Ancient Greece February 2007 Junior Education Topics
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Name <http://www.scholastic.co.uk> A child’s vase • Look at the photograph of the vase on the poster. This was probably a child’s ritual wine vase, presented on a child’s third birthday. • List three things that it tells us about the life of an Ancient Greek child. Nowadays, we would probably give a child a drinking mug. • Decorate the mug below to show aspects of your own childhood. JANE BOWER IS A CONSULTANT TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ART, DRAMA, DANCE AND LITERACY, WORKING WITH STAFF CHILDREN PHOTOCOPIABLE B SEE PAGES 6–7 Photocopy or download from: ANCIENT GREECE FEBRUARY 2007 JUNIOR EDUCATION TOPICS JET_feb_a3 back.indd 2 1/2/2007, 12:16 PM Famous Greeks Hypatia Hypatia, who is believed to have lived between 370–415 AD, is the best- known female mathematician and scientist of the ancient world. She worked and taught at the famous library at Alexandria in Egypt. Students from all over the Greek world came to study there. Not only was she an excellent teacher, she is said to have been so beautiful that when she spoke to students she did so from behind a screen, so that her beauty would not ruin their concentration. Hypatia is most remembered for writing commentaries on the books of other famous mathematicians such as Apollonius and Diophantus. As a scientist she worked on the astrolabe, an instrument for measuring the Sun’s altitude, and the hydrometer, a device for measuring the specifi c gravity of liquids. During some riots in 415, Hypatia was murdered by a mob of Christian, while walking in the street. As a result, many students left Alexandria and this led to the city’s decline as an important centre of learning. Pythagoras Pythagoras and his followers believed that numbers controlled everything in life, not only mathematics but also astronomy, science, architecture and music. These views were often unpopular and Pythagoras and his followers were forced to move several times during their lifetimes. Pythagoras was born on the island of Samos in the Aegean Sea around 580 BC, but he also lived for some time in Croton (now Crotone), a Greek colony in southern Italy. Among the topics he and his followers studied were odd and even numbers, square numbers, angles and the properties of right-angled triangles. He also investigated tessellation – the way in which some shapes are able to fi t together without leaving gaps between them. Pythagoras, who died around 500 BC, never wrote or published his ideas in a book and it is only through the writings of his followers that we know about some of the things he studied. Euclid Euclid’s writings remain one of the main sources of information about mathematics today, despite the fact he lived more than 2000 years ago. His most important book, The Elements, has 13 volumes. It deals with mathematical topics like number, calculation and shape. He worked on the strength of triangles in construction and the importance of parallel lines. Another book, The Optics, looked at the science of light and vision. ANCE WRITER Euclid was an excellent teacher and was able to describe, explain and develop the work of those who had gone before him, in such a way that it was easy to understand. Little is known about Euclid as a person. He lived around 300 BC and seems to have spent most of his life working in the important library and school of mathematics at Alexandria. JOHN DAVIS, TEACHER AND FREEL PHOTOCOPIABLE 2 Photocopy or download from: ANCIENT GREECE FEBRUARY 2007 JUNIOR EDUCATION TOPICS JET_feb_a1 back.indd 2 1/2/2007, 11:11 AM <http://www.scholastic.co.uk> National Curriculum Wales Ancient Greece Common objectives for all activities in 2.4 develop their ability to organise and structure this issue their writing in a variety of ways. Programme of study: history 1.2. use conventions that describe the passing Page 9 Great Greeks of time Programme of study: mathematics 2.1 learn about the characteristics of periods studied Shape, space and measures 2.2 identify and describe main events, situations and 2.1 make 3-D shapes, recognise their geometrical changes within periods features and properties, and use these to solve 4.1 use a range of sources and where appropriate problems. ICT 4.2 ask and answer questions about the past Pages 10-11 Home sweet home 5.1 select, recall and organise historical information Programme of study: English 5.2 use appropriate vocabulary Oracy 5.3 present results in a variety of ways, including 1.5 participate in a range of drama activities including visual, oral, writing and the use of ICT. improvisation and role play, and the writing and performance of scripted drama. Additional objectives for specific activities Writing Pages 2-3 Influencing our world 1.5 write