Ancient Greece
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Ancient Greece was a civilization that dominated much of the Mediterranean thousands of years ago. At its peak under Alexander the Great, Ancient Greece ruled much of Europe and Western Asia. The Greeks came before the Romans and much of the Roman culture was influenced by the Greeks.
Ancient Greece formed the foundation of much of Western culture today. Everything from government, philosophy, science, mathematics, art, literature, and even sports was impacted by the Ancient Greeks. |
Learning Outcomes:
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Ancient Greece Cinema:
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Social StudiesProject Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge.
Use: - The Internet (Britannica) - The library - Software / Websites - Materials Read the instructions and activities clearly |
Ancient GreeceThe earliest Greek civilizations thrived nearly 4,000 years ago. The Ancient Greeks lived in Greece and the countries that we now call Bulgaria and Turkey.
The Ancient Greece empire spread over Europe as far as France in the East. The Greek Empire was most powerful between 2000 BC and 146 BC The ancient Greeks developed new ideas for government, science, philosophy, religion, and art. Periods Historians often divide up the history of Ancient Greece into three periods: Archaic Period - This period ran from the start of Greek civilization in 800 BC to the introduction of Democracy in 508 BC. This period included the start of the Olympic Games and Homer's writing of the Odyssey and the Illiad. Classical Period - This is the time that most of us think of when we think of Ancient Greece. Athens was governed by a democracy and great philosophers like Socrates and Plato arose. Also, the wars between Sparta and Athens were during this time. This period ended with the rise and then death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. Hellenistic Period - The Hellenistic period lasted from the death of Alexander the Great until 146 BC when Rome conquered Greece. The name Hellenistic comes from the Greek word "hellens", which is what the Greeks called themselves. Athens and Sparta Athens and Sparta were the two main city states that ruled much of ancient Greece. They were often rivals and fought each other in the Peloponnesian Wars. At other times they united together in order to protect the Greek lands from invaders. The cultures of the two cities were very different. Sparta was almost entirely focused on war and how to fight, while Athens focused on the arts and learning. |
Fun Facts about Ancient Greece
The Greeks often ate dinner while lying on their sides. They invented the yo-yo which is considered the 2nd oldest toy in the world after the doll. About one third of the population of some city-states were slaves. There were more city-states than just Sparta and Athens, Ancient Greece had around 100 city-states. The Romans copied much of the Greek culture including their gods, architecture, language, and even how they ate! Pheidippides was a Greek hero who ran 150 miles from Marathon to Sparta to get help against the Persians. After the Greeks won the war, he ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory. This is where the marathon running race gets its name. When law trials were held in the city of Athens, they used large juries of 500 citizens. That's a lot more than the 12 we use today. |
WEEK 1: Remember
Activity 1: TimelineCreate your own Ancient Greek Timeline Draw a timeline across the center of both pages. Label it like this:
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greek_timeline.php |----------------------------------------------------------| 800 BCE 146 BCE Add at least 20 things to your timeline for example: Archaic Period (800 BC – 480 BC). Classical period (480 BC – 323 BC). Hellenistic period (323 BC – 146 BC). place the events as close to the exact year as you can: |
Activity 2: Mapping Ancient GreeceThe ancient civilization of Greece was located in southeastern Europe along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The geography of the region helped to shape the government and culture of the Ancient Greeks. Geographical formations including mountains, seas, and islands formed natural barriers between the Greek city-states and forced the Greeks to settle along the coast.
* Draw a detailed map of Ancient Greece |
Activity 3: Athens VS. SpartaThe two rivals of ancient Greece that made the most noise and gave us the most traditions were Athens and Sparta. They were close together on a map, yet far apart in what they valued and how they lived their lives.One of the main ways they were similar was in their form of government. Both Athens and Sparta had an Assembly, whose members were elected by the people. Sparta was ruled by two kings, who ruled until they died or were forced out of office. Athens was ruled by archons, who were elected annually. Thus, because both parts of Athens' government had leaders who were elected, Athens is said to have been the birthplace of democracy.
* Draw a Venn Diagram and compare/contrast the two rivals - (see an example below) http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/worldhistory/athenssparta.htm |
WEEK 2: Understand
Activity 4: Greek GodsThe Greeks had numerous gods and many stories and myths that surrounded them. Greek mythology consists of all the stories and tales about the Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes. It is also the religion of Ancient Greece as the Greeks built temples and offered sacrifices to their major gods.
The twelve Olympian gods were the major gods of the Greeks and lived on Mount Olympus. Use powtoon or any other video editing software to introduce a minimal of 6 Greek gods and/or goddesses. Include sound effects, animations and pictures and describe the gods - For example: Zeus - Leader of the Olympians and god of the sky and lightning. His symbol is the lighting bolt. He is married to Hera, his sister. Read more on: at: http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greek_mythology.php |
Activity 5: Daily LifeIn this activity you will learn to understand the daily life of the people in Ancient Greece. You will do this research on your own and create a PowerPoint with a minimal of 7 slides: The first slide should include 'Daily Life in Ancient Greece', the following slides should include answers to the following questions.
