Description

The Rise and Fall of Civilizations (updated to the latest curriculum revision in May 2025) is a unit created to align with Section 1 of “Time and Place” in the new Alberta Grade 5 social studies curriculum. It’s completely laid out with teacher notes and a sequence of activities, so very little prep is required by the teacher.

This resource includes:

Teacher Notes
Student Notes
Suggested YouTube Videos
Inventions Then and Now
Spartacus and the Slave Revolt
Step-By-Step Puzzle
Timeline of Ancient Greece
The Russian Empire
Quiz
Answer Keys

The curriculum standards included are:

Knowledge

The rise of civilizations and empires depends on internal and external factors, for example: organized structures, strong leadership, military power, innovations, and wealth.
The decline of civilizations and empires is caused by internal and external factors, for example: environmental changes, rebellions, expenses, struggles for power and leadership, changes to values and belief systems, war conquests, and military conquests.
Innovations in contemporary societies evolved from innovations originating in ancient civilizations, for example: writing systems, agriculture, architecture, calendars, trade, currency, economics, literature, philosophy, mathematics, science, systems of decision making, and rights and freedoms.

Understanding: