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The Agricultural Revolution

Was the Agricultural Revolution a huge mistake? Encourage your students to examine how the introduction of agriculture transformed every region of the world in this lesson set.

Agricultural Revolution

Three Agricultural Revolution Lesson Plans

Beginning about 12,000 years ago, human groups around the world independently and gradually started developing methods of domesticating plants and animals. Students will learn about why some humans started farming and some of the consequences for our world. Finally, they’ll develop an argument as they ask: Was farming a good idea? Or was it a terrible mistake?

THE RISE OF FARMING
In this introductory lesson on the origins of agriculture, students will explore the causes of the Agricultural Revolution.
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HOW AGRICULTURE CHANGED HUMANS
This lesson helps students examine some of the consequences of the transition to agriculture as they are introduced to the similarities and differences of early agrarian societies.
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FARMING: OOPS?
Students use what they learned in the first two lessons as they evaluate two comics about the Agricultural Revolution. Was farming a good idea for humanity? It’s up to students to decide and convince their peers!
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EXPLORE OER PROJECT LESSON PLANS

OER Project courses and lessons create curious, creative, and connected students. Our free, online resources are designed to support teachers and power amazing classrooms. Explore more of our lesson plans on a variety of topics in social studies!

Continuity and Change Over Time (CCOT)
What’s changed? And what’s stayed the same? Build your students’ skills with our best resources for teaching CCOT as they learn to recognize factors that transformed how people lived and continue to live today.
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The Columbian Exchange
Explore a critical turning point in global history as your students learn how new routes of exchange and the interconnection of previously isolated continents changed the world forever.
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Sourcing in History
Source like a historian! Activities, tools, instructional supports, and primary source collections reinforce and give your students plenty of practice with this vital skill.
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