Researching real people helps students to gain a more concrete understanding of the culture, lives and diverse perspectives of people who lived in ancient times. Giving students the perspective of those who lived during a time period helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to acquire a more substantial, empathetic and realistic view of the period. In this activity, students will create a biography poster for an influential person in ancient Rome.
Teachers can assign students specific people or give students a choice. Teachers may wish to provide resources such as books or the online encyclopedia Britannica for students to read about their person. Completed posters can be printed out, laminated and hung around the room as a visual reminder of notable people from the time of ancient Rome. Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person. Thus combining research, writing, and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.
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Due Date:
Objective: Research a famous or notable person from ancient Rome. Create a biography poster that highlights their major accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, accomplishment.
Enhance your students' understanding by guiding them to use primary sources—like translated Roman letters or inscriptions—when researching their chosen figure. Primary sources give students direct insight into the language and perspectives of ancient Romans, making history more vivid and authentic.
Demonstrate where to access kid-friendly primary sources, such as museum websites or curated databases, and show students how to identify useful excerpts. This helps students feel confident and ensures materials are safe and understandable for their grade level.
Teach students to look for details in the primary source that reveal information about the person’s achievements or daily life. Encourage them to highlight or take notes on words and phrases that stand out. Analyzing details builds critical thinking and connects research to real historical voices.
Show students how to select a short quote or image from their primary source to include on their poster. This adds authenticity and helps classmates see evidence from the time period itself.
Facilitate a brief discussion where students share what they learned from the primary source compared to secondary sources. This reflection helps students understand the importance of using multiple types of evidence in history research.
A biography poster activity for ancient Rome is a classroom project where students research a famous Roman figure, then create a poster highlighting their life, accomplishments, and impact. This activity builds research, writing, and presentation skills while deepening understanding of ancient Roman culture.
Teachers can assign specific individuals from a prepared list or allow students to pick their own notable Romans. Providing resources like books or reputable online encyclopedias helps guide student choices and ensures access to accurate information.
Each biography poster should feature the person’s name, image, birth and death dates, and a summary of key accomplishments. Including visual elements, like images or symbols, and brief descriptions helps make the poster engaging and informative.
Researching real people helps students develop empathy and a deeper understanding of history. It moves learning beyond memorizing dates to exploring the diverse perspectives and daily lives of those who shaped ancient Rome.
Examples of influential ancient Romans include Julius Caesar, Augustus, Romulus and Remus, Nero, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Trajan, Constantine, Cicero, Virgil, Spartacus, and Cincinnatus.