4 Essential Lesson Plans for Your
Ancient Greece Unit
When someone mentions ancient Greece, what comes to mind?
Mythology? Big white columns? The Olympics? Sparta?
Ancient Greece is another unit that is full of fun and intrigue. And just like ancient Egypt, it’s easy to get caught up in the glamor of it all. Which makes it all the more important that we take the time to plan out our unit to include all the essentials.
Mythology? Big white columns? The Olympics? Sparta?
Ancient Greece is another unit that is full of fun and intrigue. And just like ancient Egypt, it’s easy to get caught up in the glamor of it all. Which makes it all the more important that we take the time to plan out our unit to include all the essentials.
But what are those essentials? I have seen many teachers what to spend their time focusing on the Olympics. Or just spend time learning about the achievements of Athens.
Of course, there is more to teaching ancient Greece. In this post, you’ll learn about 4 essential lessons you should include when planning out your ancient Greece unit for your 6th grade class.
#1 Location & Map Study
Every unit of an ancient civilization curriculum should not only include, but start with location and map study.
Sixth graders need you to emphasize continent and present-day countries when learning the locations of ancient societies.
But you must also incorporate the geographical features into your discussions, and how they affected daily life. This is extremely important to understanding ancient Greece.
The landforms affected everything from the development of independent city-states, to farming crops, and relying on the sea for travel and trade.
In most curriculums, ancient Greece is the first society to not have developed along a river valley. It’s crucial to help students see this and understand the result.
Sixth graders need you to emphasize continent and present-day countries when learning the locations of ancient societies.
But you must also incorporate the geographical features into your discussions, and how they affected daily life. This is extremely important to understanding ancient Greece.
The landforms affected everything from the development of independent city-states, to farming crops, and relying on the sea for travel and trade.
In most curriculums, ancient Greece is the first society to not have developed along a river valley. It’s crucial to help students see this and understand the result.
Ancient Greece Map Available in my TpT Store
#2 Different Forms of Government
With the unique geography of ancient Greece comes the development of individual city-states, each with their own forms of government.
Many already know the original concept of democracy comes from ancient Greece, more specifically, from the city-state of Athens.
But other forms of government were used in various Greek city-states as well. When teaching ancient Greece be sure to cover monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy as types of governments.
For each form, it’s most helpful for students if you focus on two parts: who held the power and how did they gain that power.
Many already know the original concept of democracy comes from ancient Greece, more specifically, from the city-state of Athens.
But other forms of government were used in various Greek city-states as well. When teaching ancient Greece be sure to cover monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy as types of governments.
For each form, it’s most helpful for students if you focus on two parts: who held the power and how did they gain that power.
Ancient Greece Government Lesson Set Available in my TpT Store
#3 What Makes Greek City-States Greek
Most people in ancient Greece did not refer to themselves as Greek. They would usually refer to the city-state where they lived. If they were from Athens, they called themselves Athenians. If they were from Sparta, they were Spartans.
When we teach ancient civilizations with structure, it becomes easier to understand what made all of these city-states Greek.
Not sure what I’m referring to? Read this blog post: How to Teach Ancient Civilizations the Easy Way
Although each city-state was unique, they shared commonalities such as the use of the same writing system and belief in the same myths and gods.
And although the stronger city-states of Sparta and Athens often competed with each other, they also joined forces with other city-states to fight off the Persians when they threatened to invade and conquer Greece.
When we teach ancient civilizations with structure, it becomes easier to understand what made all of these city-states Greek.
Not sure what I’m referring to? Read this blog post: How to Teach Ancient Civilizations the Easy Way
Although each city-state was unique, they shared commonalities such as the use of the same writing system and belief in the same myths and gods.
And although the stronger city-states of Sparta and Athens often competed with each other, they also joined forces with other city-states to fight off the Persians when they threatened to invade and conquer Greece.
