ANCIENT GREECE: AN EIGHTH GRADE
HISTORY UNIT
Michelle de Freitas
EDMD 7120
29 April 2010
LEARNING GOALS
1. Learners will examine how ancient Greece has
contributed to modern civilization.
2. Learners will analyze the characteristics of
ancient Greece's literary work, music, and art.
3. Learners will conduct research on ancient
Greece to demonstrate their understanding of
literacy skills.
OBJECTIVE
Learners will conduct research on ancient
Greece to demonstrate their understanding of
literacy skills by creating a Photo Story report
on an assigned individual who made a
significant cultural contribution to Ancient
Greece.
ACOS OBJECTIVES
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Learners will identify the cultural contributions of Classical Greece,
including politics, intellectual life, arts, literature, architecture, and
science. (SS)
Learners will apply strategies appropriate to type of reading material,
including making inferences to determine bias or theme and using
specific context clues, to comprehend eighth-grade informational and
functional reading materials. (ELA)
Learners will explain distinguishing characteristics of odes, ballads,
epic poetry, historical documents, essays, letters to the editor, and
editorials. (ELA)
Learners will combine all aspects of the research process to
compose a report (e.g. outline, rough draft, editing, final copy, workscited page). (ELA)
Learners will identify characteristics of spoken formal and informal
language. (ELA)
LITERACY PARTNERS OBJECTIVES
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Learners will use Boolean operators in conducting an online
search.
Learners will revise a search strategy to increase the number
of relevant citations.
Learners will recognize the characteristics of various types of
literature.
Learners will draw a conclusion based upon information in a
passage or on a chart.
Learners will relate statements and probable sources.
Learners will summarize information from several sources
and document each source.
Learners will sequence events.
THE BIG 6 SKILLS
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Task Definition
The teacher and students will discuss in class the cultural contributions that
Ancient Greece has provided to modern western civilization (e.g. music, art,
literature, science, math, history, democracy, education, philosophy,
architecture). They will also talk about individuals who played a significant
role in developing the discussed fields (e.g. Plato, Alexander the Great,
Socrates, Solon, Aristotle, Homer, Sophocles, Thucydides).
The library media specialist will inform students of the learning objective, an
overview of the topic areas, and the project requirements.
The teacher will show students how to create a Photo Story.
The teacher will demonstrate how to create a title slide and a works cited
slide using PowerPoint.
The teacher will review how to save pictures as a jpeg.
Students will select topic area/individual of interest. They will discuss with
their research partners possible search terms.
THE BIG 6 SKILLS
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Information Seeking Strategies
The library media specialist will provide an overview of the various
resources available to students, both electronic and print (e.g. AVL,
subject encyclopedias, works of literature, almanacs, etc.)
The library media specialist will review with students how to conduct
a Boolean Search via Google to limit results.
Students will discuss with their research partners what resources
should be consulted to find the information they require.
Location and Access
Learners will use Google, the online library catalog, and AVL to
locate/access information pertaining to their topic.
Learners will locate appropriate print sources in the library media
center to acquire information pertaining to their topic.
THE BIG 6 SKILLS
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Use of Information
Learners will evaluate and select information that is pertinent to their
research topic.
Learners will select appropriate pictures to use in their research project.
Learners will take notes on the provided outline worksheet.
Synthesis
Students will create a Photo Story with the information and pictures they
have gathered with a works cited slide at the end.
Evaluation
Students will provide anonymous feedback via the provided peer evaluation
rubric.
The teacher will provide feedback and the research groups grade by the use
of the provided rubric.
Library media specialist will provide feedback and evaluate student's use of
information literacy skills through use of the provided rubric.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
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Montgomery, Alabama: www.montgomeryal.gov
Capital of the state of Alabama-Provides information on Alabama's
government which is an example of democracy.
Examples of Greek architecture can be found in the capitol building, many of
the homes (e.g. Alabama Governor's Mansion), and the Alabama
Department of Archives and History Museum.
Fine Arts- Montgomery as several theatres, including an outdoor
amphitheatre, and a fine arts museum.
Home of Troy University's W.A. Gayle Planetarium
The George Washington Carver Museum:
www.gwcarvermuseum.org/exhibitions.html
Website offers an argument in support of the Black Athena debate (argues
that black Africans built Egypt and therefore Greek and western civilization).
Students can see from this site that history can sometimes be conflicting
and historians do not yet have all the answers.
PROPOSED PRODUCT
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The students will create a research report using
the media software Photo Story to present to the
class. They will be assigned an individual who
made a significant cultural contribution to Ancient
Greece and western civilization. The report must
include at least five high quality images that
supports the topic, pertinent text, audio, title slide
and a works cited slide. Learners will be required
to use formal language. Music may be used as
long as it supports the content and students abide
by copyright regulations.
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES
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Introduce, discuss and review topic areas during class.
Allot time to work on research project in the library media center.
Assign research partners.
Develop a list of possible topics for students to research and a sign-up sheet.
Monitor students through the process to ensure they are on-task and cooperating.
Show students how to make a title slide and works cited slide using PowerPoint.
Show students how to use and create a Photo Story.
Review with students how to save pictures as jpegs.
Create outline worksheet for student notes.
Create self assessment rubric.
Create peer evaluation rubric.
Create teacher project evaluation worksheet.
Grade and provide feedback for student projects.
LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST RESPONSIBILITIES
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Develop a PowerPoint to review topic areas and project requirements.
Develop a wiki with useful links to online sources and a list of
recommended print sources.
Review how to conduct a Boolean Search.
Aid students in using the online catalog and finding online and print
materials.
Review with students how to make a title slide and works cited slide
using PowerPoint.
