---
title: How Similar Are We?
description: Students will be able to compare and contrast cultural aspects of different ancient civilizations that developed around the same time.
image: https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/how_similar_are_we_-001-1.png
---

**Subject: Social Studies**

**Lesson Length: 35 - 45 mins**

**Topic: Cultural Comparisons in Ancient Civilizations**

**Grade Level: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8**

**Standards / Framework: **

- [C3: D2.His.1.3-5.](https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/2017/Jun/c3-framework-for-social-studies-rev0617.pdf)
- [C3: D2.His.2.3-5.](https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/2017/Jun/c3-framework-for-social-studies-rev0617.pdf)
- [C3: D2.His.1.6-8.](https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/2017/Jun/c3-framework-for-social-studies-rev0617.pdf)

**Brief Description:**  Students will be able to compare and contrast cultural aspects of different ancient civilizations that developed around the same time.

**Know Before You Start:** Students should have a basic understanding of where ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, and Greece were located and why they developed there.

**Hook:**

- Show pictures of popular food items, slang, current clothing trends, and other items that are representative of current culture. Why do these represent our culture?
- Discuss what people will think 1,000 years from now when they see images of these items or watch videos from our time. 
- Read and discuss the sample comic.
  
    - How were these ancient cultures the same?
    - How were they different?
    - How were they like our present day culture?

**Activity:**

- Have students select two ancient civilizations to compare and one cultural aspect to showcase. For example, recreation, communication, trade, etc.
- Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a three-panel comic describing a cultural aspect of two civilizations and similarities to our present-day lives.
- **Panel 1:** Civilization 1 and Cultural Aspect.
- **Panel 2:** Civilization 2 and Cultural Aspect.
- **Panel 3:** Similarities to our present day lives.

**Closure:**

- Have students share their comics with the class and compare and contrast the similarities and differences among the ancient civilizations and their own.

**Differentiation:**

- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
- Use Think-Pair-Share strategy during whole group discussion.

**Resources:**

- Comic to print or display: [Comic](https://share.pixton.com/qgh6x0b).

**Suggested Content:**

- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2035048872537513984/thumbnail.png) Ancient China ](https://content.pixton.com/ancient-china)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1828458355421769728/thumbnail.png) Ancient Egypt ](https://content.pixton.com/ancient-egypt)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1823352441442304000/thumbnail.png) Ancient Greece ](https://content.pixton.com/ancient-greece)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2060411943154556928/thumbnail.png) Aztec Empire ](https://content.pixton.com/aztec-empire)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1806750304180535296/thumbnail.png) Ancient Rome ](https://content.pixton.com/ancient-rome)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-feudaljapan.png) Feudal Japan ](https://content.pixton.com/feudal-japan)

**Suggested Story Starters:**

- [ Compare Historical Places: Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece ](https://story-starters.pixton.com/compare-historical-places)

Assign Activity

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