Weeks 19-27 • Focus: Blueprints for Governance and Thought
This quarter delves into the monumental achievements of Ancient Greece and Rome, the civilizations that laid the groundwork for so much of Western thought, language, law, and government. Students will analyze the "blueprints" for new forms of governance, like democracy and the republic, and explore the philosophical and architectural legacies that endure to this day.
These immense physical and intellectual structures were built, quite literally, from the rock of the Earth. This provides a powerful thematic connection to the science unit on Plate Tectonics and Rock Cycling. As students learn about Greek temples and Roman roads, they will simultaneously explore the geological forces that create and shape the very materials these civilizations used to build their lasting legacies.
Academic Skills:
Historical Concepts:
Exploring the cradle of Western democracy, philosophy, and cultural achievement
CKHG Grade 6, Unit 2: Ancient Greece and Rome
Core Knowledge Foundation
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
CKSci Unit 4: Plate Tectonics and Rock Cycling
Core Knowledge Foundation
"Greece is a land of mountains, peninsulas, and islands, where the sea was the highway and the mountains were the walls."
Begin CKHG Unit on Ancient Greece. Locate Greece on the map and discuss how its geography (mountains, peninsulas, islands) influenced the development of independent city-states. Identify key features: Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Athens, Sparta, Mount Olympus. 6.4
Begin CKSci Unit 4: Plate Tectonics and Rock Cycling. Introduce the anchor phenomenon: landscapes form and change over time. Examine photos of Mediterranean landscapes (mountains, islands) and discuss how they formed through geological processes. MS-ESS2-2
Begin reading selections from D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths. Discuss how myths helped the Greeks explain natural phenomena. Identify key gods and goddesses and their domains. 6.L.5a
Introduce the concept of variables in Math with Confidence. Explain that letters can represent unknown numbers. Practice writing expressions with variables: "The height of Mount Olympus is 'h' meters" or "Athens has 'c' citizens." NY-6.EE.B.6
Discuss the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations as precursors to Classical Greece. Read about the Trojan War and its significance as a bridge between mythology and history. 6.4
Continue reading Greek myths. Focus on the personification of natural forces (Poseidon/ocean, Zeus/lightning). Practice identifying and interpreting figures of speech in the myths. 6.L.5a
Explore how mountains and islands form. Investigate the theory of plate tectonics and how the collision of the African and Eurasian plates created the Greek landscape. Begin developing models of these processes. MS-ESS2-2
Begin a narrative writing project: students will create their own Greek myth to explain a natural phenomenon, using the narrative techniques and structures they've observed in the myths they've read. 6.W.3
Practice writing algebraic expressions to represent real-world scenarios: "If a Greek ship can travel 's' stadia per day, how far can it travel in 3 days?" (3s) NY-6.EE.B.6
Explore Greek pottery and architecture. Analyze how their artistic and architectural achievements reflected their values. Discuss the importance of the three column styles (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian) and their influence on later architecture. 6.4
"Democracy: Rule of the people, by the people, for the people."
Focus on Athens and the development of democracy. Read about Solon, Cleisthenes, and the Athenian democratic reforms. Discuss the structure of Athenian democracy and its limitations (exclusion of women, slaves, and non-citizens). 6.4d
Continue work on narrative writing project. Focus on developing well-structured event sequences and using descriptive details to bring their myths to life. 6.W.3
Study Sparta and its militaristic society. Create a Venn diagram comparing Athens and Sparta: government structure, social organization, education, and values. 6.4
Continue working with variables and expressions. Evaluate expressions when the value of the variable is given: "If s = 5 drachmas, what is the cost of 3 pottery pieces at s drachmas each?" (3s = 15 drachmas) NY-6.EE.B.6
Investigate different types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic). Analyze how Greeks used different stone (particularly marble) for their buildings and sculptures based on its properties. Connect to the rock cycle and plate tectonics. MS-ESS2-2
Explore the Persian Wars. Read about the battles of Marathon and Thermopylae. Discuss how the Greek victory over the Persians led to the Golden Age of Athens under Pericles. 6.4
Finalize and share original Greek myths. Conduct peer reviews focusing on narrative structure, descriptive details, and the effective use of figurative language. 6.W.3
Study Greek philosophy. Introduce Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and their key ideas. Discuss how Greek philosophy laid the groundwork for Western thought and scientific inquiry. 6.4e
Extend understanding of variables with multi-step problems: "A Greek merchant buys x amphoras of olive oil for 2 drachmas each and sells them for 3 drachmas each. Write an expression for his profit." (3x - 2x = x) NY-6.EE.B.6
Examine the Peloponnesian War and its consequences. Discuss how internal conflict weakened Greece, eventually leading to conquest by Macedonia under Philip II and Alexander the Great. 6.4
Examine how earthquakes and volcanoes affected ancient Greece. Study the eruption of Thera (Santorini) and its possible connection to the decline of Minoan civilization. MS-ESS2-2
Core Texts:
Supplementary Materials:
Exploring the rise, dominance, and legacy of Roman civilization
CKHG Grade 6, Unit 2: Ancient Greece and Rome
Core Knowledge Foundation
The Roman Empire (If You Were There)
by Deborah Kent
"SPQR - Senatus Populusque Romanus (The Senate and People of Rome)"
Introduce the founding of Rome. Read the legend of Romulus and Remus and discuss how myths were used to establish cultural identity. Locate Rome on the Italian peninsula and discuss its geographical advantages. 6.4
Continue the plate tectonics unit. Study the geological features of Italy, including volcanoes like Mount Vesuvius and their impact on Roman history. MS-ESS2-2
Study the structure of the Roman Republic. Explore the roles of consuls, the Senate, and assemblies. Compare Roman government with Athenian democracy, noting similarities and differences. 6.4
Begin solving one-step equations. Use Roman contexts: "If 3x = 15 denarii, how many denarii is x worth?" Emphasize that solving for the variable means finding what value makes the equation true. NY-6.EE.B.7
Begin reading selections from "The Roman Empire (If You Were There)". Discuss the text structure and how it helps readers understand daily life in ancient Rome. 6.R.2
Explore the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage. Discuss how Rome expanded from a city-state to control the Mediterranean. Read about Hannibal crossing the Alps with elephants. 6.4
Analyze how the Mediterranean formed through plate tectonics. Examine the distribution of fossils and rocks to provide evidence of past plate motions that created this region. MS-ESS2-3
Begin an informative writing project: "A Day in the Life of a Roman Citizen." Research daily life in Rome (patricians, plebeians, or slaves) and organize information into a structured essay. 6.W.2
Practice solving equations with addition and subtraction: "If x + 12 = 20 sesterces, how many sesterces is x worth?" (x = 8 sesterces) NY-6.EE.B.7
Study the social structure of Rome. Compare patricians and plebeians, discuss the role of slaves. Examine the conflicts between social classes and the development of the Twelve Tables. 6.4
"All roads lead to Rome."
