Greece: Resource Unit
7th Grade World History
Laura Green
Sarah Thomason
Sheena Striker
Introduction to Greece
► When
one looks around our culture, the
influence of ancient Greece becomes very
apparent. Our modern day theatre,
philosophy, sports, and politics all have
roots in ancient Greece. This makes it very
important for students to understand the
ancient Greek civilization so that they might
understand the impact that it plays in their
own lives.
► This
unit will look at the beginning of the Greek
civilization and the military, economic, and cultural
factors that helped shaped it.
► It will begin with the early Greeks (the Minoans and
Mycenaeans) and follow its growth into a dominant
power in the world through Alexander the Great.
Besides the historical and military events, the unit
will also focus on Greek culture and its influence
both then and now.
Objectives
Students should be able to after covering the unit:
► The
Early Greeks:
 Know the physical geography of Greece and its impact on
how the early Greeks made a living and their culture
developed
 Identify the Minoans; understand the impact that the palace
at Knossos had for archaeologists and their understanding
of the Minoan civilization; know that explanations for the
collapse of the Minoan civilization
 Know that the Mycenaeans were the first Greek kings; Be
able to explain what the Mycenaean kingdoms were like and
where their power came from
 Differentiate between fact and fiction regarding the Trojan
War.
 Know what the Greek Dark Age is and its impact
 Explain what a colony is and how the rise of
colonies shaped ancient Greece and its economy
 Understand the terms and explain the impact they
have on modern words and ideas: polis, acropolis,
agora, city-state, citizen
 Describe the difference between city-states and
modern day cities; explain what it meant to be a
citizen in ancient Greece
► Sparta
and Athens
 Discuss why the rule of nobles was short lived
and how it led to the rise of tyrants; Explain how
the rule of tyrants led to the rise of oligarchies
and democracies.
 Summarize what life and government was like in
Sparta, emphasizing the importance of the
military
 Summarize what life and especially government
was like in Athens; identify key people such as
Solon and Peisistratus
 Explain how these two cultures impact our lives
today
► Persian
Wars
 Identify who the Persians were and know where they
came from; identify important individuals (Cyrus the
Great, Darius)
 Explain what the Persian Empire was like and what
Zoroastrianism is
 Summarize the Persian Wars and identify the major
battles and generals; explain why the Persian Empire
fell
► Age
of Pericles
 Discuss the importance of the Delian League
and how alliances often lead to war (ex. WWI)
 Compare and contrast direct and representative
democracies; explain how Athens has impacted
our own government
 Identify Pericles and discuss how he impacted
Athens
 Explain the causes and events of the
Peloponnesian War
► Alexander
the Great
 Identify Macedonia and Phillip II and how they
impacted Greece
 Explain who Alexander the Great is and how his
conquests impacted the ancient world
 Explain what became of Alexander the Great’s
empire
► Greek
Culture
 Understand Greek mythology and identify the major
gods; explain how it impacted Greek culture
 Discuss Greek poetry and fables; identify important
writers like Homer and Aesop
 Describe Greek drama and its different types of
plays; explain how it influences us today; identify
important writers of Greek drama
 Differentiate between Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian style
architecture; identify Greek buildings and the influence of
Greek architecture in modern buildings
 Identify the major Greek philosophers and schools of
thought
 Summarize how the ancient Greeks impacted science and
math
 Explain how Greek culture spread throughout the ancient
world
Content
► This
unit will take about
4 weeks to complete and
will use Glencoe’s World
History Journey Across
Time: The Early Ages
textbook. The textbook
divides Greece between
chapters 4 and 5.
