Students will investigate how the geography of the Nile Valley shaped the cultural and economic development of ancient Egypt and Kush by generating focused, investigable research questions and drafting initial hypotheses that will guide their week-long inquiry.

Students will design a clear, systematic investigation plan that matches their Nile Valley geography research question, including a justified methodology, source selection strategy, data collection procedures, and quality control measures before moving into data collection.

Students will systematically gather and document map-based and source-based evidence about how Nile Valley geography, natural resources, and trade routes shaped Egypt and Kush, producing organized raw data that will serve as the foundation for analysis in the next phase.

Students will interpret their collected map evidence and source notes to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies in ancient Egypt–Kush trade networks. They will create purposeful data visualizations, test their interpretations through peer critique, and draft preliminary findings that connect directly to their research questions and hypotheses.

Students will finalize their investigation into how Nile Valley geography shaped Egypt and Kush by writing evidence-based conclusions, explicitly acknowledging limitations, generating new research questions, and presenting their full investigation to an authentic audience during a culminating museum-style exhibition.