Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123
Curriculum Mini-Lessons
Created as part of the 2004-2005 Classroom Mini-Grant Program

Title: You Be the Judge on Hammurabi's Code
Subject: Social Studies
Grade Level: 6

Overview: Students will discuss scenarios from ancient Mesopotamia and how they are handled by the laws in Hammurabi’s Code.

Purpose: To help the students understand that strict laws were needed to deal with the harsh living conditions in ancient Babylon.

Resources and Materials: Social studies text book, Ancient Civilizations pages 98-100

Internet Address: http://www.phillipmartin.info/hammurabi/

Activities:
1. Read and discuss pages 98-100 in the social studies text.
2. Access the Website “You Be the Judge on Hammurabi’s Code.”
3. Tell students that they will be trying to solve some problems that Hammurabi faced. (Link to Solve Some Problems that Hammurabi Faced)
4. Assign one of the scenarios to a group of 3-4 students.
5. Have them try to predict what Hammurabi’s ruling would be for this type of situation. Remind students that punishments were strict and harsh, but considered fair.
6. Ask each group to share their prediction with the class and give reasons for their choice. Then reveal the actual law by clicking on the clay tablet icons.
7. How did the actual law compare to their predictions? Did the law seem fair to them? Why or why not?
8. When all predictions have been discussed, direct students to question 3 on page 101: Most people living today would consider some of Hummurabi’s punishments to be cruel. Why do you think that the Code of Hammurabi was so well accepted by people living so long ago? Students may discuss the answer in small groups or as a whole class.

Check Teachers’ Page for additional lesson ideas: http://www.phillipmartin.info/hammurabi/hammurabi_teacherpage.htm

Evaluation: Teacher observation of student participation in group and whole class discussion.