Agricultural Revolution
Teacher Resources
Driving Question: How did humans begin farming?
About 12,000 years ago, farming led to a revolution in how people ate, lived, and worked. People began to settle down and create cities, large societies, and eventually empires. But were all these changes positive?
Learning Objectives:
- Define agriculture and describe where it emerged.
- Investigate how farming modified the environment.
- Describe how farming changed human societies.
- Explain how geography impacted agriculture and the growth of early societies.
Vocab Terms:
- agriculture
- city
- domestication
- hierarchy
- pastoralist
- society
- surplus
Opener: Agricultural Revolution
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 5.2 Teaching Guide.
When you hear the word revolution, you might think of battles to overthrow governments. The Agricultural Revolution wasn’t about political change, but it did lead to some big transformations.
Harnessing Energy
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 5.2 Teaching Guide.
Check out our Video Guide for suggestions on incorporating videos in the classroom.
In comic books, the hero’s power is sometimes shown when they throw lightning or create earthquakes. But in history, the quiet act of planting a seed helped make humans the most powerful lifeform this planet has ever seen.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Preview the questions below, and then review the transcript.
While you watch
Look for answers to these questions:
- Where did farming start?
- How did overpopulation lead to farming?
- How did climate change lead to farming?
- What does sedentary mean?
- Why did sedentary people like the Natufians begin farming?
After you watch
Respond to this question: How do you think farming techniques spread across the world?
Key Ideas
Effects of Farming
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 5.2 Teaching Guide.
Was farming an improvement over foraging? Check out this blog post for tips on how to approach this question with your students.
By the time you’ve finished the next article and activity, you’ll know a lot more about the pros and cons of the early transition to farming.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- Why is the transition from foraging to farming called a revolution?
- Where were the first cities located?
- What were some advantages of farming and cities?
- What were some disadvantages of farming and cities?
- What were some of the common characteristics of early agrarian cities?
After you read
Respond to this question: Would you rather be a forager, a farmer, or someone who specialized in a different job in one of the first cities? Explain your reasoning.
Farming and the Environment
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 5 of the Lesson 5.2 Teaching Guide.
In this discussion teachers on our online teacher community share ideas for a hands-on approach to teaching about agriculture.
Every animal, including humans, is a part of its environment. Explore how geographical features influenced how and where agriculture developed.
Closer: Agricultural Revolution
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 6 of the Lesson 5.2 Teaching Guide.
Need a good poster? Check out these Claim Testing posters for your classroom.
Did farming lead to new complexity? Was the creation of civilizations positive? Were all farming societies the same? Find the evidence to make some claims!
