Mankind: The Story of All of Us - Episode 1: Inventors

This Mankind: The Story of All of Us worksheet is a viewing guide for Episode 1, "Inventors," the History Channel documentary that follows early humans from the first campfires to Bronze Age chariots. Twenty questions follow the episode's order: a prediction card before viewing, six cards that match the episode's parts, and a reflection card at the end.

• Before you watch: students predict the order of six events, then check their guesses afterward.
• Parts 1 to 6: fire and the first humans, surviving the Ice Age, the first farmers, building the Great Pyramid, trade and bronze, and the Battle of Megiddo.
• After watching: students rank the three inventions they think changed lives most and argue whether farming was a step forward for ordinary people.

Question types change from card to card: short recall, explain-why prompts, matching with one extra choice, a four-step cause-and-effect chain, a gains-and-costs chart, multiple choice, and true/false items that ask students to fix each false statement. The answer key, on its own page, covers every item and includes sample responses for the open questions. It fits grades 6 to 10 world history, an early civilizations unit, or a substitute plan. It comes as a color file and a grayscale printable.