Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary that students will see in their readings or presentations aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary related to the study of Ancient Greece.
Students will preview the terms and definitions and use whole class or small group discussion to demonstrate their understanding of each meaning. Then, they will create a spider map of 3-5 terms at the teacher's discretion. When students define and illustrate each term, they master the application of it and retain it as part of their lexicon.
acropolis: the hill above a Greek city on which temples were built
agora: a marketplace in ancient Greece
assembly: a group of citizens in an ancient Greek democracy with the power to pass laws
Athens: current capital of Greece and the ancient Greek city-state that is considered the birthplace of democracy
chiton: a type of clothing worn by the Greeks made from a single piece of cloth with a belt at the waist
city-state: also called polis, an early city that was like a small, independent country with its own laws and government
democracy: a form of government where citizens have a say in how they are ruled including choosing their leaders and deciding on laws
drachma: a silver coin that was a form of currency in ancient Greece. One of the earliest known currencies
ephors: five leaders in Sparta who were chosen annually to oversee the Spartan kings.
helots: the majority of the people in Sparta, they were slaves without any rights, who served the aristocracy of Sparta
hoplite: citizen-soldiers of ancient Greek city-states
Macedonia: a region in northern ancient Greece and home to Greek kings Philip II and Alexander the Great
oligarchy: a type of government where the power is held by a few people
Olympics: an athletic event held by the ancient Greeks every four years
Peloponnese: a large peninsula located in southern Greece where the Greek city-states of Sparta, Argos, and Corinth were located
stadion: the original Olympic event, the stadion was a running race that is the equivalent to the modern 200m dash. The word stadium, or stadion in ancient Greek, referred to the measurement of distance as well as the place where the race was held.
titans: in Greek mythology, the Titans were the first Greek gods and were giants. They were overthrown by their children, the Olympians who ruled afterwards led by Zeus
trireme: a type of boat used by ancient Greeks (as well as Phoenicians and Romans) with three rows of oars on each side
tyrant: the ruler of a Greek city-state, a tyrant was like a king with absolute power. In today’s meaning, it describes a ruler who abuses their power and is unjust
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that defines and illustrates key terms from ancient Greece.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Must have 3 terms, correct definitions and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Engage students by starting with a quick vocabulary matching game or charades. This sparks curiosity and helps learners connect new terms to prior knowledge in a fun, collaborative way.
Have students make their own flashcards for each Ancient Greece term, writing the word on one side and a definition or illustration on the other. Personalized cards boost ownership and recall.
Organize students into small groups and assign each group a few terms. Encourage them to discuss meanings and use each word in a sentence. Peer explanations strengthen understanding.
Ask students to write a short story or dialogue set in Ancient Greece, using at least three new vocabulary words. This contextualizes terms and helps students apply their learning.
End each lesson with a brief quiz or exit ticket that includes a mix of definitions, matching, or sentence usage. Routine review solidifies retention.
Key Ancient Greece vocabulary words for grades 6-8 include acropolis, agora, city-state, democracy, oligarchy, Olympics, trireme, and tyrant. Teaching these terms helps students better understand the history and culture of Ancient Greece.
Use visual activities like storyboards or spider maps, where students define and illustrate Ancient Greece terms. Group discussions and creative drawing help boost comprehension and make learning vocabulary more memorable.
A spider map is a graphic organizer where students write a key term in the center and branch out with its definition and an illustration. For Ancient Greece, select 3-5 terms and have students define and illustrate each to deepen understanding.
Previewing key vocabulary terms before a unit helps students grasp main concepts, improves reading comprehension, and makes it easier to connect new information as they study Ancient Greece.
Encourage students to define, discuss, and illustrate each term. Using visuals, group activities, and real-life examples helps reinforce vocabulary and supports long-term retention.