2012
Third Grade Social Studies Guide
Ancient Greece
Test date: Week of September 17th
The Standards and Elements:
SS3H1
The student will explain the political roots of our modern democracy in the United States
of America.
EQ: America’s modern democracy was founded in which ancient country?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Element a:
The student will identify the influence of Greek architecture (structural columns of the
Parthenon, U.S. Supreme Court Building), law, and the Olympic games on our present
(current) times.
EQ: What components of Greek architecture can be found in America’s buildings
today? (See columns below)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Element b:
The student will explain the ancient Athenians’ idea that “a community should choose
its own leaders.”
EQ: Which country originally expressed the idea that “a community should choose its
own leaders?”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Element c:
The student will compare and contrast Athens as a direct democracy with the United
States as a representative democracy.
EQ: How can the democracies of the United States be compared and contrasted?
EQ: What words can be used to describe the democracies of the United States and
Ancient Greece?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SS3G1
The student will locate Greece on a world map.
EQ: How can I locate Greece on a world map?
EQ: How can I teach a friend to locate Greece on a world map?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Essential Questions: for the world map skills necessary to locate Greece
1. What continent is Greece located on? EUROPE
2. What countries border the United States? CANADA AND MEXICO
3. What direction is Greece in relation to (from) the United States? EAST—CARDINAL
DIRECTION
4. What kind of landform is the country of Greece? A PENINSULA—WATER ON THREE
SIDES
5. Which country is closer (The United States OR Greece) to the Equator? US
6. Which country is closer (The United States OR Greece) to the Prime Meridian?
GREECE
7. How is the country of Greece affected by how close it is to the Equator? ITS
WEATER AND CLIMATE ARE AFFECTED
8. What hemisphere(s) is the United States located in? NORTHERN & WESTERN
9. What hemisphere(s) is the country of Greece located in? NORTHERN & EASTERN
10. Which country has a warmer climate? Why? U.S.—BECAUSE THE CLOSER IT IS TO
THE EQUATOR, THE HOTTER IT GETS
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The Vocabulary:
a. Architecture: The character or style of building design.
b. Column: A decorative, rigid pillar, usually made of stone used in construction.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
(There are three main types of columns: Doric, Ionic, & Corinthian) (See below!)
Athenians: Greek citizens from the city of Athens.
Direct Democracy: A democracy based on allowing all citizens to work together
to create laws, elect officials, and pass executive motions.
Representative Democracy: A democracy based on the principle of electing
individuals to represent a group of people to create laws, elect officials, and pass
executive motions.
Election: The selection of a person (or persons) for office carried out by a vote.
Vote: an expression of opinion or choice, made by an individual (or group of
individuals).
Majority Rule: The understanding that more than half of any group can make fair
decisions for a whole group.
Tax: Money paid by individuals to fund the costs of running government services.