Chapter 4: The Ancient Greeks
► Section
1: The Early Greeks
 Geography of Greece
 The Minoans
► Crete,
Minoan economy, collapse of the Minoans
 The First Greek Kingdoms
► The
Mycenaeans, their economy and power, the Trojan War,
► The Dark Age, the Dorians, Peloponnesus, the Greek Alphabet
 A Move to Colonize
► The
establishment of Greek colonies, growth of trade
 The Polis
► Greek
City-States and their setup, citizenship vs. subjects,
military power
4-1 Terms and Concepts
Peninsula
► Crete
► Minoans
► Knossos
► Mycenaeans
► Agamemnon
► Trojan War
► Dark Age
► Peloponnesus
►
The Greek Alphabet
► Phoenicians
► Colonies
► Parent Colony
► City-State
► Polis
► Acropolis
► Agora
► Citizenship
► Hoplites
►
► Section
2: Sparta and Athens
 Tyranny in the City-States
►Rule
of the nobles after the Dark Age, challenge to their
rule by farmers, rise and rule of tyrants
►the emergence of oligarchies and democracies
 Sparta
►Importance
of military
►Sparta’s Government
►Life in Sparta
 Athens
►Life
in Athens
►Democracy in Athens: how it worked
4-2 Terms and Concepts
► Tyrant
► Ephors
► Oligarchy
► Solon
► Democracy
► Peisistratus
► Sparta
► Cleisthenes
► Athens
► Council
► Helots
of 500
► Lottery system
► Section
3:Persia Attacks the Greeks
 The Persian Empire
►The
Persians and their rise
► the Persian government: divisions, professional troops
►Persian religion: Zoroastrianism
 The Persian Wars
►Greek
colonies and rebellion against the Persian Empire
►Battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea
►The fall of the Persian Empire
4-3 Terms and Concepts
► Persia
► Pheidippides
► Cyrus
► Xerxes
the Great
► Royal Road
► Darius
► Satrapies
► The Immortals
► Zoroastrianism
► Marathon
► Leonidas
► Themistocles
► Thermopylae
► Salamis
► Plataea
► Section
4: Age of Pericles
 The Athenian Empire
►The
Delian League
►Direct vs Representative Democracy
►The age of Pericles, the dominance of Athens, spread
of democracy, “the school of Greece”
 Daily Life
►Athens=
most populous Greek City-State
►Slaves, Athenian economy, men vs women
 The Peloponnesian War
►Sparta
vs Athens
►Pericles’ Funeral Oration
►The defeat of Athens
4-4 Terms and Concepts
► Delos
► Delian
League
► Direct Democracy
► Representative
Democracy
► Generals
► Pericles
► The
Age of Pericles
Philosophers
► The School of Greece
► Slaves
► Imports
► Aspasia
► Pericles’ Funeral
Oration
Chapter 5:Greek Civilization
► Section
1: The Culture of Ancient Greece
 Greek Mythology
►Myths,
Gods and Goddesses, Mount Olympus, the
Oracle at Delphi
 Greek Poetry and Fables
Poetry-Homer and the Illiad and Odyssey
Aesop’s Fables
►Epic
►
 Greek Drama
►Tragedies
and comedies, Greek writers
 Greek Art and Architecture
►Doric,
Ionic, and Corinthian styles, Parthenon, temples
5-1 Terms
► Myths
► Zeus
► Athena
► Apollo
► Ares
► Aphrodite
► Demeter
► Poseidon
► Hera
► Hades
► Hestia
► Artemis
► Hermes
► Mount
► Oracle
Olympus ► Comedy
► Delphi
► Croesus
► Epics
► Illiad
and
Odyssey
► Homer
► Aesop
► Fables
► Drama
► Tragedy
► Sophocles
► Euripides
► Aeschylus
► Aristophanes
► Doric
► Ionic
► Corinthian
► Pathenon
► Section
2: Greek Philosophy and History
 Greek Philosophers
►Philosophy
and philosophers-teachers
►Pythagoras, Sophists, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
►Impact of their ideas on today’s society
 Greek Historians
►Herodotus
►Thucydides
5-2 Terms and Concepts
► Philosophy
► Aristotle
► Philosophers
► Lyceum
► Pythagoras
► “golden
► Sophists
► Politics
► Socrates
► Herodotus
► Socratic
Method
► Plato
► The
Republic
mean”
► Thucydides
► History
of the
Peloponnesian War
► Section
3: Alexander the Great
 Macedonia Attacks Greece
►Philip
II took over city-states, Battle of Chaeronea
 Alexander Builds an Empire
►Invaded
Asia Minor and kept going east, defeating the
Persians
►Made it to India, many soldiers died, Alexander died at
age 32
►He left behind a great legacy, beginning of the
Hellenistic Era
►Empire fell apart after his death
5-3 Terms and Concepts
► Macedonia
► Alexandria
► Philip
► Guagamela
II
► Demosthenes
► Chaeronea
► Alexander the Great
► Syria
► Granicus
► Legacy
► Hellenistic
► Pergamum
► Egypt
► Seleucid
Era
► Section
4: The Spread of Greek Culture
 Greek Culture Spreads
►Hellenistic
Era=Greeks spread to SE Asia and Egypt
►New cities built with Greek architecture
►Many kings supported Greek writers
 Philosophy
►New
types emerged: Epicureanism and Stoicism
 Greek Science and Math
►Major
contributions in science and math
►Astronomy became important
5-4 Terms and Concepts
► Greece’s
Golden Age
► Astronomers
► Rhodes
► Aristarchus
► Appolonius
► Eratosthenes
► Argonautica
► Euclid
► Theocritus
► Plane
► Menander
► Epicureanism
► Zeno
► Stoicism
Geometry
► Archimedes
► Syracuse
► Solid Geometry
► pi
Ancient Greece Lessons
and Assessments
Day 1: Geography
► Using
the map in the
book, label your map
with the following
countries, city-states,
significant landforms
and bodies of water in
Ancient Greece.
