Download Unit 7: Greece Overview Unit Indicators

Unit 7: Greece Overview
In this thirteen-day unit, students will focus on the key components of ancient Greek culture.
This is the first time students have been taught about classical Greek civilization. Other than the basic
tenets of democracy, the development and lasting contributions of classical Greek civilizations will not be
taught in subsequent courses.
In this sixth grade unit, students will focus on the role of city-states as the primary political expression
of ancient Greece. Emphasis is placed on the significant cultural expressions during the Hellenic period,
including Greek thought on religion/mythology, history, and philosophy. Students will also analyze the
role of Alexander the Great, Socrates, Plato, Archimedes, Aristotle, and others in the creation of Greek
governance, literature, philosophy, the arts, math, and science.
Within this unit, time has been included for teachers to allow for differentiation, review, and assessment.
Enduring Understanding
The foundations of government, science, technology,
and the arts are legacies of ancient civilizations.
Essential Questions
Overarching: What lasting contributions from
ancient Greek culture can been seen in the
world today?
1. How did the geography of Greece foster a
sense of independence in the city-states?
2. What was the role of citizenship in
Athenian democracy?
3. How did military conquests aid in
spreading Greek culture and ideas?
4. What impact did Socrates have on the field
of philosophy and government?
5. What impact did Plato and Aristotle have
on political philosophy?
6. What impact did Archimedes and
Pythagoras have on the field on
mathematics?
SC Academic Standards 2011
6-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of life in ancient civilizations and their
contributions to the modern world.
Unit Indicators
6-2.2 Analyze the role of Alexander the Great (Hellenistic Period), Socrates, Plato, Archimedes,
Aristotle, and others in the creation and spread of Greek governance, literature, philosophy,
the arts, math, and science.
6-2.1 Describe the development of ancient Greek culture (the Hellenic period), including the concept of
citizenship and the early forms of democracy in Athens.
*Be sure to access the content-area reading and writing priority standards within ACPS Curriculum.
Indicator
6-2.1
Know
- the development of
ancient Greek culture
(the Hellenic period)
-the concept of
citizenship
-the early forms of
democracy in Athens
Teacher
Background
Resources
Understand
- the key components of ancient Greek
civilizations
-the city-states were the primary political
expression of ancient Greece
-that there was an intense sense of
independence among the Greek citystates (although they did enter alliances
such as the Delian League)
-the impact that geography(map skills)
had in helping to foster their
independence
-the significant cultural expressions in
early Greece during the Hellenic period
8 Reasons it was not (the rise of the city-states until their
easy being a Spartan unification under Philip of Macedonia)
The Agora
What is a Polis?
-early Greek thought about
religion/mythology, history, and
philosophy while also explaining its
lasting impact
Do
Create a map and
label geographical
boundaries that
isolated Greece.
Create an anchor
chart that list the
attributes of a citizen
of Greece.
Classroom Lessons
Ancient Greece
Newspaper Project
Alexander The
Great Historical
Diary Assignment
Ancient Greece
-the Alexander the Great spread Greek
culture and ideas throughout the
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean
worlds
-the development of Athenian
democracy including the role of
citizenship and how citizens were
defined
-that Athenian democracy was unique
among the Greek city-states and
developed over centuries
-the features that comprised Athenian
democracy (direct democracy, public
debate, limited citizenship)
-the relationship between modern
representative democracy and the
Athenian model
Indicator
6-2.2
Know
-the role of the
following in the
creation and spread
Understand
- the significance of Philip II of
Macedonia as the individual who
unified the Greek city-states
Do
Create posters
listing the
of Greek governance,
literature,
philosophy, the arts,
math, and science
- Alexander the Great
-Socrates
-Plato
-Archimedes
-Aristotle
-Pythagoras
Teacher
Background
Resources
10 Greek Plays
How Ancient Greek
Philosophy can be
made relevant to
contemporary life
-that Alexander the Great (son of Philip
II) solidified and expanded the empire
-the expansion of Alexander’s empire
into Africa and Central and Southern
Asia, through military conquests
-the importance of Alexander’s
conquests in spreading Greek culture
and ideas
-that the Hellenistic period is the era
under Alexander in which Greek culture
blended with the cultures of the regions
that Alexander conquered
contribution of the
Greek philosophers
and the sciences.
Create a timeline of
Alexander’s
conquests
Lesson Plans
How Great Was
Alexander the
Great?
-that major Greek writings centered on
history, philosophy, or mythology
-that genres such as tragedy and
comedy also found expression through
Greek writing and theatre
-the impact of Socrates on philosophy
and government, Socratic questioning
-the impact of Plato and Aristotle on
political philosophy
-the impact of Archimedes on
mathematics and science
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
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
agora
myth
aristocracy
marathon
-the impact of Pythagoras on
mathematics
Domain-Specific Vocabulary
 reason
 mercenary
 plunder
 immortal
Additional Resources
The Greek Gods (Video)
Could you become a citizen of ancient Greece? (quiz)
Phalanx Warfare in Ancient Greece (Video)
Spartan Life (Video)
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democracy
philosopher
plague
Horrible Histories Spartan Teacher Conference (Video)
Horrible Histories Greek Games (Video)
Horrible Histories Alexander the Great (Video)