Year 8 SOSE: Individual work plan for 'Law' – Ancient Laws

 

NAME: _______________________________________________

 

TOPICTASKTickTEACHER COMMENT

How do different societies rule themselves?

 

 

 

 

Core learning outcome:

TCC 6.5

Study the extracts from Hammurabi's Code and the Ten Commandments and then complete the worksheet titled 'Ancient Laws'.

 

Note: The worksheet contains three sections:

  1. A comparison of the two codes or laws in a table form.
  2. Questions about the nature of the two systems of justice.
  3. A group presentation based on a 'time machine' scenario. This is an oral presentation which may be delivered live or tape recorded.
  

Core learning outcomes

In this phase of the module you can achieve the following core learning outcome/s:

  • Time, Continuity and Change 6.5: Students develop criteria-based judgements about the ethical behaviour of people in the past.

Key indicators of your success will be identified throughout the unit and recorded on a profile sheet.

Discovering Democracy unit: 'How do different societies rule themselves?'

Ancient Laws

Worksheet: Hammurabi's Code and the Ten Commandments

 

NAME: ________________________________________________________

 

Examine the extracts from Hammurabi's Code and the Ten Commandments. Complete the following table by listing the code/commandment number that you believe satisfies the 'Reason for a law' in column one.

Reason for a lawHAMMURABITEN COMMANDMENTS
  • Protect people's property

 

 

  • Treat all people equally

 

 

  • Make sure everyone can get justice

 

 

  • Advance the good of the community as well as the individual

 

 

  • Respect the position of women in society

 

 

  • Protect people from injury

 

 

  • Make all people in society accountable for their actions

 

 

  • Encourage moral behaviour and thought

       

 

 

Answer the following questions in the space provided. Use a complete sentence in each answer.

  1. Which laws in the two codes are similar?

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  2. Which laws are completely different?

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  3. Which of Hammurabi's laws are similar to Australian laws today?
    Give reasons for your answer.

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  4. Which of Hammurabi's laws would not be acceptable in Australia today?
    Give reasons for your answer.

    _____________________________________________________________

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  5. Which of the Ten Commandments exist as laws in Australia today?

    _____________________________________________________________

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  6. Which of the Ten Commandments would not be appropriate as laws in Australia today?
    Give reasons for your answer.

    _____________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________

Group role-play (groups of three)

Pretend that a time machine has brought together two young students: one from ancient Babylon (under Hammurabi's Code) and another from the ancient city of Jerusalem (under the Ten Commandments).

The host of a top-rating student radio program, 'Time Travellers', is to interview the pair and discuss the following topic: 'Some laws stay the same throughout time!'

Your group may choose to tape record the interview or perform it live to the class.

Suggested plan:

  1. Host introduces the program and explains the aim of the interview.
  2. Host welcomes the guests and invites each to describe what it is like living under the codes/laws of their land.
  3. Host and guests discuss the topic: 'Some laws stay the same throughout time!'
  4. Host concludes the discussion and thanks the guests.
  5. Host sends each back through time.

In the role-play, I would like to be ______________________________________