► Countries: Greece,
Crete, Macedonia,
Asia Minor
► Bodies
of water:
Mediterranean Sea,
Ionian Sea, Aegean
Sea, Sea of Marmara
► City-states: Thebes,
Athens, Sparta, Troy,
Mycenae
► Landforms: Mount
Olympus
Day 1:Continued
► On
the back of the map worksheet, answer
the questions about Ancient Greece’s
climate, topography, etc and how this
effected the Greek way of life in ancient
times.
► When everyone is finished we will fill in the
map as a class and discuss the answers to
the questions.
Day 2-3:The Early Greeks
Objective:
► Students will be able to
teach other students about
the early people who
settled Greece.
Lesson:
► Students will be put into
groups. Each group will be
given a specific part of
Early Greek history and
will research and prepare a
report for the rest of the
class.
Materials:
► Book, handout, pencil,
paper, art supplies
Assessment:
► Each student in the group
will speak in from of the
class or contribute to the
group in some way.
► Each group will create a
poster highlighting the
significant points of their
time period in Greek
history.
Day 4-5- Athens vs. Sparta
Objective:
► Students will know the
main differences
between the city-states
of Athens and Sparta.
► Students will be able to
identify the pros and
cons of each city state
and why they clashed.
Materials:
► Book, pencil, paper
Lesson:
► Students will fill out the
worksheet provided
answering questions about
Athenian and Spartan
societies.
► Students will also write a
short essay on which citystate they would have liked
to live in and why. They are
to use specific examples and
clear explanations.
Assessment:
► Clearly stated essay and
correct answers on the
worksheet.
Classical Greece- Days 6-7
Objective:
► Students will create their
own set of notes using
information that is
provided.
Materials:
► Computer, outline, and
website provided.
► Classical Greece
Lesson:
► Using the website listed
and the outline created,
prepare your own notes
of class. Cut and paste
small sections of
information into your
outline. When you are
finished print it off and
turn it in.
Assessment:
► Under each section of the
outline students will have
three or more facts listed.
Ancient Greece Web Quest! Day
8
► Go
to the Web Quest using the link provided
and complete the activities to learn about
daily life in Ancient Greece.
► Ancient Greece Web Quest!
Assessment:
► Completion of Web Quest and presenting
newspaper article to the class.
Chapter Assessment- Day 9
► Students
will be given a chapter
assessment. This test will consist of multiple
choice questions, matching, and two essay
questions.
► There will be a teacher led review before
the test and students are to use their note
packets to study.
Greek Civilization
Day 10 and 11- Greek Mythology
► After
watching a short video on Greek
Mythology students will be taken to the
library.
► Students will:
► use library or online resources to learn
about one of the gods or goddesses of
ancient Greece.
► assume the role of a god or goddess and
write a first-person diary, report, or
postcard.
•Materials Needed
library and/or Internet resources about gods and goddesses
paper, pencils, and art supplies
•Assessment
Create a matching activity; students match ten of the gods'
names in one column with their descriptions in the other
column.