Review with students how to use and create a Photo Story.
Review with students how to save pictures as jpegs
Create a rubric to assess information literacy skills.
Observer learners and view presentations to evaluate information
literacy skills.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Cooperate with assigned partner to gather
research and create a high-quality final product.
 Select a topic of interest to research.
 Use information literacy skills to locate, access,
and synthesize information.
 Abide by copyright regulations and cite all sources.
 Ask the teacher or library media specialist for help
when needed.
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HOW WILL WE ASSESS LEARNING?
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Student Assessment
Learners will complete the self-assessment rubric to evaluate how well they and their
partner worked together to complete the project. They will also evaluate how well
they feel the research process proceeded and the quality of their final product.
Learners will complete the peer evaluation rubric to provide classmates with
feedback on the quality of the final product.
Teacher Assessment
Summative Assessment: The teacher will observe students throughout the process
to ensure that they are on task and working well together. The teacher will hold
midterm conferences with the students to check on the progression of their project.
Formative Assessment: The teacher will evaluate the final product with the teachercreated rubric. All students will receive the completed rubric with their grade and
feedback from the teacher.
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Library Media Specialist Assessment
Summative Assessment: The library media specialist will observe students
throughout the process to see what information literacy skills they are using.
Formative Assessment: The library media specialist will use the provided rubric to
assess students' information literacy skills and their ability create a high-quality final
product .
RESOURCES
Electronic Resources
Ancient Greece-Resources
http://ancient-greece-resources.wikispaces.com/
This wiki was created by the library media specialist to provide students with links to electronic sources and a
list of print resources that may help them in their research.
Alabama Virtual Library
http://www.virtual.lib.al.us/
This contains various databases that students may search for information. Also allows students to access
Britannica Online School Edition.
InfoPlease.com
http://www.infoplease.com/
This electronic almanac will not only give students access to statistical facts, but the site also has a
dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, and timelines.
BBC Schools-Ancient Greece
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/ancient_greeks/
This webpage allows students to browse by topic and has numerous supporting images.
RESOURCES
The British Museum- Ancient Greece
http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/
This interactive website allows students to explore content by topic. Provides images, brief overviews,
stories, challenging games, and interactive exploration of artifacts and locations.
Kidipede
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/
This website is in the style of a subject encyclopedia. Students can browse by topic, time period, or
location. Entries are divided into subtopics which are represented by graphical links (making this site
easy for children to navigate).
Google Earth
Through this software students can access an interactive atlas that not only covers the Earth, but
outer space as well. Students can use this software to see the terrain of Greece and modern day
satellite images.
RESOURCES
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Print Resources
Compton's by Britannica- This middle school general encyclopedia set can
be used to find general information about topic areas and individuals.
Merriam-Webster's Intermediate Dictionary and Intermediate ThesaurusThese references can be used by students to identify unknown words and
avoid repetition in their reports.
Atlas of Past Times- This resource provide readers with world, regional, and
supplementary maps. It also provide brief overviews of locations and
significant individuals.
The Encyclopedia of World Mythology- Provides brief entries on various world
myths. Students can find information on Homer and his works.
The Encyclopedia of World History- Provides timelines and brief entries
about significant contributions of various civilizations.
Trade Books- Students can consult various trade books, including
Sophocles' Antigone and Homer's The Illiad.
RESOURCES
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Hardware and Software
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Computers: Students will need access to computers for research
and creating their Photo Stories.
Athena Catalog: Students will need to access this software to locate
print resources in their library.
Microsoft PowerPoint: Students will need to use PowerPoint to create
a title slide and a works cited slide for their Photo Story.
Microsoft Photo Story 3: Students will use this software to create
their final product.
LCD Projector: The projector will be used for both student and
teacher presentations.
Mozilla Firefox: This internet browser will be used by students for
internet research.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
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Day 1:
The teacher will briefly introduce the assignment to
students in the classroom. The project will be a
formative assessment of their unit on Ancient Greece.
The teacher will assign research partners.
The library media specialist will present a PowerPoint
providing students with a brief overview of available
topics and project requirements.
The library media specialist will briefly review available
reference resources and Boolean searching.
If time, students will be allowed to use remaining time to
search the library catalog and locate resources.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
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Day 2:
The students will come to the library media center to conduct
research. They will use the computers to access electronic resources
and will use the library catalog to locate print resources.
The students will use the outline handout to record information.
They will select at least five images to use in their project.
The teacher and library media specialist will observe and help
students as needed.
Day 3:
The students will come to the library media center to finish collecting
research.
Research pairs that are finished will begin organizing the information
from their outline into a script for their Photo Story.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
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Day 4
The library media specialist will meet the students and their teacher in the computer
lab.
The library media specialist will review with students how to make a title slide and
works cited slide in PowerPoint.
The library media specialist will model creating a project in Photo Story.
Students will import photos and PowerPoint slides, and enter appropriate text into
Photo Story.
The teacher and library media specialist will help students as needed.
Day 5
The class will again meet in the computer lab. The library media specialist will show
students how to connect their microphones, check the connection, and how to
record in Photo Story.
Students will be given headsets to record audio.
Students may create or import appropriate music to the Photo Story (optional).
The teacher and librarian will help students as needed.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
Day 6 (and Day 7 if needed)
 The students will come to the library media center
to present their Photo Stories.
 Students will complete self-assessment rubric
 Students will complete peer-evaluation rubric
 The teacher will complete grading and feedback
rubric
 The library media specialist will complete literacy
skills rubric
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GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
STUDENT SELF-ASSESSMENT
STUDENT PEER ASSESSMENT
TEACHER ASSESSMENT
and Spelling
LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST ASSESSMENT