Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
Relevant Subject: Social Studies
Grade Level: 7th (I have five sections of the same Social Studies class)
Topic of the Lesson/Demonstration: Ancient Greece
Title of Lesson Plan: Ancient Greece
Time: 120 minutes
Materials: Document Camera, PowerPoint for Ancient Greece notes (APPENDIX C), Student Computer, Vocabulary Square
Handout (APPENDIX A), Timeline Handout (APPENDIX B)
Objectives:
Students will be able to have a better understanding of the achievements that people in Ancient Greece contributed to our world by:
1. creating a Vocabulary Square in teams of four
2. showcasing the Vocabulary Square to the class using the document camera
3. taking notes of the presented Vocabulary Squares using the Timeline Handout
Actual Lesson Plan:
1. Discuss the previous day’s lesson (students took notes on Ancient Greece from a PowerPoint the teacher created for students).
Note: The PowerPoint was shown through a projector and Apple Mac computer (see APPENDIX C for an outline of the notes).
A. Candy review (ask questions from the PowerPoint and give candy to students who provide correct answers).
B. Answer any questions students may have about Ancient Greece
2. Explain that students are going to work in groups of four to create a Vocabulary Square of one of the contributions from Greece
that students have already taken notes on (options for students will be Alexander the Great, Democracy, Architecture, Olympics,
Literature, Athens, & Sparta). Each group will get a different subject and each student will be responsible for completely and
accurately filling in one box of the team’s square.
3. Tell students that they will be responsible for showcasing their final products on the document camera so that other students can
create a Timeline from the Vocabulary Squares.
4. Show a teacher-created example of the Vocabulary Square using the document camera so students can see what is expected of
them for the final product.
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
5. Explain to students that they may use the notes from the PowerPoint to fill in the Vocabulary Squares. They may also use the
student computer in my room to look online for pictures or for other information they would like to include in their Vocabulary
Squares.
6. Tell students that they must show you a rough draft of the Vocabulary Square before they can fill in the final product. Check for
accuracy of content, spelling, and overall quality of work. Tell students that the final Vocabulary Square must be done in color
(colored pencils, crayons, markers).
7. Give students ample time to complete additional research, work together, fill in their rough drafts, and complete their final
Vocabulary Square (approx. 45-60 minutes).
8. When Vocabulary Squares are complete, pass out the Timeline handout.
9. Ask students to fill in the Timeline while groups present their final Vocabulary Squares to the class using the document camera.
10. “Video” one of the presentations using the document camera. Use this video with the rest of the classes so students can see and
hear what is expected of them when they come up to present.
11. Also, the teacher will “capture” photos of the Vocabulary Squares and will print them for three reasons: (1) so absent students
can see the final products, take appropriate notes, and not miss out on anything, (2) so other classes can see the final products of
their fellow peers, (3) so I can use the examples with my students next year.
12. After all students have presented the Vocabulary Squares, show a completed Timeline using the document camera so students
can make sure their Timelines are filled out correctly.
13. Grade Vocabulary Squares and display in the classroom and in the hallway.
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
APPENDIX A: Vocabulary Squares
Define OR explain in more detail Name the year
or century when it
and give an example of a building: began:
ARCHITECTURE
Contributions to the world:
picture:
Draw a
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
What type of gov’t was created, define
Name the
year or century when it
This gov’t, and what city-state began:
did it begin in:
GOVERNMENT
Contributions to the world:
that represents this
of gov’t:
Draw a picture
type
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
Define OR explain in more detail: Name the
year or century when it
began:
LITERATURE
Contributions to the world:
Draw a picture:
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
Define OR explain in more detail: Name the
year or century when it
began:
OLYMPICS
Contributions to the world:
Draw a picture:
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
Define city-state:
Why would someone NOT want to
mess with a citizen of this
city-state:
ATHENS
Contributions to the world:
Draw a picture:
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
Define city-state:
Why would someone NOT want to
mess with a citizen of this
city-state:
SPARTA
Contributions to the world:
Draw a picture:
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
Define OR explain in more detail: Name the
year or century when he
took over:
ALEXANDER THE
GREAT
What continents did Alexander gain Draw a
picture:
land in and how long did it take him
to do this?
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
APPENDIX B: Timeline Handout
Ancient Greece Timeline
Olympics
8th Century B.C.
Philosophy (Socrates)
5th Century B.C.
6th Century B.C.
4th Century B.C.