Greek Mythology
Day 12- The Olympics
► Go
to the following website and find out
about the Ancient Olympics. Take notes on
what types of games they had, what prizes
were one, who competed, and why?
► Now write a short essay on how the ancient
games are similar and different to the
games held today.
► The Olympics
► Greek
Day 13
LiteratureShort lecture over
Homer and his works
of The Illiad and The
Odyssey and Aesop’s
Fables. Discuss how
Homer’s works
explained the
importance of the
gods and goddesses
in his story telling.
► Watch 13 minute
video over Aesop’s
Fables.
► For
each fable, write
what the moral of the
story was and why it
is good advice to
follow.
► Assessment: Now
write your own short
fable. Be sure to have
a moral or some type
of advice in the story.
Greek Drama, Art, and ArchitectureDay 14
►
►
►
►
►
Objectives:
Students will understand
the difference between
comedy and tragedy.
Students will be able to
describe Greek painting,
sculpture and
architecture.
Students will know the
difference between Doric,
Ionic and Corinthian
styles, and know why the
Parthenon and other
temples were built.
Materials:
Worksheet, pencil, web
quest
► Lesson:
► Students will answer
questions on the
worksheet using the
following links to access
the information. They are
able to work in pairs to
complete the assignment.
► Ancient Greek Architecture
► Greek Theater
► Assessment:
► Completed worksheet
with correct answers.
►
►
►
►
Greek Philosophy and History15 during the 500's B.C. The
Philosophy originated inDay
ancient Greece
word philosophy comes from two Greek words meaning love of
wisdom. Many of the questions that were asked by Greek
philosophers would today be considered subjects of scientific inquiry.
The earliest philosophers speculated about the underlying substance
of the universe and how the universe operated. Later philosophers
investigated the nature of knowledge and reality and sought to define
such notions as good and evil.
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are considered the most important
Greek philosophers. Socrates taught by carefully questioning his
listeners to expose the weaknesses of their ideas and arguments.
Plato explored such subjects as beauty, justice, and good
government. Aristotle summed up the achievements of Greek
philosophy and science. His authority on many topics remained
unquestioned for more than 1,000 years.
Most people in ancient Greece were suspicious of philosophers and
their theories. They continued to believe in traditional values and
traditional religion. In 399 B.C., an Athenian jury sentenced Socrates
to death , charging him with corrupting young men and not believing
in the gods of the city.
Continued
Lesson:
Objective:
► Students will know the
most famous Greek
philosophers and what
their main area of focus
was.
► Students will be able to
explain what
contributions each gave
to Greek society
Materials:
► Paper, pencil
Through lecture and video
segments students will
learn about the major
philosophers and their
impact of Greek society.
► Students are to write
down three facts about
each philosopher and then
share with three other
people what they learned.
Assessment:
► Being able to tell someone
else what they learned
about the philosophers.
► Explain how their ideas
impacted today’s society.
►
Alexander the Great and The
Spread of Greek Culture
Day 16 - Alexander the Great
►
►
►
►
►
Objective:
Learn how Alexander the
Great came to power and
describe how his
conquering allowed Greek
culture to spread.
Materials:
Handout from teacher,
pencil, paper.
►
Alexander the Great
Handout
►
►
►
Instructions:
Read the handout given,
taking notes about the rise
of Alexander the Great.
When you are finished
compare notes at least two
other people.
When finished we will
discuss the information as
a class.
Assessment: A short quiz
will be given over the
handout.
Day 17- The Spread of Greek
Culture
Objective:
► Gain an understanding of the spread of Greek
culture and how it would come to later influence
cultures such as the Romans.
Lesson:
► Students will read through section 4 of their book
and complete the guided notes that are provided.
Assessment:
► Question and answer secession after everyone has
completed the notes.
Day 18- Review Game
► Teacher
led review of material covered in
chapter. Students will be grouped into
teams and will play Jeopardy.
Day 19- Chapter Assessment
► Test
will be given over Chapter 5. Test will
consist of multiple choice questions,
matching, and essay.
