In seventh-grade social studies at Watertown Middle School, students are doing a project called The Sumerian Achievement Awards.

Students choose what they think is the most important activity or build that Sumerians are credited for. After that, they give a clever name for the trophy, representing the activity or build.

Ms. Lorigan, a Cluster 4 humanities teacher, said, “I think people did a pretty good job, but there were less students who put effort into it than last year and that did not make me happy.”

The project has changed over years because of allergies or needs. Once, a student made a ziggurat (a pyramid for the gods in Mesopotamia) with a cake!

Teachers started this project so students could focus on a particular activity. Sumer was really important and making trophies can be fun, so students can have fun and be creative in their work, while practicing the reading and writing aspects with a paragraph.

“I like it when the students bring their awards, so I can know that they know what the activity or build is!” exclaimed Ms. Lorigan.

–Jan. 4, 2014–