wants to stay as Hunters and Gatherers or become farmers.

On a poster, they are to then visually illustrate 3-4 reasons on why they made their choice to then present to the class.

The rest of the powerpoint goes over the material learned in the article (optional).

I like to end the lesson by having students write a 4-5 sentence process log where they write about how their lives would be different if they suddenly became a hunter and gatherer (directions on powerpoint).

For Texas teachers, this lesson addresses the following TEKs:

WH1 History. The student understands traditional historical points of reference in world history. The student is expected to: (A) identify major causes and describe the major effects of the following events from 8000 BC to 500 BC: the development of agriculture and the development of the river valley civilizations

WH2 History. The student understands how early civilizations developed from 8000 BC to 500 BC. The student is expected to: (A) summarize the impact of the development of farming (Neolithic Revolution) on the creation of river valley civilizations

WH2 History. The student understands how early civilizations developed from 8000 BC to 500 BC. The student is expected to: (B) identify the characteristics of civilization

WH17 Economics. The student understands the impact of the Neolithic and Industrial revolutions and globalization on humanity. The student is expected to: (A) identify important changes in human life caused by the Neolithic Revolution

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