Activities
►
Activity 1
 Skill building activity, Crete and Mycenae: Identifying the roots of Greek
civilization
 Match and analyze Minoan and Mycenaean artifacts to understand how the
Minoan civilization of Crete influenced the culture of mainland Greece during
the Bronze age
 Can work in groups of 2
 Materials needed
► Slide projector and slides
► Student handouts
► Teacher guide
►
Activity 2
 Experiential exercise, 4 forms of Government
 Use the descriptions of the four forms of government (Monarchy, Oligarchy,
Tyranny, and Democracy) to fill in the student handout.
 Materials needed
► Student handouts and descriptions of government
► Overhead projector and transparencies
► Slide projector and slides
Activity 3
Writing for understanding, Touring Athens during the Golden age
Create a “scrapbook” describing what students have learned about Athenian daily life.
Use stations set up around the room for students to see pictures, listen to sound
recordings, and look at artifacts from Agora, the Parthenon, and Theatre of Dionysus.
► Students can work in pairs to “tour” the stations, but work alone to complete the writing
portion and scrapbook.
► Material needed
►
►
►
►





Cassette player and tapes
CD player and CD’s
Overheard projector and transparencies
Slide projector and slides
Student handouts
Activity 4
Response group, Greek against Greek; Athens v Sparta
Small groups become neutral Greek city-states trying to choose allegiance to Athens or
Sparta to learn how rivalry let to the Peloponnesian War.
► Students listen to each city-state argument, based on quality of life, treatment of noncitizens, and trade and prosperity
► Students use critical thinking to decide who to support.
► Materials needed
►
►
►




Tape player and tape
Overhead projector and transparencies
Slide projector and slides
Student handouts
►
Activity 5
 Experiential exercise, Spread of Greek culture
 Create and analyze human statues representing the achievements of significant
Greek figures to understand why Greek artistic, political, and scientific ideas
spread through the ancient world.
 Study Aristotle, Aspasia, Pericles, Plato, Sophocles, Sappho, and Thucydides
and create a symbol to represent their achievements.
 Working in groups of 4, pick one of the figures and create human statues of
their achievements.
 Present and discuss
 Material needed
► Overhead projector and transparencies
► Slide projector and slides
►
Activity 6
 Skills builder, Recognizing ancient Greek achievement and the modern
world
 Students learn about ancient Greek achievements in various academic
fields (architecture, mathematics, and physics) and the ways in which
those achievements have influenced modern society.
 Work in pairs and visit stations to read and hear background
information.
 Examine a visual and answer questions.
 Materials needed
► Slide projector and slides
►
Activity 7
 Skills builder, Discovering references to Greek mythology in popular
expressions
 Students match popular expressions with the ancient Greek myths
from which they originated and corresponding artwork.
 Create presentations to show how Greek myths have influenced
modern language and art.
 Work in pairs
 Materials needed
► Overhead projector and transparencies
► Slide projector and slides
► Placards
AV Sources
VHS
►
►
Journey Across Time Video-Chapter 4
Ancient Greece
DVD’s
►
Rocky & Bullwinkle: Aesop’s Tales
Ancient Civilizations: Athens and Ancient Greece
Troy
Ancient Civilizations: Greece Video Quiz
►
CD’s
Gettysburg address-compare with Pericles’ Funeral Oration
►
►
►
Posters
►
Ancient Civilizations poster
►
Overheads
Ancient Greece transparencies: photos and artwork
Maps of Peloponnesian War
►
►
►
►
►
Online:
Use site to learn about Greek theatre
http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110tech/Theater.html
Do virtual tour at http://www.dkv.columbia.edu/vmc/learning/
Use site to learn about Greek Architecture
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/arch/greek_arch.html
Watch cartoon on Olympics at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ancientgreece/classics/olympics/flashmovie.shtml
Organizers:
► Create study organizer by folding paper and write the appropriate information
under each tab
► Create a Venn Diagram comparing Sparta and Athens
► Create a web that provides information about democracy in Athens
More AV sources:
► Go to the website and pick two subjects and write paragraphs summarizing what
you have read.

►
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/index.htm
Use to map on http://www.culture.gr/2/21/maps/hellas.html and label the citystates of Greece.
 Notice that clicking on each city-state brings up an enlarged map of the area.
►
http://www.geocities.com/sseagraves/greekunit.htm (this web site has all kinds of
activities)