SWBAT
interpret how the Neolithic Revolution was a turning point for man by creating a drawing comparing
life before and after.
Do Now: Why is your first day of highschool so
important?
Oh Word? Word of the day...
Turning Point - a time when an important
change happens...
AIM: What was the Neolithic Revolution?
I. Neolithic Revolution: The Basics
A. Transition of human populations from nomadic
hunting/gathering to settled agriculture starting
around 10,000 BCE
B. It did not happen overnight, and it did not
happen to all people at one time. Over
thousands of years, agriculture spread to
different human populations.
C. The first farmers were STILL Hunter-Gatherers,
and they used farming first as a supplement
II. Domestication
A. Domestication = selective breeding of plants
and animals to make them more useful for
humans
B. Took care of animal herds, helping them get
water and food, breed, found goats and sheep
to be easy to control
C. Picked the plants/animals with best qualities to
reproduce, like obedient goats and stronger
wheat that would not drop its seeds naturally
Teosinte grass was domesticated by selecting
for large kernels until it became corn (maize)
Dogs were domesticated by picking the
friendliest and most obedient wolves
The Story of Ogg.
★ Read, Think,
Highlight:
The Story of Ogg,
then answer the
questions with a
partner.
Turn and Talk:
Examine the Neolithic Revolution comic with your
partner, and discuss together the question,
“Based on your
understanding of huntergatherer life, would you
be interested in switching
to agriculture? Why?”
Homework 6:
Create your own comic strip!
Use what you have learned over the past two
classes to create a comic strip about the
change from hunting and gathering to settled
farming. You can make your comic about the
Neolithic Revolution in general, or about one
part of the story, like the change in the
environment or the domestication of plants
and animals. Include pictures, speech
bubbles, and most importantly, your own
historical expertise!
Exit Ticket:
Why was the Neolithic Revolution a turning
point?
Activity:
Draw the Neolithic Revolution
Directions:
Draw an illustration of life before and after the
Neolithic Revolution.
● Think about how life changed before and
after. How did people live?
● What did people do for work, food, and fun?
What was the extra time gained after the
revolution used for? (think about religion and
art!)
Neolithic Revolution
before
after
Why did it happen?
• Textbooks often teach that
farming started when some
people one day figured out that
plants grow when you plant
seeds, and then suddenly people
decided to farm
• This is a simplistic view that
insults the intelligence of early
humans, as they knew the
environment well and knew how
plants grew
• So why did they wait to start
farming?
I. The Neolithic Revolution
A. People start domesticating plants and
animals to make life easier
B. Agriculture and herding make way more
food, causing a surplus (having more than
needed)
C. Extra food leads to
a. Population growth
b. Not EVERYONE has to farm now.