G6 Ancient Civilizations Greece Project Options Miss Bowman

Many things come to mind when ancient Greece is mentioned – their influence on American society – democracy, language, theater, art – the myths, the unique geography. Through this project, you will be teaching each other (and me!) about some of the fascinating features of the ancient Greek life.

Here are possible topics based what we have or will study in our book:

1. We have learned that the Aegean Islands are actually the tops of submerged mountains (many are volcanoes). Find out how the Mediterranean Sea was formed and when the mountains of the Aegean were submerged in water. Write a short report. (Chapter 2)

2. The word Hellespont means “the Sea of Helle.” Find out who Helle was and write a short report. Your best reference source is a book on Greek mythology. (Chapter 3)

3. Learn more about the creation of the world according to the religion of the early Greeks. Then draw a family tree, showing the relationships of the most important gods and goddesses. (Chapter 6)

4. Tantalus was the father of Pelops (remember Pelops’ Island?). He was favored by the gods, and one night he invited some of them to dinner. He wanted to impress his immortal guests with a meal that was quite out of the ordinary. Find out what he served. Why were the gods so offended by his choice? How was he punished? What does the word “tantalize” mean? (Chapter 6)

5. Write a play based on one of the myths you have read. Feel free to modernize the expressions and the setting. Then present it to the class. (Chapter 6)

6. Cassandra tried to warn the Trojans about the wooden horse. Consult a book on mythology and find out why the Trojans did not accept her advice. At the same time, find out what finally happened to Paris. Do you think he met with an appropriate end? Write a short report about these two colorful Trojans. (Chapter 6)

7. Organize some athletic events for your class based on the original Olympic Games. Contestants can use Frisbees as discuses and carry garbage can lids in the hoplite race. Use your imagination to plan other events, but do not include boxing or the pancratium! Write an oath of sportsmanship to be recited by the contestants at the beginning of the “games,” and make some wreaths from the branches of a bush for the winners. (Chapter 9) 8. Do a research project on the Olympic Games of modern times, showing their similarities to and differences from the original games. Who are some of the famous champions? (Chapter 9)

9. On a large piece of poster board draw a trireme. This can be an outer view or a cross-section. Consult books in the classroom or library for a good picture to copy. Label all the important parts of the ship. Include a short report. (Chapter 10)

10. The division of our government into three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) has its origins in the democracy of ancient Athens. Find out more about the functions of the three branches in American government; then compare and contrast them with their counterparts in Athens. Using poster board, make a chart comparing the two systems of government. (Chapter 11)

11. Greek architectural styles are evident throughout our country. Look at the buildings in our area (Harrisburg, Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, etc.). Pay particular attention to government buildings and stately mansions. What kinds of pillars do you see (Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian)? Look through magazines and clip pictures of buildings that show a Greek influence. Make a collage of the pictures. (Chapter 11)

12. Lysistrata is a play by Aristophanes in which the women of Athens find a clever and practical solution to the Peloponnesian War. Find out what the solution was. Then write your own (short) version of the play and perform it with several classmates. (Chapter 14)

13. Write a short play about the adventures and exploits of Alcibiades. Present it to the class. (Chapter 14)

14. Carefully study Pericles’ funeral oration and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in the Appendix of your blue book. Then write an essay comparing and contrasting the two speeches. Be sure to describe the historical circumstances in which they were presented. (Chapter 14)

15. Plato made up an imaginary island for the setting of one of his dialogues. He called it Atlantis. Ever since, people have been trying to find this mysterious island, which supposedly sank into the sea. Was it real or purely fictional? Find out more about Atlantis and present a short report about it to the class. (Chapter 15)

16. Find a detailed description of Alexandria in a book or an online article. Using clay, paper mache, and/or other materials, make a diorama of the city. Include such structures as the lighthouse, museum, and hippodrome, and show the grid pattern of the streets. (Chapter 17)

17. Who were the nine Greek muses? Find out and then make a list, giving their names, their special domains (area of influence, such as music or poetry), and their emblems (such as a lyre or writing tablet). What does the word “muse” mean today? (Chapter 17)

18. Make a collage. Using five or six magazines, look for pictures or words that seem to have something to do with ancient Greece. These can include a picture of a beautiful woman that reminds you of Aphrodite or Helen, a photograph of a house with pillars, a Ford Taurus (remember the Minotaur?), an athlete in action, or a word (such as psychology) that has Greek roots. Be imaginative! Cut out the pictures (and words) you select and glue them on a piece of poster board.

Directions:

1. All projects must be completed by class time on Monday, March 17th.

2. Each student will have 3-5 minutes to present his/her project to the class.

3. A Works Cited page (in proper MLA format) listing your sources is required.

a. Use must use at least one book

b. Your textbook, encyclopedias, and Wikipedia (or similar sites) cannot be used as sources – they have already summarized the information. You may refer to your textbook, but it should not be your sole source of information.

You will be graded on the following:

 Information

o Your presentation should reflect sound research and answer the key points of your topic

 Presentation Method

o This will depend on your topic. For written work, be neat and as detailed as possible. Spelling and grammar count!

 Presentation

o Your in-class presentation should be organized, audible, clearly stated, and interesting!

 Works Cited page

o Remember, you must have at least one book source. o Follow proper MLA format