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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