Grade 2 - Early Asian Civilizations

30 Early Asian Civilizations: Supplemental Guide 1A | The Indus River Valley, Part I

 Show image 1A-7: River flooding its banks

[Trace the melted snow flowing down the mountain into the river.]

The snow turns into water and travels down the mountainsides to

form rivers in the valleys below.

[Point out the mountains and the valley in this picture. Invite a student to trace

the path of melted snow flowing down the mountain into the river in the valley.]

Water from the melting snows of the Himalayan Mountains combines

with spring rains to cause the river to overflow their banks in the valley

below.

[Define banks as the land next to and on each side of the river. Point to the river

bank in the picture.]

The melted snow and rain cause the water in the river to become

higher and higher until the river spills out to the banks—or land—next

to the river.

[Ask students what two words they hear in the word overflow. Ask if they can

guess the meaning of overflow with their knowledge of what the separate

words mean.]

Fertile soil from the rivers’ beds—or bottoms—spreads out over

nearby fields. As the water floods the valleys, it leaves behind

nutrient-rich, fertile soil, perfect for growing crops.

Let’s act out this process. We are going to pretend to be the snow-

covered peaks of the Himalayas. Let’s all stand tall with our hands

above our heads, fingertips touching, like the peaks of the Himalayas.

Now, pretend you are the melting snow running into the river.

Everyone move your hands toward the floor like melting snow trickling

down from the mountain tops.

Now make a whooshing sound to represent the water flowing over the

river banks in the valley below.

Finally show the plants that sprout because of the fertile soil left

behind from the flood.