Reflections Of Ancient Greece
- Subject: Ancient Civilizations
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- Grade(s): K-5
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- Duration: Two or three class periods
Lesson Plan Sections
Objectives
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Students will:
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Materials
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The class will need the following:
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Procedures
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Adaptations
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Working in pairs, students can choose one of the five aspects of Greek life to research. Pairs will use their activity sheets to choose a specific area of interest to research further; for example, they may focus on the role of women in ancient Greek society, literature and drama, education, warfare, philosophers, the Parthenon, and so on. (Students in pairs should choose separate topics.) Have pairs create a list of little-known facts about their topics to share with the class. Individually, students can use their research to write essays on how ancient Greek life compares with, or has influenced, modern society. |
Discussion Questions
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Evaluation
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You can evaluate students' work using the following three-point rubric:
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Extensions
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Suggested Readings
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Alexander the Great and Ancient Greece Miriam Greenblatt. Benchmark Books, 2000. This volume is really two books in one. The story of Alexandria the Great is told starting with his early years as a handsome and talented young man (with the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle for his teacher!). Alexander's prowess as king of Macedonia and his military leadership resulted in conquering the largest territory in the world at that time, spreading Greek ideals throughout. The second part of this book describes the everyday life of ancient Greece and concludes with the words of famous Greeks like Homer, Aesop, and Diogenes. Triumph of the Hero: Greek & Roman Myth Duncan Baird Publishers/Time-Life, 1998. This lavishly illustrated volume introduces the reader to the heroes of Greek mythology who were adopted into Roman mythology and whose stories continue to entertain and intrigue us. An introduction describes the culture that led to the development of these myths, and remaining chapters relate such tales as Jason and the Argonauts, the labors of Heracles (Hercules), the Trojan War, and the adventures of Odysseus. Boxed insets relate historical notes that add to the enjoyment of the stories. |
Vocabulary
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ancient Definition: Relating to the historic period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476. Context: The culture of ancient Greece had rich traditions, many of which exist today. architecture Definition: A particular style or fashion of building. Context: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian are three styles of Greek architecture found in buildings around the world today. classical Definition: Relating to the ancient Greek and Roman world, especially to its literature, art, architecture, or ideals. Context: The classical age of Greece began with the Persian War (490-479 B.C.) and ended with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. heritage Definition: Something, such as culture, passed from generation to generation. Context: Greek heritage included mythology, philosophy, government, and much more. legacy Definition: Something handed down or that remains from a previous generation or time. Context: One legacy of Socrates was his dialogues, or using questions and answers as a teaching method. mythology Definition: A group of myths that belong to a particular people or culture that tells about their history, heroes, and gods. Context: Ancient Greek mythology includes stories about powerful gods who look and act like humans, but who can control nature and are immortal. philosophy Definition: Academic study that is devoted to the examination of basic concepts, such as truth, beauty, freedom, and reality. Context: Scholars study Aristotle's philosophy. |
Standards
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This lesson plan may be used to address the academic standards listed below. These standards are drawn from Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education: 2nd Edition and have been provided courtesy of theMid-continent Research for Education and Learningin Aurora, Colorado. Grade level: 5-6 Subject area: World History Standard: Understands how Aegean civilization emerged and how interrelations developed among peoples of the eastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asia from 600 to 200 B.C. Benchmarks: Understands the major cultural elements of Greek society (e.g., the major characteristics of Hellenic sculpture, architecture, and pottery and how they reflected or influenced social values and culture; characteristics of classical Greek art and architecture and how they are reflected in modern art and architecture; Socrates's values and ideas as reflected in his trial; how Greek gods and goddesses represent nonhuman entities; and how gods, goddesses, and humans interact in Greek myths). Grade level: 7-8 Subject area: World History Standard: Understands how Aegean civilization emerged and how interrelations developed among peoples of the eastern Mediterranean and southwest Asia from 600 to 200 B.C. Benchmarks: Understands the role of art, literature, and mythology in Greek society (e.g., major works of Greek drama and mythology and how they reveal ancient moral values and civic culture; how the arts and literature reflect cultural traditions in ancient Greece). Grade level: 7-8 Subject area: World History Standard: Understands major global trends from 1000 B.C. to A.D. 300. Benchmarks: Understands the concept and importance of "classical civilizations" (e.g., the enduring importance of ideas, institutions, and art forms that emerged in the classical periods; the significance of Greek or Hellenistic ideas and cultural styles in the history of the Mediterranean basin, Europe, Southwest Asia, and India). |
Credit
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Tish Raff, educational consultant and freelance writer, former elementary supervisor and administrator. |
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