Creating a Historical Map
Project Goals:
 Create a walking- tour map of Ancient Athens.
 Use Cardinal Directions to locate places on maps and globes
 Students will use scale to determine the distance between places.
The Task:
 Explain why the following sites were important to Ancient Athenian
democracy: Pnyx Hill, the Agora and the Bouleterion.
 Write a caption for each site that explains why it was significant to
Ancient Athenian democracy. In your caption, include information that
helps visitors understand that people’s experiences with democracy were
different according to their social class.
 Create a walking-tour map of ancient Athens that shows these sites.
 Answer the following question, so that the visitors to Greece understand
why taking this tour is important”
o If the selected sites were many kilometres apart, or if some were
outside the city walls, would democracy in Athens have been
different?
 Your map will be displayed so you need to make sure it is accurate,
clearly labelled, easy to read and informative.
Checklist:
Use the checklist to help you keep organized.
Ask yourself: Did I include?
 Title: A brief description of the purpose of the map.
(Ancient Athens)
 A legend that shows a list of symbols or colours on the
map with an explanation of what each one means.
 Compass Rose: A drawing that shows the cardinal
directions (North, East, South and West)
 Scale: A measure that compares distances on the map to
actual distances on the ground.
 Did you write your name on the back of the map?
 Did I check page 293 of my red text book to see an
example?
RUBRIC
Criteria
(6.2 Historical models of
democracy)
Construct and
interpret various types
of maps to help me
understand historical,
physical, and political
topics.
(6.2.3.8)
Use a map scale to
calculate the distance
between places on a
map.
(6.2.3.10)
Explain how the way
society was organized
in ancient Athens
determined the way
government was
organized.
(6.2.3.16)
Exemplary
25-20
Accomplished
19- 12
Developing
12-7
Student can
proficiently
create a map
from the point of
view of the
ancient
Athenians. /10
Student can
create a map from
the point of view
of the ancient
Athenian with
minor errors
Student is
developing their
map making
skills.
Student uses
proper scale to
show actual
distances
between places.
/5
Student
included a
detailed caption
for each site that
explains why it
is important to
Athenian
government. /10
Student uses
scale to show
actual distances
between places.
Few errors.
Student did not
use a scale
accurately on their
map.
Student included
a caption for each
site that
somewhat
explains why it is
important to
Athenian
government.
Student included
a brief caption for
each site.
Timeline:
Day one :
 Project is handed out; description of assignment is discussed
and explained. Review project checklist and rubric.
 Create and draw a legend on your map that shows major
buildings, road, city wall, gate.
 Place your legend in the top left corner.
 Create a compass rose that shows the directional indicators and
add this to the right of the legend.
 Write a title for your map.
Day two:
 Near the left of the centre of the 8x14 white paper lightly write
the name- Agora.
o Now ask yourself :
o What is the distance from the Agora to Pnyx Hill?
o What is the distance from the Agora to Bouleuterion?
o What will you use in your scale to show an accurate
distance between each place?
o Now determine the distances and lightly sketch these
locations onto your map.
Day three and four:
 Students lightly sketch an outline of Ancient Athens. The
outline should closely resemble the illustration in the student
textbook.
 Create a walking path between each place.
 Draw the city walls and gates on your map.
 The scale you use should show the actual distance around and
within Ancient Athens.
Day five:
 Draw the border of the Agora.
 Add in important landmarks or additional buildings that you
would be interested to see, such as the Temple of Athena, Temple
of Ares, Temple of the Olympian Zeus, the Law Courts
Building.
 Add details.