Download Architecture in Ancient Greece

Developing a Lesson Plan
Architecture in Ancient Greece
Standard:
HSS0219 Culture – The student understands the relationship between the arts and the times
during which they were created.
HSS0227 Social Studies Skills – The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills,
working independently and with other, in a variety of settings.
Objective:
Students will identify attributes of ancient Greek architecture through a short reading and
photograph handout. Students will use the newly learned information about Greek architecture to build
a 3D model temple out of paper as a small group.
Thinking Skill = Identify Attributes
Content = Ancient Greek Architecture
Resource = Handout with information taken from AncientGreece.com and photographs of the temples
spoken about in the reading.
Product = 3D Paper Model of Temple
Procedure
Motivation
Planning Question
How will the class be motivated to
engage in the content and skills of
the lesson?
Learning Experience
I will begin class by asking the students if
they think I can hold up a book with a
single piece of paper. After I listen to their
reactions I will roll up a single page of
printer paper and secure it with a piece of
tape. I will then balance a book on the roll
of paper. I will then ask the students if
they think it can hold another book. I will
keep adding books until the paper
crumbles. I will use this motivation
exercise to show the class how the Greeks
found that round columns could hold
substantial weight when building. We will
discuss as a class why the paper only can
hold up the book when it is rolled up.
Demonstration
What specific modeling will the
teacher use to teach the relationship
between the content and the skills?
The motivational activity will begin the
modeling of their assignment. This
activity will show the students how to
create columns when they are building
their 3D models.
We will then transition to a short reading
on Greek architecture taken from
AncientGreece.com. I have also added
several photographs of the temples to the
reading information. We will read this
handout as a class.
The students’ progress will be assessed during
our discussion of the paper column activity.
Check for
Understanding
Structured Practice
What types of questions will the
teacher ask to assess the students’
understanding of the task, the
content, the skills in order to achieve
the objective?
What specific Teacher-Directed
learning experiences will initiate
attainment of the objective?
How will the learning experience
support the demonstration?
As we read the handout as a class I will also
stop after every new group of information to
check for understanding. I will ask the
students questions about what we just read.
Finally, the students will be assessed more
formally with their group assignment. The
students will be creating 3D paper models of
a temple as a small group. The model must
reflect a Greek architectural style we just
learned about. The students will be graded on
use of new information in their plan,
productive group work time, and creativity.
Teacher-directed learning experiences will
include the modeling of the assignment
through the reading exercise, class
discussion of new material, and motivation
activity at the beginning of class. These
tools will all be used in their group
assignment.
Students will be reading and discussing the
new material as a group. The students will
also be creating their temple models in
small groups.
Guided Practice
What learning experiences can
students perform in a socio-cultural
context to further their expertise to
achieve the objective?
How will the teacher monitor the
practice experience?
What will students do independently
to transfer the concept and skill of
the objective into a complex,
sophisticated understanding and
performance of the objective?
Independent Practice
I will monitor the discussion and reading
through cueing questions about each new
set of information. I will also be circling
the room as the students work in their
group on the project. I will be asking the
students questions about what they are
creating and making sure they are working
collaboratively.
The students will be creating 3D paper model
of a Greek temple as a small group. The
model must reflect a Greek architectural style
we just learned about. The students will be
graded on use of new information in their
plan, productive group work time, and
creativity.
Greek Architecture Assignment:
You and your group members are Greek architects. You have been asked to design a new temple in
Athens. The temple must reflect traditional Greek architecture. You must choose to build the temple in
Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian style. Your model must be 3D and must be made entirely out of paper. You
will have the rest of the class period to work on your temple. The temple will be graded on creativity,
use of architectural style system, and productive use of work time.
Architecture in Ancient Greece:
Greek life was dominated by religion and so it is not surprising that the temples of ancient Greece were the
biggest and most beautiful. They also had a political purpose as they were often built to celebrate civic power
and pride, or offer thanksgiving to the patron deity of a city for success in war.
The Greeks developed three architectural systems, called orders, each with their own distinctive proportions and
detailing. The Greek orders are: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
Doric
Ionic
The Ionic style is thinner and
The Doric style is rather sturdy
more elegant. Its capital is
and its top (the capital), is plain.
decorated
with a scroll-like
This style was used in mainland
design (a volute). This style was
Greece and the colonies in
found in eastern Greece and the
southern Italy and Sicily.
islands.
Corinthian
The Corinthian style is seldom
used in the Greek world, but
often seen on Roman temples.
Its capital is very elaborate and
decorated with acanthus leaves.
Doric Order:
Parthenon- temple of Athena Parthenos, Greek goddess of wisdom, on the Acropolis in Athens. The Parthenon
was built in the 5th century BC, and despite the enormous damage it has sustained over the centuries, it still
communicates the ideals of order and harmony for which Greek architecture is known. The Parthenon was built
in Doric style. Work began on the Parthenon, built on the Acropolis, in 447 BC to replace an existing temple
which was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC and cost 469 silver talents to build. The work began under the
orders of Pericles to show the wealth and exuberance of Athenian power. The name of the building most likely
came from a cult statue of Athena Parthenos housed in the eastern room of the building. This magnificent
structure was built of ivory and gold and was sculptured by the renowned sculptor Phidias. As with most
buildings on the Acropolis it was dedicated to Athena to thank the Goddess for their success. The Parthenon was
finally finished in 432 BC and was to show the world the dominance and power of Athens. Not only was the
Parthenon a magnificent structure to look at, but it also showed Athenian dominance over the rest of the Greek
peninsula and that Athens was its Greek imperial master.
Ionic Order:
Erechtheum - temple from the middle classical period of Greek art and architecture, built on the Acropolis of
Athens between 421 and 405BC. The Erechtheum contained sanctuaries to Athena Polias, Poseidon, and
Erechtheus.
The Temple of Apollo at Didyma - The Greeks built the Temple of Apollo at Didyma, Turkey (about 300 BC).
The design of the temple was known as dipteral, a term that refers to the two sets of columns surrounding the
interior section. These columns surrounded a small chamber that housed the statue of Apollo. With Ionic
columns reaching 19.5 m (64 ft) high, these ruins suggest the former grandeur of the ancient temple.
Corinthian Order: Corinthian order was the most ornate of the classic orders of architecture. It was also the
latest, not arriving at full development until the middle of the 4th cent. B.C. The oldest known example,
however, is found in the temple of Apollo at Bassae (c.420 B.C.). The Greeks made little use of the order; the
chief example is the circular structure at Athens known as the choragic monument of Lysicrates ( 335 B.C.). The
temple of Zeus at Athens (started in the 2d cent. B.C. and completed by Emperor Hadrian in the 2d cent. A.D.)
was perhaps the most notable of the Corinthian temples.