5 Low-Prep Student Projects and Activities for your Ancient Rome Unit 

Looking for some easy, fun project ideas for your ancient Rome unit? 
 
Our ancient Rome unit falls in 4th quarter, usually right around testing in April.  Which definitely presents some challenges. 

Ancient Rome is definitely our most complex unit of the year.  I like to teach it as a big story, and challenge my students with their textbook skills to help prepare them for 7th grade.
 
With it being a large unit and trying to juggle testing schedules, I find it most helpful to keep our activities for ancient Rome low-prep for me but engaging for students.
 
In this post, you’ll discover 5 easy, low-prep projects and activities for your ancient Rome unit.



Activity #1 - Roman Republic vs USA Republic
There are certainly many similarities and many differences between the Roman Republic and the republic form of government used by the United States. 
 
The biggest aspect I like to focus on, is why the Romans created the republic – to have a balance of power.  Although the tripartite branches of the Roman Republic look a little different that the branches of the US, the purpose remains the same. 
 
In our school district, students learn about US government in 5th grade.  It is a great opportunity to have students recall what they learned the past year and utilize it during our lessons. 
 
The outcome of how you want students to display this information is only limited to your imagination! 


Activity #2 - Comprehensive Lap-book 
Looking for a comprehensive project that covers all the essential core concepts?
 
These Lap-book projects are the perfect answer.  Students can work together to gather the information. Then they are held accountable for the information through completing their own project.  And you can support your students by providing them with templates to help them complete their projects.

This project serves as a great way to hands-on review material AND they can even be used as a project based assessment if you need it to.

Ancient Rome Project ideas
Ancient Rome Lap-book Project Available in my TpT Store



Activity #3 - Discover Pompeii
Part of why we know so much about the daily life of ancient Romans, is due to the excavations from the ancient city of Pompeii.
 
The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius brought tragedy and destruction to the residents of Pompeii. The sudden eruption left no time for people to flee.  This resulted in ash covering the city and preserving that moment in time. 
 
Gather some informational texts and even some online resources.  Put your students into partners and let them discover the 5 W’s of Pompeii.

Ancient Rome printable activities
Ancient Rome Lesson Sets Available in my TpT Store


#4 - Student Project Choice Board
If you haven’t started giving your students choice, here’s your sign that you need to start!
 
Sometimes there is confusion about what student choice actually entails.  It’s not about just letting students choose anything, it’s about giving them options to choose from.
 
These Student Project Choice Boards are a great way to give students guided options for choosing their own projects that encourage them to explore and taking their thinking to the next level.
Ancient Rome printable activities
Ancient Rome Student Project Choice Board Available in my TpT Store
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#5 - Ancient Rome One-Pager Project
Looking for something concise and rigorous for students?  Then you may want to have them complete a One-Pager. 
 
Curious to know more?  You provide students with a list of elements to include on one piece of paper.  The list should incorporate the main ideas of your unit.
 
Some students do really well with having flexibility to design their One-Pager.  But others really struggle with that creative aspect.  For those students, I strongly suggest you provide them with a template.  Same good information, but with a little more structure and less stress for students.
 
One-Pagers also make for great substitute plans!
 

Ancient Rome Activities
Ancient Rome One-Pager Template Available in my TpT Store

​Ready to Roll Materials
Now that you have a few easy, low-prep project and activity ideas you are ready to get your ancient Rome unit planned out!
 
But if you are looking to save a bit more time, then you know I’ve got just want to you need with some materials that are ready-to-roll!

 Ancient Rome Lap-book Project

Ancient Rome Student Choice Board Projects

Ancient Rome Lesson Sets

Ancient Rome One-Pager Project with Templates



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Planning your ancient Rome unit doesn't have to feel like you're drowning! If you found these activity ideas  helpful, you’ll love these other resources to keep your students engaged and your prep-time short:
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​I’m Hillary Midgley, and I help 6th-grade teachers reclaim their weekends by providing a 7-part framework for Ancient History that actually works. New here? Start with the Roadmap.