I teach a wide range of history topics, from prehistoric life on Earth to modern issues like the societal impact of AI. This vast expanse of history is filled with pivotal events that have shaped human existence. However, students often struggle to grasp the significance of history and how it has influenced individuals and societies worldwide. To help, it’s important to provide them with a clear framework for understanding these connections.
A few years ago, while teaching MYP Individuals and Societies at an international school in Bogotá, Colombia, I developed a unit called “From Stone Age to Space Age.” This unit explored humanity's journey from hunter-gatherers to spacefarers, focusing on how technological advancements have driven the progress of civilization.
Building on this idea, I’ve created a new unit centered on the history of technology. Below is a brief scope and sequence for the 10-lesson unit. If you’d like more detailed lesson plans, activities, or materials, feel free to reach out, and I’d be happy to share them!
Objective | Key Concepts | Discussion Focus | |
The Stone Age – Tools and Fire | Understand the first technological advancements made by early humans and their impact on survival, communication, and community building | hunting tools, fire, early communication, the role of technology in survival | How the development of stone tools and the discovery of fire allowed humans to evolve socially and biologically |
The Bronze Age – Metalworking and Agriculture | Explore how the development of bronze metalworking revolutionized agriculture, warfare, and society | bronze tools, farming techniques, early city-states, social hierarchies | How metal tools and agricultural improvements allowed for the growth of early civilizations |
The Iron Age – Warfare and Infrastructure | Investigate how ironworking led to more durable tools, advanced warfare, and improved infrastructure | iron weapons, roads, fortifications, empires | the role of iron technology in expanding empires and building stronger societies |
The Classical Era – The Wheel and Early Machines | Examine the development of simple machines (e.g., the wheel, pulley) and their application in transportation, trade, and construction | wheel, pulleys, aqueducts, ships, trade networks | How transportation and trade networks expanded through these innovations and helped civilizations grow |
The Middle Ages – Printing Press and Knowledge Dissemination | Study the invention of the printing press and its transformative role in knowledge dissemination, literacy, and cultural exchange | printing press, literacy, science, and religious reform | How the spread of printed material influenced social movements (e.g., the Renaissance, Reformation) |
The Industrial Revolution – Machines and Factories | Explore the technological advancements during the Industrial Revolution and their impact on production, labor, and urbanization | steam engine, factories, railroads, mass production | How mechanization transformed economies and social structures globally |
The 20th Century – Electricity and Communication | Analyze the introduction of electricity and new communication technologies (telegraph, telephone, radio) and their effects on society and global connectivity | electricity, telegraph, radio, telephone, social change | The role of these technologies in shrinking distances and facilitating the modern world |
The Space Age – Rockets and Satellites | Investigate how the space race and satellite technology expanded human frontiers and reshaped global geopolitics | rockets, space exploration, satellites, Cold War competition | How space technology changed global cooperation and competition, and its impact on everyday life (e.g., GPS, communications) |
The Digital Revolution – Computers and the Internet | Explore the rise of computers and the internet and how they have transformed work, education, and global economies | computers, the internet, data, global connectivity | How digital technology is reshaping economies, social interactions, and knowledge sharing in real time |
The Age of AI – Artificial Intelligence and Future Technologies | Discuss the emergence of AI, machine learning, and robotics, and consider their potential future impact on human society and the workforce | artificial intelligence, automation, machine learning, ethics of AI | How AI is transforming industries today and its implications for future human development |
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