Examine the decline of the Republic. Read about Julius Caesar, the First Triumvirate, and Caesar's assassination. Discuss how these events led to the establishment of the Empire under Augustus. 6.4
Continue work on the informative writing project. Focus on developing the topic with relevant facts, concrete details, and quotations. Practice using appropriate transitions. 6.W.2
Begin calculating areas of triangles and quadrilaterals. Connect to Roman architecture and engineering: "A Roman atrium is shaped like a rectangle measuring 8 m by 6 m. What is its area?" (48 m²) NY-6.G.A.1
Study the different types of rocks used by Romans in construction. Focus on how they selected materials based on properties. Examine Roman concrete and its remarkable durability. MS-ESS2-2
Explore the Pax Romana ("Roman Peace") under Augustus and later emperors. Discuss how this period of stability allowed for economic prosperity and cultural developments. 6.4
Study Roman engineering and infrastructure. Examine aqueducts, roads, public baths, and other innovations. Discuss how these projects improved daily life and helped maintain the empire. 6.4e
Practice finding areas of more complex shapes by decomposing them into triangles and rectangles. Calculate the area of a Roman forum or basilica with composite shapes. NY-6.G.A.1
Finalize the informative writing project with a strong conclusion. Edit for clarity, cohesion, and proper citation of sources. Share and discuss final products. 6.W.2
Investigate the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its effects on Pompeii and Herculaneum. Study how these preserved sites provide evidence about Roman daily life and the geological processes that affected them. MS-ESS2-3
Examine the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Discuss internal and external factors that led to Rome's eventual collapse. Create a timeline of key events and developments during this period. 6.4
Discussion activity: "What aspects of Roman civilization continue to influence our modern world?" Have students cite specific examples from architecture, language, law, and government.
Core Texts:
Supplementary Materials:
Consolidating learning about Classical civilizations and their enduring legacy
This week synthesizes the quarter's learning about Ancient Greece and Rome. Students will demonstrate their understanding of how these classical civilizations developed governance structures, philosophical systems, and technological innovations that continue to influence our modern world, while connecting these developments to the geological processes that shaped the Mediterranean landscape.
Create a comprehensive comparison chart of Greece and Rome, covering: Geography, Government Systems, Social Structure, Religion/Philosophy, Arts/Architecture, and Major Achievements. Identify both similarities and unique contributions of each civilization.
Complete a review activity combining variables, expressions, equations, and geometric area problems. Apply these concepts to classical-themed scenarios (e.g., calculating the area of the Parthenon, solving equations related to Roman trade).
Create a presentation explaining how plate tectonics and the rock cycle influenced classical civilizations. Include how geological processes formed the Mediterranean landscape, provided building materials, and sometimes disrupted civilizations (e.g., volcanoes, earthquakes).
Complete a "Classical Legacy Project" identifying modern examples of Greek and Roman influence in five categories: Architecture, Government, Language, Science/Math, and Arts/Literature. Present findings with visual aids and written explanations.
Compile best work from the quarter into a portfolio. Complete a written reflection identifying key learning points and connections between subjects. Take a comprehensive assessment covering key concepts from Ancient Greece and Rome.
Evaluate your student's ability to:
Academic Skills:
Content Knowledge:
Use this week's assessments to write your third quarterly report for your school district, including:
| Title | Author/Publisher | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Math with Confidence Grade 6 | Kate Snow | Mathematics |
| Essentials in Writing Level 6 | Matthew Stephens | English/Writing |
| CKSci Unit 4: Plate Tectonics and Rock Cycling | Core Knowledge Foundation | Science |
| CKHG Grade 6, Unit 2: Ancient Greece and Rome | Core Knowledge Foundation | Social Studies |
| D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths | Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire | Literature |
| The Roman Empire (If You Were There) | Deborah Kent | Literature |
| The Eagle of the Ninth (Optional) | Rosemary Sutcliff | Literature |
| The Trojan War (Optional) | Olivia Coolidge | Literature |