in forms which include diaries. Programme of study: geography 1.1 observe and ask questions about geographical Pages 12-13 Good times features Programme of study: English 1.6 estimate and calculate distances Oracy 1.8 identify and locate places using atlases and 1.5 participate in a range of drama activities including globes improvisation and role play, and the writing and 1.9 use secondary sources to obtain information. performance of scripted drama. Reading Pages 4-5 A tale of two cities 1.6 read a wide range of literature including myths, Programme of study: English legends and traditional stories. Oracy Writing 1.4 make a range of contributions in class discussions 1.5 write in forms which include poems, dialogues, 2.2 organise what they want to say drama scripts. 2.4 listen carefully, and recall or re-present features of an argument Pages 14-15 Wealth of evidence 2.5 extend and follow up ideas As objectives for pages 12-13 above. 2.7 qualify or justify what they think after listening to other opinions. Page 16 Playing with words Programme of study: English Pages 6-7 Working and trading Reading Programme of study: English 2.3 extend their phonic and graphic knowledge Writing 2.8 use dictionaries and glossaries to explain 1.1 write in response to a range of stimuli unfamiliar vocabulary, noting the meaning and 2.2 write in response to more demanding tasks and use of newly encountered words. wider range of purposes ONLINE PHOTOCOPIABLE PAGE 1 Photocopy or download from: ANCIENT GREECE JUNIOR EDUCATION TOPICS <http://www.scholastic.co.uk> Northern Ireland National Curriculum Ancient Greece Common objectives for all activities in c) observe conventions and structures of various this issue forms of writing. Programme of study: history Skills and concepts Page 9 Great Greeks a) develop chronological awareness Programme of study: mathematics b) develop a sense of the past: Shape and space • know some characteristic features of past societies b) use materials to construct various 3-D shapes; • know some similarities and differences between name and describe common 3-D shapes ways of life at different times c) recognise geometrical properties and use these to • identify the feelings people may have had at a time solve problems. in the past c) be aware of historical evidence: Pages 10-11 Home sweet home • use sources of information appropriate to their age Programme of study: English and ability Talking and listening activities d) communicate by b) improvise a scene based on curricular topics • describing orally and in writing main events. e) describe and talk about people, places, things or events. Life in Early Times Writing range c) investigate a topic linked to ‘Life in Early Times’. • diaries. Cross-curricular theme: EMU Pages 12-13 Good times • explore aspects of the way of life of people through Programme of study: English time which have changed or remained the same. Talking and listening activities b) improvise a scene based on curricular topics Additional objectives for specific activities e) describe and talk about people, places, things or Pages 2-3 Influencing our world events. Programme of study: geography Writing range Skills • poems a) use photographs, plans and maps of different • dialogues. scales Writing outcomes f) use a globe and an atlas to locate places. c) observe conventions and structures of various The environment forms of writing. a) the location, size, shape and use of common Reading activities landscape features. d) recreating stories through individual and group dramatisation. Pages 4-5 A tale of two cities Programme of study: English Pages 14-15 Wealth of evidence Talking and listening outcomes As objectives for pages 12-13 above. b) present ideas and information c) observe conventions of discussion Page 16 Playing with words g) comment on their own and others’ talk. Programme of study: English Reading Pages 6-7 Working and trading h) discussing features of language and noting how Programme of study: English words are constructed. Writing outcomes b) present and structure ideas, information and opinions ONLINE PHOTOCOPIABLE PAGE 1 Photocopy or download from: ANCIENT GREECE JUNIOR EDUCATION TOPICS Name Greek myths King Midas and his golden touch ing Midas was counting his money, when a courtier appeared and told him that Khe had found a shabby satyr sitting in the palace gardens. The king ordered the intruder to be brought before him for punishment, but when he saw the satyr, he cried out in recognition: ‘Silenus, what are you doing here?’ Silenus had been drinking rather a lot of wine and had forgotten his way home. King Midas was very understanding – the satyr belonged to his friend, Dionysus, the god of wine. The king thought it would be nice to take Silenus back home. Dionysus was delighted to see his favourite satyr.