After students learn about the differences and similarities between two major city-states of ancient Greece, Athens and Sparta, students can create a T-Chart with images and text that can compare and contrast the city-states based on different categories such as: government, economy, education, and social structure.
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Compare and contrast two major city-states of ancient Greece: Athens and Sparta.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: A minimum of 1-2 sentence description and appropriate illustrations for each of the categories: government, economy, education and women and enslaved people in both the Athens column and the Sparta column.
Engage your students in a lively debate by assigning half the class to represent Athens and the other half Sparta. This approach fosters critical thinking and helps students defend their research while understanding different perspectives.
Divide students into small teams, each focusing on a specific category like government or education. This setup enables deeper exploration and ensures every aspect of Athens and Sparta is thoroughly covered.
Invite each group to share their discoveries with classmates. Presentations help reinforce learning and allow students to practice public speaking skills in a supportive environment.
Encourage groups to develop clear points supporting their assigned city-state and to anticipate counterarguments. This step sharpens critical thinking and persuasive communication.
Moderate the classroom debate by setting clear rules and time limits for each round. Ensure students listen actively and respond thoughtfully, promoting a positive learning atmosphere.
Athens was known for its democratic government, focus on arts, philosophy, and education, while Sparta had a military oligarchy and prioritized discipline, strength, and military training. Their economies, social structures, and roles of women also differed significantly.
To compare Athens and Sparta, students can create a T-Chart with categories like government, economy, education, and social roles. List facts and add images for each city-state in separate columns to easily see similarities and differences.
Using visual organizers like T-Charts and incorporating collaborative activities helps middle schoolers engage deeply with the differences between Athens and Sparta. Storyboard tools with real-time collaboration make lessons interactive and memorable.
To allow students to collaborate in real time on a Storyboard That lesson, go to the assignment’s Edit Assignment tab and enable collaboration. This lets multiple students work on the same storyboard simultaneously.
Key categories to compare are government, economy, education, and the roles of women and enslaved people. These areas highlight the most important similarities and differences between Athens and Sparta.