Government
Alexander the Great
ATHENS:
5th
Literature
Century B.C.
5th Century B.C.
Architecture
SPARTA:
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
APPENDIX C: Outline of PowerPoint for Background Information
What do all of these things have in common?
Philosophy
Literature
Sports
Architecture
Government
Please write your answer down on a piece of paper.
People from Ancient Greece made remarkable achievements in these areas
Ancient Greece was located near the Mediterranean Sea. The time period
started during the 8th century B.C.
*NOTE where Athens and Sparta are
The ancient Greeks all spoke the same language. They believed in the same
gods. They shared a common heritage. They perceived themselves as Greeks…but
that is where the commonalities ended when “City-States” formed.
WHAT IS A CITY-STATE?
A City-State is a central city and surrounding villages (metropolis like Los
Angeles). Each city-state was a separate political unit, having its own
personality, goals, customs and laws. Ancient Greeks were very loyal to their
city-state.
Athens was one of the largest and most important ancient Greek city-states.
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
*Formed a democratic form of government “ruled by the people” by the end of
the 6th century B.C.
Sparta was a city-state located in southern Greece that was one of Athens
chief rivals.
*Sparta was the only city-state with a permanent army. At age 7, Spartan
boys were sent by their families for military training and had to remain in
the army until they were 30 years old.
Characteristics of TWO major city-states citizens:
SPARTAN:
BE PROUD! You have endured unbelievable pain and hardship to become a
superior Spartan soldier and citizen. You were beaten by older children who
started fights to help make you tough and strong. You were given very little
food, but encouraged to steal food instead. If caught stealing, you were
beaten. To avoid severe pain, you learned to be cunning, to lie, to cheat, to
steal, and how to get away with it. You were fierce, capable, and proud of
your strength. You know you are superior and are delighted to be a Spartan.
ATHENIAN:
BE COURTEOUS! You have been educated in the arts and the sciences and trained
to be extremely productive and capable in times of peace or war. You are an
achiever. Until age 6 or 7, you were taught at home by your mother, or by a
male slave. You learned drama, public speaking, reading writing, math, and
perhaps even how to play the flute. Athens is clearly the shining star of all
of the Greek city-states.
Ancient Greece’s contributions to the World
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
SPORTS
OLYMPICS: The first OLYMPICS was held in 776 B.C.
The Olympics were so important to the ancient Greeks that wars were stopped
to allow participants to attend. In ancient Greece, each city-state sent a
team to represent them in these famous games.
SOME SPORTS PLAYED DURING THE OLYMPICS:
BOXING, HORSERACING EVENTS, JUMPING, RUNNING, AND WRESTLING
GOVERNMNENT
Athens was the first city-state to develop a democratic form of government
during the 6th century. Citizens took parts in debates and voted on laws, but
NOT everyone enjoyed these rights.
Who do you think was left out of the democratic process?
*Women
*Slaves
*Foreign residents
Does that sound like a “blast from OUR past” or what?
LITERATURE
To honor their gods and goddesses, the ancient Greeks created myths and wrote
poems and plays.
Some of the greatest Greek plays were written during the 5th century B.C.
Tragedies: Serious plays that end unhappily. Many of these stories have been
the basis for modern films and operas.
Comedies: Plays that poked fun at important citizens, including generals and
politicians.
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan
Example: Saturday Night Live
PHILOSOPHY
Greek Philosophers study and think about why the world is the way it is.
*Socrates was a famous philosopher during the 5th century. He studied and
taught about friendship, knowledge, and justice.
ARCHITECTURE
Many people associate the ancient Greeks with their beautiful buildings. The
simple designs and soaring columns of their ancient temples have inspired
world architecture since they were first constructed.
The Parthenon was built in Athens during the 5th century B.C. as a temple to
honor the goddess named Athena.
The Lincoln Memorial was based on Greek architecture.
The Spread of Greek Culture
The city-states of Greece (mainly Athens & Sparta) were constantly at war
with each other. By the 4th century B.C., this fighting had weakened their
ability to defend themselves.
In 338 B.C., King Philip II of Macedonia conquered the land. After Philip
died, his son, Alexander the Great, took control.
Why do you think Alexander was considered “GREAT”?
He was considered an excellent military leader and his armies conquered vast
new territories, which spread the Greek culture. He conquered land in Europe,
Asia, and Africa.
Colby DeBlaey
Social Studies Lesson Plan