Writing as an Ancient Greek (The Final Class Day)

Ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotle 

Writing as an Ancient Greek: Let's Write! Today will be you last class period to write your diary/journal entries or letters as an Ancient Greek. I still plan on meeting with each of you during the period to check your progress, answer questions, and offer feedback. If you still need a copy of the guidelines for the assignment, I've placed a copy in each of your new Hapara Social Studies folders. And once again if you haven't already, please move your written assignment into the same new Hapara Social Studies folder. Deadline Reminder: This assignment is due Monday, May 12.  

Writing as an Ancient Greek (Day 3)

Writing as an Ancient Greek: Let's Write! Today you will have a full uninterrupted class period to write your diary/journal entries or letters as an Ancient Greek. Remember to incorporate historically accurate information, use creative and descriptive details, and capture the voice and personality of your chosen Ancient Greek identity. I plan on meeting with each of you during the period to check your progress, answer questions, and offer feedback. Get inspired and write well! If you need a copy of the guidelines for the assignment, I've place a copy in each of your new Hapara Social Studies folders. And if you haven't already, please move your written assignment into the same new Hapara Social Studies folder. Deadline Reminder: This assignment is due Monday, May 12.  

Writing as an Ancient Greek (Day 2)

Writing as an Ancient Greek: Assignment Overview  Today is the day we begin to actually start writing as Ancient Greeks. But first, let's make sure we are clear about the expectations for the assignment. Let's review the document here and go over assignment guidelines and how it will be graded. When you are ready, you may "create" a document within Google Drive, title it "Writing as an Ancient Greek," and then begin writing! Make sure your assignment is moved to your name folder within your Social Studies folder so I can monitor your progress and so you can receive credit. Deadline: This assignment is due before the start of class on Monday, May 12.  

Writing as an Ancient Greek (Day 1)

Writing as an Ancient Greek: Fictionalizing History  It is almost time to integrate your Ancient Greek research into a series of letters or journal entries written from the perspective of an Ancient Greek. Before you start actually writing, however, I think it would be helpful to look at some examples of historical fiction and fictional diary (journal) entries. 

While the entirely fictional "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is not totally applicable to our historical fiction journal writing activity, there are a few parallels. Author Jeff Kinney is assuming the identity of teenager Greg Heffley, just as you are assuming the identify of an Ancient Greek. Kinney tells his narrative in first-person and uses dates to move the narrative along, as will you. 

Looking for actual examples of fictionalized historical diary entries and letters? Look no further. Read and listen to a fictionalized diary entry of a Native American boy living during the 1600's here. Next, read and listen to a fictionalized letter written by a pilgrim girl here. Notice that while the characters are fictional, the historical backdrop of their lives is real, as are the descriptions of their daily lives. The characters also sound like real people that may have actually lived. You are going to want to try to accomplish something similar.  

Next, we will review a fictionalized account of an actual historical event known as the "Black Death" written by a modern teenager. Explains the teenage writer: "The Black Death was one of the deadliest plagues in history, and is said to have killed 30-60% of Europe's population in the 14th century. For my history class, we had to write journal entries from the point of view of one who died from this plague, including various, true details from the real event." You can check out her assignment "The Black Death: A Journal of One Who Died" here.  

Finally, check out a few actual examples of real-life (not fictionalized) historical diaries and journals online here. Examining how real people from history wrote about their own lives may give you a few ideas about how to write about the life of your fictionalized Ancient Greek self.  

Becoming Ancient Greek (The Research Continues)

Becoming Ancient Greek: Investigative Research Activity  Today you will continue to research the details of the lives of the Ancient Greeks in order for you to create a more authentic portrait of a fictional ancient Greek person. Similar to a novelist who researches the topic of their next book before they begin to write, you are researching Ancient Greece so the fictionalized journal entries that you will be writing feel as realistic as possible.

You can still find the document here to record the details of your background. Once again you can and should utilize multiple sources to do your research. Your Social Studies textbooks are a great resource, as is the collection of Ancient Greek books in the front of the classroom. The websites linked below are also a valuable resource for information about Ancient Greece. (I've included a new link by Social Studies teacher Mr. Donn which includes an awesome treasure trove of information.) Tomorrow we will begin writing our journal entries, so try to complete your research today.  

• Ancient Greece (Kidipede) 
• Ancient Greek People - Ancient Greece for Kids (Kidipede)
• Ancient Greece - Culture and Society
• The Ancient Greek World (Penn Museum)
• Ancient Greece - The British Museum
• BBC - Primary History - Ancient Greeks
• Ancient Greece for Kids (Mr. Donn)

Becoming Ancient Greek

Becoming Ancient Greek: Investigative Research Activity  Do you ever wish life was like a Magic Tree House book, where you could be magically transported to another time and place? Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to have actually lived during the time of the ancient civilizations we've studied this year? Well, today is your chance. Today you will enter a virtual time machine and assume the identity of an Ancient Greek. You will investigate the details of your daily life, from the clothes you wear to the food you eat, to your place in Greek society. Ultimately, you will integrate your gathered research into a first-person narrative account of your life, told through a written series of journal entries. 

Today, however, you focus on establishing who you are and uncovering the details of your life. Before you begin, you must make some decisions. Are you male or female? Are you an adult or a child? Do come from Sparta, Athens, or some other Greek polis or colony? Are you a wealthy aristocrat, a small farmer, a merchant, artisan, or possibly a slave? Once you've established the basic details of your identify, you can dig deeper and locate the more specific and applicable information to help you form a more complete picture of who you are.

To help you start thinking about what Greek identify you may want to assume and to understand what life may have been like for the Ancient Greeks in general, watch the video below.

You will use the document here to record the details of your background you discover during your research today. It also includes some guiding questions that you may want to consider during your investigation. The websites linked below include great information about what life was like for the Ancient Greeks. I also have a large collection of actual books (with pages) in the front of the classroom that you are welcome to peruse. As you explore your various sources, look for authentic details that you think would help create a more complete portrait of your Ancient Greek identify, and record those details on your document. You will use the details next week when you begin writing your series of journal entries written from the perspective of an Ancient Greek.  

• Ancient Greece (Kidipede) 
• Ancient Greek People - Ancient Greece for Kids (Kidipede)
• Ancient Greece - Culture and Society
• The Ancient Greek World (Penn Museum)
• Ancient Greece - The British Museum
• BBC - Primary History - Ancient Greeks
• Ancient Greece for Kids (Mr. Donn) 

Life in Ancient Greece

Life in Ancient Greece: Web Exploration  What was it like living in Ancient Greece? Was life different for the wealthy compared to to the poor? What rights and responsibilities did women have? What was life like for boys and girls? What did different people do for work? What food did people typically eat and drink? How did they dress? What was housing like? You will discover the answers to these questions and many more during today's web exploration activity.  

Today you will be exploring BBC's Primary History Ancient Greeks website. You will focus on three areas: The Greek World, Home Life, and Growing Up in Greece. Explore each of these sections and use the assignment here to record what you learn. 

If you complete the assignment early and well, you may play the game Greek Hero available on the site's homepage.  

Homework  (1.) Complete your 'Life in Ancient Greece' Website Exploration. This will due next week.  (2.) Complete and turn in (to your name folder within your Social Studies folder) all other Social Studies assignments from the week. These include: your Ancient Greece Map Project and the Greek City-State/Polis Activity. Deadline: before the start of class, Tomorrow, May 2.