What were the Ancient Greek's homes like? What was it like growing up in Ancient Greece? What food did they eat? What clothes did they wear? Jobs in Ancient Greece The last slide should include at least 3 websites (sources) that you've used for this task. read more on: http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greek_daily_life.php |
Activity 6: A Typical Greek CityAlthough each city in Ancient Greece had its own unique features and buildings, they also had many things in common. In the later periods of Ancient Greece, new cities were planned out on a grid system with streets and houses aligned to take advantage of the winds, the sun, and the local scenery. Many Greek cities were located near the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
In your drawing (on paper / or digital) include/name the following items: * Agora * Acropolis * Temples * Theater * Stadium * Houses * Walls and Defense * Outside the town Read more on: http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/typical_greek_city.php |
WEEK 3: Apply
Activity 7: Monsters and CreaturesMythology is the rich collection of traditional tales called myths from cultures all over the world. Many myths date back to ancient times. They are stories about how the world was created and why certain things happen. Today, the word myth is often used to describe something that is not true.
Read about monsters and creatures in greek mythology on. and re- create your own mythological monster afterwards. Part 1: (Create a monster) Part 2: 3 paragraph info about your monster. http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/monsters_and_creatures_of_greek_mythology.php |
Activity 8: Orpheus and EurydiceThe story of Orpheus and Eurydice is the ultimate tragic love story. Perhaps one of the most famous Greek myths, it has inspired many important painters. Moreover, many operas, songs and plays have been composed to honor these two great lovers who tragically lost the chance to enjoy their love. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice has been told in many versions with a few differences between them. The earliest account comes from Ibycus (circa 530 BC), a Greek lyric poet. Read the full story on https://www.bedtimeshortstories.com/orpheus-eurydice-story
Use the website http://www.toondoo.com/ to retell the famous Mtyh of Orpheus and Eurydice in a comic. (2 pages)
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Activity 9: MythThe ancient Greeks were great storytellers. They were also deeply religious. They believed their gods and goddesses and other magical beings really existed. They believed these magical beings could interfere in their lives, to help them or to hurt them.
The ancient Greeks built temples to honor their gods. Each temple honored only one god. So there were many, many temples in ancient Greece. Choose 1 of the following Myths and create a story map: (See picture) Myth Starter List
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WEEK 4: Analyze
Activity 10: Philosophers PortraitDirections and Guidelines: You will be selecting a topic about an important person in Ancient Greece. Using computers, we will spend time as a class, researching and looking for important facts to write about. Once you have gathered your research, you will begin designing your poster. First, you will write your rough draft, and then you will have another classmate or myself look it over and help correct mistakes before you write your final draft.
Great Thinkers you can choose: Hippocrates, Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Archimedes, Herodotus, Homer, Euripides, Aristophanes Or…anyone else you choose! However, make sure to ask permission first.
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Activity 11: Analyze and Research the Ancient Greek LanguageDownload and read the following PDF -
After: Design an information booklet on the Greek Language (Include at least 2 sources) and include a mini dictionary with at least 20 different Greek words
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Activity 12: The start of the OlympicsWatch the following videos on the history of the Olympic games.
Create a Prezi (www.prezi.com) in where you compare and contrast at least 10 things with the Old Ancient Greek Olympics with the Modern Olympics.
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WEEK 5: Evaluate
Activity 13: Greek GovernmentThere was no central government in ancient Greece. Greece, back then, was not even one country. People lived in city-states. Each city-state was an independent unit. Each city-state made their own laws, had their own coinage, and had their own way of doing things. But, they all spoke Greek, they all believed in the same gods, and they all shared a common history.
There were three main forms of government used in ancient Greece by various city-states. Evaluate and explain the three main forms in your own words in a presentation (Powerpoint / Google Slides) - Ruled By A King - Ruled By A Small Group - Ruled By Many What is a democracy? (Name the sources in your presentation) http://greece.mrdonn.org/government.html http://greece.mrdonn.org/athensdemocracy.html |
Activity 14: Greek TheatreThe theatre of ancient Greece was at its best from 550 BC to 220 BC. It was the beginning of modern western theatre, and some ancient Greek plays are still performed today.
Copy the following question into a document and use reliable sources to explain/evaluate them in your own words. 1. Plays were first performed to honour which God? 2. The God in question one was the God of what? 3. What shape were Greek theatres? Why were they shaped this way? 4. Who sat in the seats at the front? 5. Could women take part in, or attend the plays? 6. Name some of the Greek playwrights 7. What did the audience throw at the actors who performed badly? 8. What did the actors wear? 9. How did people at the back of the large theatres hear what the actors were saying? 10. What were the masks made of? |
Activity 15: Alexander The GreatAlexander the Great is one of the best known figures in history. He had a short but influential life. Before his death at 33, Alexander conquered the known world and altered history forever.
In this activity you will create a biography poster about Alexander the great including 15 different pieces of information about him and his life. http://www.ducksters.com/biography/alexander_the_great.php |