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A Mystery of History: Peck Fifth Graders Study the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

A Mystery of History: Peck Fifth Graders Study the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

As part of their study of early civilizations, Peck fifth graders dove into one of history’s greatest mysteries: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The gardens are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but unlike the others, there is no physical evidence to confirm their existence—only stories and artistic depictions. This project ties directly into the fifth-grade curriculum's essential question: What makes a civilization?

Students pondered whether the Hanging Gardens were ever truly built, considering that no archaeological proof has been found. They not only explored the possibility of the Gardens' existence but also gained insight into the broader question of how we determine what is real and worth investigating in history.

To further their understanding, students created their own models envisioning what the Gardens might have looked like. They created 2D or 3D models, making educated guesses as to what might be realistic representations of the gardens given the available resources of the time and the common architectural styles of the geographic location and time period.

“History can feel disengaging for students because it often seems predetermined. However, presenting a historical mystery—like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon—as unfinished or unsolved sparks their interest,” said Upper School History Teacher Dave Carlo. 

“They’re learning to make informed inferences by evaluating which building strategies were plausible based on what we do know about that time in history. Incorporating building projects teaches students practical skills while also sparking their imaginations.”

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