Emily Harvey

1
University of Richmond
Ancient Civilization Lesson Plan

Introduction

• Lesson Topic: Rome and Greece

• Length of Lesson: 45 mins-1 hour

• VA Standards of Learning

• History and Social Science 3.1: The student will explain how the contributions of ancient

Greece and Rome have influenced the present in terms of architecture, government (direct

and representative democracy), and sports

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Compare and contrast Greece, Rome, and the modern USA in terms of government, architecture,

arts, music, religion, and sports

Teaching and Learning Sequence

• Introduction/Anticipatory Set –

• Draw a three column chart on the board

• Label Greece, Rome, and USA

• Play Greek Video: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/5375-the-american-revolution-

democratic-athens-video.htm

• Play Roman Video: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/5376-the-american-revolution-

the-roman-republic-video.htm

• Ask the students what kind of government was Greece, Rome, and what our government

is today.

• Record student answers in columns

• Show how the three civilizations are related according to government

• Lesson Development –
Emily Harvey
2
University of Richmond
• Explain to students that they will now break into small groups and do a similar task with

different parts of the civilizations

• Break into 5 groups

• Assign group one of the following topics: Arts, Architecture, Music, Religion, and Sports

• Give each group a sheet of butcher paper

• Have students draw large 3-way Venn Diagram on butcher paper

• Put topic at top of paper, Greece left, Rome right, USA bottom circle

• Explain to the class that they will now research their topics as pertains to the civilizations

of Greece and Rome using one laptop per group

• They must find both similarities and differences in their topics to add to the Venn Diagram

• Give the site: http://chalk.richmond.edu/education/projects/webunits/greecerome/ as a

starting point for the topics, encourage the students to look further if needed

• The USA section is to determine how we are similar to the ancient civilizations today and

how we are different

• Have students present each Venn Diagram to the rest of the class

• Closure

• Divide the class into three teams for Ancient Jeopardy Review

• Instruct each group to choose a spokesperson to answer the question

• Open file:

http://www.spsk12.net/departments/STAR/socialscience/k3/SS03_3.1_Greece_Rome.ppt

• Play two rounds of Jeopardy Review, change spokesperson for each round

Assessment

• Formative – Walk between groups during topic research, ensure on- task discussions. Observe

participation in groups in Jeopardy Review Game.

• Summative – Grade Venn Diagrams according to accuracy.

Emily Harvey
3
University of Richmond
References
Suffolk Teacher and Resources Retrieved April 15, 2010, from
http://www.spsk12.net/departments/STAR/socialscience/ss_03.htm

Content Organizer
SOL and Curriculum Framework Essential Understandings and Essential Questions

• History and Social Science 3.1: The student will explain how the contributions of ancient

Greece and Rome have influenced the present in terms of architecture, government (direct

and representative democracy), and sports

What styles in architecture used today came from ancient Greece and Rome?

What principles of government from ancient Greece and Rome are part of our government?

What sporting events today came from ancient Greece?

Materials and Advanced (Pre-Lesson) Preparation

• 5 sheets precut butcher paper

• Markers
• 5 laptops
• Videos are brought up prior to lesson (get past commercials)

Essential Knowledge (To Include Content Information and Vocabulary)

 Contribution: The act of giving or doing something

 Direct democracy: A government in which people vote to make their own rules and laws
 Representative democracy: A government in which people vote for (elect) a smaller group of
citizens to make their rules and laws for everyone

Architecture: The architects of ancient Greece and Rome used columns and arches in the construction
of their buildings. Ancient examples still exist today:
 Greece—The Parthenon (columns) Rome—The Colosseum and aqueducts (arches)

The Arts :Mosaics, sculpture, and paintings are displayed on buildings.

The Government of the United States

The government is based on the ideas developed in ancient Greece and Rome.
 Greece: Birthplace of democracy (government by the people); a direct democracy
 Rome: Republican (representative) form of government; a representative democracy

Sports : Olympic games of today are modeled after the games of ancient Greece.

Connections – Cross-Curricular and Real-World

Real World: incorporates modern United States society into the Ancient Civilizations

Cross Curricular:
Fine Arts 3.13 The student will discuss how history, culture, and the visual arts influence each other.
Fine Arts 3.15 The student will compare and contrast architectural styles of ancient cultures, including
Greece and Rome.
Emily Harvey
4
University of Richmond
English 3.6 The student will continue to read and demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction.
C/ T 3-5.6 The student will use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of
sources.

Differentiated Instruction Organizer

Alternate Method(s) Alternate Method(s)

Lesson Instructional Method
to to
Components Originally Planned
Assist Students Challenge Students
Compare and contrast Greece,
Major Concepts
Rome, and the modern USA in

terms of government,

architecture, arts, music,

religion, and sports

Vocabulary Terms Contribution

Republic
Democracy

Activities Watch videos

Topic Venn
Diagrams

Ancient Jeopardy

Assessments Group Venn Have wordbank of No website

Diagrams information to be provided, group
sorted into the must research
Venn Diagram using own search
abilities
Emily Harvey
5
University of Richmond