Ancient Greece

History and Social Studies SOL's

3.1 The student will explain how the contributions of ancient Greece have influenced the present world in

terms of architecture, government (direct and representative democracy), and sports

3.4 The student will develop map skills by

a) locating Greece;
b) describing the physical and human characteristics of Greece;
c) explaining how the people of Greece adapted to/changed their environment to meet their needs.

Essential Questions

What styles in architecture used today came from ancient Greece?

What principles of government from ancient Greece are part of our government?

What sporting events today came from in ancient Greece?

Where was ancient Greece located?

What were the physical and human characteristics of ancient Greece?

How did the people of ancient Greece adapt to and/or change their environment to meet their needs?

Essential Knowledge
Terms to know
contribution: The act of giving or doing something
direct democracy: A government in which people vote to make their own rules and laws
characteristics: Different traits Ancient Greece were located on land near the Mediterranean Sea.
Architecture
The architects of ancient Greece used columns and arches in the construction of their buildings. Ancient
examples still exist today. This includes the Parthenon (columns).

The Arts
Mosaics, sculpture, and paintings are displayed on buildings.
The government of the United States
The government is based partially on ideas developed in ancient Greece. Greece was the birthplace of
democracy (government by the people); a direct democracy.
Sports
Olympic games of today are modeled after the games of ancient Greece.
Physical characteristics
Ancient Greece: Located on a peninsula with many islands, mountains, and hills; surrounded by the
Mediterranean Sea; had limited rich soil
Human characteristics
Ancient Greece: Farmers, shipbuilders, traders
Ways people adapted to their environments
Ancient Greece: They farmed on hillsides; trading took place on the Mediterranean Sea; small,
independent communities developed because of the many mountains.

Book List
Read Aloud
Ford, M., & Antram, D. (2004). You wouldn't want to be a Greek athlete!: Races you'd rather not run.
New York: F. Watts.
This fictional book lets the reader see how difficult it was to train and compete in the Olympic games
through a first hand child's account as well as how it is different from the Olympics today.
Ellis, J., & Peacock, P. (2004). What's your angle Pythagoras?: A math adventure. Watertown, MA:
Charlesbridge.
This book is the story about how young Pythagoras used the world and architecture around him to come
up with the Pythagorean Theorem.
Usher, M., & Bramhall, W. (2005). Wise guy: The life and philosophy of Socrates. New York: Farrar Straus
Giroux.
This book talks about the life of Socrates in Ancient Athens, how he became known as a philosopher and
his influence on others.

Independent
Osborne, M., & Boyce, N. (2004). Ancient Greece and the Olympics: A nonfiction companion to Hour of
the Olympics. New York: Random House.
This book utilizes the characters found in the Fictional "The Magic Tree House" Series to go deeper into
the history of the Olympics and the culture of ancient Greece.
Pearson, A. (2000). Ancient Greece. New York: Dorling Kindersley.
This book uses present day artifacts of ancient Greece to discuss all aspects of the culture from which
they come.
Rutland, J., & Unstead, R. (1979). See inside an ancient Greek town. New York: Warwick Press.
This book looks at the different aspects of ancient Greek life as they would have appeared during that
time.
Small Group
Below Grade Level
Osborne, M., & Murdocca, S. (1998). Hour of the Olympics. New York: Random House.
This book takes back two modern day children to ancient Greece where they have the opportunity to
experience the original Olympic games and learn about differences in the culture of Greece then and
modern day America.
At Grade Level
Little, E., & Eagle, M. (1988). The Trojan horse: How the Greeks won the war. New York: Random House.
This chapter book tells the story of how the Greeks were able to defeat Troy as well as follows the story
of Odysseus as outlined in the Iliad.
Above Grade Level
Haskins, J., & Benson, K. (1996). Count your way through Greece. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books.
This book introduces ancient Greek numbers 1-10 by applying to aspects of the culture.
Shuter, J. (1999). Farmers and fighters. Des Plaines, Ill.: Heinemann Library.
This book examines the two principle occupations during the height of ancient Greek society.

Record