Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day

7th grade Highlanders team
Winburn Middle School
Developed by Sue Ellis, Andy Sirginnis, and Deena Lester

 

 

Approximate Timeline: 6 weeks

Area(s) of Core Content: Writing, Social Studies (Science is secondary and math has a couple of lessons.)

Organizer:

How did Roman civilization help build cultural beliefs, politics and technology from the ground up?

Targeted Standards and Demonstrators:

1.11 Students write using appropriate forms, conventions, and styles to communicate ideas and information to different audiences for different purposes. 1.12 Students speak using appropriate forms, conventions, and styles to communicate ideas and information to different audiences for different purposes. 1.16 Students use computers and other kinds of technology to collect, organize, and communicate information and ideas. 2.15 Students can accurately describe various forms of government and analyze issues that relate to the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. 2.16 Students observe, analyze, and interpret human behaviors, social groupings, and institutions to better understand people and the relationships among individuals and among groups. 2.20 Students understand, analyze, and interpret historical events, conditions, trends, and issues to develop historical perspective. 2.22 Students create works of art and make presentations to convey a point of view. 4.2 Students use productive team membership skills. 6.1 Students connect knowledge and experiences from different subject areas.

Program of Studies

Core Content

Secondary Standards: (Science assessed only in Science class, not in the culminating performance)

SC-M-2.1.1  The Earth is layered. The lithosphere is the thin crust of the Earth. Lithospheric plates move slowly in response to movements in the mantle. There is a dense core at the center of the Earth.  

SC-M-2.1.2  Landforms are a result of a combination of constructive and destructive forces. Constructive forces include crustal deformation, volcanic eruption, and deposition of sediment, while destructive forces include weathering and erosion.  

SC-M-2.1.3  Materials found in the lithosphere and mantle are changed in a continuous process called the rock cycle.  

SC-M-2.1.4   Soil consists of weathered rocks and decomposed organic material from dead plants, animals, fungi, protists, and bacteria. Soils are often found in layers, with each having a different chemical composition and texture.  

SC-M-2.1.5  Water, which covers the majority of the Earth’s surface, circulates through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere in what is known as the water cycle. Water dissolves minerals and gases and may carry them to the oceans.  

Essential Questions:

Culminating Performance:

Welcome to Roman life as it was in ancient times. As a member of this society, you will be required to perform the aspects of Roman society including; political and social. You will be the organizers and implementers of these displays including plays and games of spectacle (i.e., battle role play, entertainment and political events.) This will show your understanding of government of Rome and elements of drama/literature.

Scoring Guide/Rubric:

CATEGORY

Caesar

Senator

Equestrian

Plebeian

Historical Accuracy

Information is historically accurate and in chronological order.

Information is mostly accurate and in chronological order.

Information is partially accurate and is, for the most part, in chronological order.

Information is incorrect and/or out of chronological order.

Literary Writing

The student turns in a literary piece in proper script form with distinct audience and purpose.

The student turns in a literary piece in proper script form with developing audience and purpose.

The student turns in a literary piece with limited understanding of script form and some evidence of audience and purpose.

The student turns in a literary piece that is not in proper script form and is without purpose or audience.

Acting/dialogue

The student uses consistent voices, facial expressions and movements to make the characters more believable and the story more easily understood.

The student often uses voices, facial expressions and movements to make the characters more believable and the story more easily understood.

The student tries to use voices, facial expressions and movements to make the characters more believable and the story more easily understood.

The student tells the story but does not use voices, facial expressions or movement to make the storytelling more interesting or clear.

Group Participation

All group members participate equally and show exemplary behavior.

Most group members participate equally and get along without whining.

Some group members participate and with minimal whining.

Group members don't participate or get along.

Listening Skills

Always listens attentively to other performers. Is polite and does not appear bored or make distracting gestures or sounds.

Usually listens attentively to other performers. Rarely appears bored and never makes distracting gestures or sounds.

Usually listens to other performers, but sometimes appears bored. Might once or twice accidentally make a gesture or sound that is distracting.

Does not listen attentively. Tries to distract the performers, makes fun of them, or does other things instead of listening.

Evaluation Component:

Students will be given the following short answer pretest. The same test will be given after completion of the unit as a posttest to evaluate the unit.

Pretest/Post Test:

Social Studies

    1. Describe the four social classes of the Roman structure. (ex. Gladiator)
    2. The center of Roman culture was the Coliseum. Describe a typical day of events that may have occurred.

Language Arts
    1. What is a script? How is it written?
    2. What is mythology? Can you give any myths you’ve heard?
    3. What was the government structure of the Romans? (Hint: Caesar)

Science
    1. Define plate tectonics.
    2. List the layers of the earth.
    3. What is the lithosphere?
    4. Compare and contrast constructive and destructive forces.
    5. Explain the rock cycle.
    6. What is soil?
    7. True or False: Soils are found in layers.
    8. Illustrate or explain the water cycle using the terms transpiration, respiration, evaporation, precipitation, and condensation.

Knowledge:

Technology Standards:

T3.1 Use proper citations

T3.4 Demonstrate knowledge of the impact and use of technology in society and culture

T4.4 Locate information using the Internet

T5.3 Evaluate information from the Internet

T5.6 Enter and edit word processing information

T6.4 Use a Word Processor to present information.

T6.5 Create a presentation or product using application software.

T6.6 Use digital imaging and audio

Skills/Abilities:

Instructional/Assessment Activities:

Social Studies

Language Arts

Science

Math

Critical Resources:

Back to Winburn

Back to PET Project