Download social studies curriculum unit one

SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM UNIT SIX
Name: Fairfield Township School District
Date:
Lesson Title: Ancient Rome
Subject: SOCIAL STUDIES
Grade Level/Course: Sixth Grade
Overview of Unit: The ancient Roman civilization began as small farming villages on the Italian
Pennisula and went on to become a vast empire. Rome made great contributions to law,
language, architecture, and culture. Many aspects of Roman culture still exist in today’s society
in language for scientific, legal, and artistic terms.
Interdisciplinary Connections: X Language Arts
PE
X Art X Technology
Music _X Math
Other __________
X Social Studies X Science
Learning Targets
BIG IDEA(S): Civilizations are groups of people who have a complex and organized society
within a culture. Each has its own customs, food supply, social divisions, government,
religion, and technology.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
(Overview)
The ancient Roman civilization began as small farming villages on the Italian Pennisula and
went on to become a vast empire. Rome made great contributions to law, language,
architecture, and culture. Many aspects of Roman culture still exist in today’s society in
language for scientific, legal, and artistic terms.
Standards: 6.1.8.a.1-11; 6.2.8.A.1-6;6.2.8.E.1-13;6.3.8.A.1-3; 6.3.8.B.1-11; 6.3.8.C.17:6.3.8.D.1-3; 6.5.8.C.1-7; 6.6.8.A.1-11
(Lesson 1)
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
farming techniques?
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
legends in culture?
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
building techniques?
 Along what river was Rome built?
 How did a good location help Rome grow from a small village to a powerful city?
 What does the legend of Rome’s founding tell you about how the Romans felt about their
place in the world?
(Lesson 2)
 Describe the Roman government?
 What is a republic?
 Who was Hannibal and what was his greatest accomplishment?
 How did Rome’s conquests create major problems for the republic?
 Do you believe the Patricians shared enough power with the Plebeians? Explain.
(Lesson 3)
 The Romans left a legacy of language, architecture, technology, and laws. Choose one of
the previous and discuss these contributions.
 Who was Augustus and why is he important?
 What was the Pax Romana?
 How did the wise rule make the Roman Empire very powerful?
(Lesson 4)
 Discuss how Christianity started in Palestine and spread throughout the Roman Empire.
 Who were Peter and Paul and what was their major accomplishment?
 Why did the Roman emperors persecute Christians?
 How do you think the unity of the Roman Empire helped Christianity to become the
empire’s main religion?
 How did many Christian teachings grow out of Jewish traditions?
(Lesson 5)
 Why did the Romans hire foreign mercenaries to serve in the army?
 What happened to the Roman Empire after the death of Constantine?
 Why did the eastern half of the Roman Empire not suffer the same decline as the western
half?
 What problems do you think Rome had by having an army largely made up of
mercenaries?
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
(Overview)
The ancient Roman civilization began as small farming villages on the Italian Pennisula and
went on to become a vast empire. Rome made great contributions to law, language,
architecture, and culture. Many aspects of Roman culture still exist in today’s society in language
for scientific, legal, and artistic terms..
(Lesson 1)
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
farming techniques?
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
legends in culture?
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
building techniques?
 Along what river was Rome built?
 How did a good location help Rome grow from a small village to a powerful city?
 What does the legend of Rome’s founding tell you about how the Romans felt about their
place in the world?
(Lesson 2)
 Describe the Roman government?
 What is a republic?
 Who was Hannibal and what was his greatest accomplishment?
 How did Rome’s conquests create major problems for the republic?
 Do you believe the Patricians shared enough power with the Plebeians? Explain.
(Lesson 3)
 The Romans left a legacy of language, architecture, technology, and laws. Choose one of
the previous and discuss these contributions.
 Who was Augustus and why is he important?
 What was the Pax Romana?
 How did the wise rule make the Roman Empire very powerful?
(Lesson 4)
 Discuss how Christianity started in Palestine and spread throughout the Roman Empire.
 Who were Peter and Paul and what was their major accomplishment?


Why did the Roman emperors persecute Christians?
How do you think the unity of the Roman Empire helped Christianity to become the
empire’s main religion?
 How did many Christian teachings grow out of Jewish traditions?
(Lesson 5)
 Why did the Romans hire foreign mercenaries to serve in the army?
 What happened to the Roman Empire after the death of Constantine?
 Why did the eastern half of the Roman Empire not suffer the same decline as the western
half?
What problems do you think Rome had by having an army largely made up of
mercenaries?
UNIT LEARNING TARGETS:
Students will be able to…
(Overview)
The ancient Roman civilization began as small farming villages on the Italian Pennisula and
went on to become a vast empire. Rome made great contributions to law, language,
architecture, and culture. Many aspects of Roman culture still exist in today’s society in language
for scientific, legal, and artistic terms.
(Lesson 1)
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
farming techniques?
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
legends in culture?
 How did the Romans use what they learned from other peoples to further their own
building techniques?
 Along what river was Rome built?
 How did a good location help Rome grow from a small village to a powerful city?
 What does the legend of Rome’s founding tell you about how the Romans felt about their
place in the world?
(Lesson 2)
 Describe the Roman government?
 What is a republic?
 Who was Hannibal and what was his greatest accomplishment?
 How did Rome’s conquests create major problems for the republic?
 Do you believe the Patricians shared enough power with the Plebeians? Explain.
(Lesson 3)
 The Romans left a legacy of language, architecture, technology, and laws. Choose one of
the previous and discuss these contributions.
 Who was Augustus and why is he important?
 What was the Pax Romana?
 How did the wise rule make the Roman Empire very powerful?
(Lesson 4)
 Discuss how Christianity started in Palestine and spread throughout the Roman Empire.
 Who were Peter and Paul and what was their major accomplishment?
 Why did the Roman emperors persecute Christians?
 How do you think the unity of the Roman Empire helped Christianity to become the
empire’s main religion?
 How did many Christian teachings grow out of Jewish traditions?
(Lesson 5)
 Why did the Romans hire foreign mercenaries to serve in the army?



What happened to the Roman Empire after the death of Constantine?
Why did the eastern half of the Roman Empire not suffer the same decline as the western
half?
What problems do you think Rome had by having an army largely made up of
mercenaries?
ASSESSMENT
PERFORMANCE TASKS:
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Written assessment
Project / Presentation
Teacher created Web Quests
Power Point presentation
Slideshow presentation
Concept Maps
Posters
Writing Prompts
Digital Graphic Organizer
Migratory Map
OTHER EVIDENCE:
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Small group of discussion
Whole group discussion
Student observation
Journal entries
Timelines
Graphs and Tables
Cooperative Groups
LEARNING PLAN
Activities
Resources
(Lesson 1)
 Textbooks
 Draw a map of Italy to scale including
 Smart board Activities
important geographical points.
 Internet Research
(Lesson 2)
 Study Guides
 Research a bill that is being debated
 Journals
on a state or federal level. Would you
 Maps
want the Governor or President to
 Web quests
sign the bill into law? Explain.
 Project Based Learning
(Lesson 3)
 Italian is considered a romance
 Digital Graphic Organizers
language. Look up the definition of
 Educational Videos
romance in the dictionary and write a
 Video Clips / Virtual Tours
paragraph explaining the origin of the
 Netbooks
word and why it applies to Italian as a
language.
(Lesson 4)

Write a paragraph explaining why the
Romans persecuted the Christians.
(Lesson 5)
 Summarize the reasons why the
Roman Empire was divided and the
capitol was moved from Rome to
Constantinople.