In this activity students will break down what they have learned about ancient Greece in a G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart. There are many different acronyms that can be helpful when analyzing ancient civilizations and this one is widely used. However, teachers may use whatever acronym they prefer (PERSIA(N), GREATS, etc.) and can simply change the titles.
Using a G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart to organize information about ancient Civilizations is a useful tool to enhance students' analysis of the characteristics and contributions of a society. Going further and including visuals helps students to better retain the details of each category.
When learning about ancient Civilizations, students may need teachers to provide a variety of resources. The use of diverse resources such as primary sources, videos, songs, readings from textbooks, encyclopedias and literature can be helpful for students to gain an accurate and complete picture of the time period. Students can use graphic organizers to write notes about the different categories as they learn.
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.
What were some key inventions or contributions of ancient Greece in the areas of:
Please note: Further activities utilize spider maps to expand on each category.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a chart that describes the different aspects of ancient Greece: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economy, and Social Structure.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Minimum of 4-6 cells showcasing different aspects of ancient Greece. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each category. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Engage your class by turning the GRAPES chart into a lively group discussion. Assign each group a category (Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, Society) and have them brainstorm and present examples. This approach encourages collaboration and lets students teach one another while deepening understanding of each aspect of ancient Greece.
Designate roles such as researcher, illustrator, or presenter within each group. Each student contributes uniquely by gathering information, creating visuals, or sharing findings with the class. This builds accountability and ensures everyone participates actively.
Encourage students to consult a mix of sources, like textbooks, articles, and videos, for their assigned category. Emphasize the value of primary sources (such as images of Greek artifacts) to enhance accuracy and engagement.
Show students how to distill information into a brief, clear summary for each GRAPES category. Demonstrate by sharing an example for one category and explaining your thought process. This helps students focus on the most important details and improves synthesis skills.
Arrange for student groups to display their completed GRAPES charts around the classroom. Guide students to walk around, review each chart, and leave positive feedback or questions. This activity fosters peer learning and builds classroom community.
A G.R.A.P.E.S. chart is a graphic organizer that helps students break down the key aspects of ancient civilizations: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Society. For ancient Greece, students use the chart to organize notes, analyze contributions, and better understand how each category shaped Greek civilization.
To make a G.R.A.P.E.S. chart activity engaging, use visuals, encourage collaboration with real-time tools, and provide diverse resources like primary sources, videos, and songs. Let students illustrate each category and discuss their findings in groups to boost participation and deeper learning.
Examples of achievements for ancient Greece include advances in art, architecture (like the Parthenon), drama, science, and philosophy, as well as the development of democracy and the Olympic Games. Highlight key inventions and cultural contributions in this section.
Teachers can provide primary sources, textbook readings, videos, music, literature, and encyclopedias. Using a variety of resources gives students a fuller picture of ancient Greece and supports accurate, detailed entries in each chart category.
To enable collaboration on Storyboard That, go to the "Edit Assignment" tab and turn on Real Time Collaboration. This lets students work together on the same storyboard, making it easy to co-create and discuss each G.R.A.P.E.S. chart section.