Ancient Civilizations for Children Video Series

Gr 5-10-These remarkable videos should be purchased by all schools, middle through high school, where ancient history or world cultures is part of the curriculum. Each video is narrated by Arizona Smith from his delightfully cluttered office/laboratory which is filled with all the treasures a working archeologist might collect throughout a lifetime of digging for artifacts. Students are treated to examples of art and pottery from the civilization; see videos of the sites today; and learn how the ancient peoples lived and died through reenactments that mimic old films. In "It's a Kid's Life," a pair of young teens talk about how their lives would be if they lived during that time. A "Did You Know" segment provides odd and interesting facts on the culture. The series excels in relating the ancient cultures to the present through their contributions to modern society and in bringing the ancient ruins to life. Many of the videos include examples of rural life today that point out some similarities with the ancient cultures such as foods consumed, or agricultural methods that have changed little over the centuries. The series assumes viewers have no prior knowledge about the subject, yet even adults with some grounding in ancient history will be entertained and learn something new. The series would be most useful in middle and high school introductory world history and civilization classes; while it would be appropriate for children in the third and fourth grade, most elementary schools don't include ancient history as part of the curriculum. Public libraries will want to add this wonderful series to their collections, especially if they serve home schooled children or parents who utilize library resources to enrich their children's regular schooling.

Copyright 1998 School Library Journal. Used with permission.

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