Social Studies: Ancient Greece

Date: May 12, 2010
Teacher: Mr. Cavanaugh
Subject: 6th World History
Chapter 5 – Ancient Greece

Standards:
Compare and contrast the geographic, political, economic, and social characteristics of the Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, Ottoman, Indian, Arabic, African, and Middle Eastern civilizations and their enduring impacts on later civilizations to include:
• influence of Mediterranean geography on the development and expansion of the civilizations
• development of concepts of government and citizenship (e.g., democracy, republics, codification of laws, Code of Hammurabi)
• scientific and cultural advancements (e.g., networks of roads, aqueducts, art, architecture, literature, theater, philosophy)
• contributions and roles of key figures (e.g., Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Augustus)

What we will learn (objectives):
Describe which segments of society were included in the original Athenian democracy. Students will compare and contrast early Greek democracy to democracy as it is exercised in the US today.

What we will read or study (content):
Chapter 11, Sections 1 and 2

How we will study it (process):
The general education teacher will teach Sections 1 and 2, through discussion, notes, guided reading and notes.

During Section 2, the general education teacher and the gifted education teacher will guide the students through Ancient Democracy simulation:

Have enough copies of the Ecclesia cards for one-half the male membership of class and enough copies of the Metic and servant cards combined for the other one-half of the male membership of class.

Start a discussion with the class regarding an upcoming project. Tell the students that we are undecided about what kind of project we want them to do as a final project on Greece. We have thought about a report, a diorama, a play or a mural. We thought it might be fun to let democracy rule on this project.

The gifted ed teacher will hand out the role cards to the male students only. Explain that only the students who possess an Ecclesia card may enter in discussion about the proposed project. As deftly as possible, garner responses only from those boys holding an Ecclesia card. Those holding other cards or the girls must be politely, but firmly, told that their opinion in this matter doesn’t count.

Hold a vote on the project choices, only allowing the ecclesia members to vote.

After the eligible voters have made their decision, the teachers may have to deal with some upset students. The following questions may help defuse and clarify the lesson succinctly:
• How was or wasn’t this a democratic way of dealing with the project dilemma?
• What part of the classroom membership was totally left out of the decision-making process?
• Who among the boys were able to participate in the “democratic” process?

Let students know that this activity simulates the earliest forms of democracy as it was born in Ancient Greece. Ecclesia means: 1.an assembly, esp. the popular assembly of ancient Athens, also from the Latin and Greek: to summon forth. Metics, or foreign males, and servants or slaves, as well as women, were denied a part in the governing process. Only those males age 18 and over whose ancestors had been citizens of Athens were given the right to vote. Have students compare those qualifications to modern voter qualifications in our country, where all citizens age 18 and older may vote, regardless of race, religion, gender or political beliefs.

How we will know we learned something (product):
Discussion
End of section quiz

Who will score/grade what?:
General ed teacher

How will we differentiate content/process/product (if applicable):
Content: Chapter 11, Ancient Greece, Prentice Hall World History

Process: Ancient Democracy Simulation

Product: n/a

Homework:
As needed

Extension:
Ecclesia: 1.an assembly, esp. the popular assembly of ancient Athens. 2. a congregation; church. Origin:
1570–80; < L < Gk ekklēsía assembly, equiv. to ékklēt(os) summoned (ek- ec- + klē-, var. of kal-, s. of kaleîn to call, + -tos ptp. suffix) + -ia -ia
1. The political assembly of citizens of an ancient Greek state.
2. A church or congregation.
[Latin ecclēsia, from Greek ekklēsiā, from ekkalein, to summon forth : ek-, out; see ecto- + kalein, klē-, to call; see kelə-2 in Indo-European roots.]


What will we do at our next meeting?
Discuss how the simulation went, how to incorporate more next year, plus/delta for the year.




Retrieved from:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ecclesia
Retrieved and modified from:
Ancient History Simulations – Teacher Created Resources