Grade 6 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 10, Lesson 2

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
A Message of Ancient Days

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 10, Lesson 2: Kings, Prophets, and Priests (pp. 308-314)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Conflict Kings, prophets, and priests led the Israelites through many struggles for independence.

Ask students to go through the lesson and pick out the dates mentioned. Then use those dates to make a chalkboard timeline to help students keep track of the sequence of events as you discuss the lesson. Trace the history of kingship of Israel and the point out the importance of Jerusalem and the temple built by Solomon. Describe the prophets' interpretation of the Babylonian conquest, and how that helped the Jews survive defeat and exile.

Summarize the establishment of rule by priests and of the Torah as the book of laws. Review the revolt of the Maccabees and its outcome.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Have each student write a newspaper account of some aspect of Israelite history discussed in this lesson, such as the establishment of an empire with David, and ending with the split into two nations; or the revolt of the Maccabees; or the creation of the Torah. Encourage them to cover their event from beginning to outcome and to include as much relevant detail as possible.
Ask students to study the image on page 308 showing David defeating Goliath, then come up with three ideas for stone carvings that would represent the reigns of David and Solomon. Have them do a rough sketch of their ideas and explain what parts of David's and Solomon's accomplishments their images show.

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