Google Literature Trip Lesson Plan

Teacher: Douglas Filo

Subject: Western Civilization (9
th
grade)
Content/Standards: As a Catholic College Prep School our standards are set by
the demands of that mission. We would therefore expect our curriculum to exceed
the academic content standards of the State of Michigan or Common Core. Student
and instructor academic performance is evaluated in the context of college
preparation. Specific measures of achievement would be found in the results of the
standardized tests administered throughout the four years of high school (obviously
the ACT and SAT would be preeminent as standardized measures), administrative
and departmental evaluations, surveys of graduates and their parents and of course
our graduates university acceptances and their respective success at those
universities (98% of our students will graduate from their university in four years,
this is a marked difference over national and state averages).
Objectives: This Google Earth Literature Tour is intended as a supplement to the
class lecture, text material and video clips over the Persian Wars, one aspect of
the larger unit on Ancient Greece. Research clearly suggests that when students
increase both their rehearsal time and modalities of contact with material,
comprehension increases. It is expected that the use of the Google Earth Literature
Tour will also add an extra motivational component vs. a more traditional review
method (graphic organizers, etc.).
Procedure/Summary: As a part of their larger study of Ancient Greece, students
will examine and develop an understanding of the causes, events, and
consequences of the series of wars fought between the Greek City States and the
Persian Empire (collectively referred to as the Persian Wars). The Google Earth
Literature Tour will be attached to Moodle, as a supplementary review. The tour
consists of five place marked locations (four are battle sites, one is a city),
attached to each Google Earth place mark is a: brief summary and/or several
relevant questions highlighting the significance of the location, an appropriate
image, and additional resources (books, articles or websites).
Methods of Evaluation: Students will be given subjective oral and written
quizzes, in class. These quizzes are both formative and summative (although their
point value relative to the unit exam is very small). The unit test is objective.

1.) Miletus: It has been stated that this Greek City State, on the coast of Asia
Minor, is the flash point that begins the Persian Wars. Why?


2.) Battle of Marathon: Identify and describe this first battle of the Persian Wars.
Who were the specific combatants? What was the outcome and larger
consequences of this battle? I.D. the Legend of Pheidippides.


3.) Battle of Thermopylae: Identify and describe this first battle of the Second
Persian War? Who are the specific combatants? What are the consequences of this
battle? What does this battle come to symbolize?
http://www.battle-of-thermopylae.eu/gallery.html#



4.) Battle of Salamis: Identify and describe the Battle of Salamis. Who are the
specific combatants? What are the consequences of the battle? How might you use
the term Hubris, in the context of this battle?






5.) I.D. the Battle of Plataea: Who are the specific combatants? What are the
consequences of this battle and the conclusion of the Persian Wars in general?
Identify and
Describe the
Delian League.