After several weeks of learning about the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia using primary and secondary sources, the sixth graders took on the creative assignment of bringing a piece of Mesopotamia to life for a grade-wide museum. Students designed the irrigation system essential to the civilization’s growth, the stepped ziggurat temple where the Mesopotamians prayed to their many gods, a market, a farmer’s house, the water clocks used to tell time and more. Several students compiled a newspaper with articles about current events (such as Hammurabi’s Code) and advertising. One student made a Mesopotamia Monopoly game, and the whole class had a chance to play it. It was hands-on learning at its best!