Lesson # 4

Grade: 3rd Grade Ancient Greece

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Objectives The students will be able to understand what direct democracy is. SOL 3.1 The student will explain how the contributions of ancient Greece have influenced the present world in terms of architecture, government (direct democracy), and sports. Essential Questions What is direct democracy? Materials for Learning Activity Crown Procedure for Learning Activity Introduction ( 5 min. Whole Group) Teacher will introduce how another contribution from Greece to the world was their form of government. Greece gave us direct democracy. Democracy is when the people make all the rules and laws. The people have all the say. Activity ( Whole Day, Whole Group) For the day, the teacher and class will act out two forms of government. Part of the day, one student or the teacher will wear a crown. This person is the one who gets to make all the rules and law of the classroom. Everyone else has to do what they say. After half of the day is up the teacher will explain that they just acted out a monarchy form of government and that is when one person has all the power over everyone else. That one person gets to make all the rules and everyone must obey them. Then a discussion will take place: Does a monarchy form of government seem fair? What did you like or dislike about it? How did it make you feel?

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For the next half of the day, the class will act as a direct democracy. Everyone will have a say in what the rules and laws are of the class. Everyone is involved in the decisions. After the other half is up, the teacher will explain how this was the direct democracy form of government that Greece gave to the world. It showed that everyone should have a say and help make rules and laws. A discussion will then take place: What did you like or dislike about this form of government? Did you like it better then the last one? Why or why not? How did this form make you feel? Closing ( 10-15min., Individual) After the discussion, students will then have to complete a writing prompt: After today, which form of government did you like best? Describe the government you like better and explain why you liked this one over the other form? Assessment Writing Prompt- This will help to see if the students grasped the idea of what a direct democracy is. Differentiation Bodily- Kinesthetic Learners- They are actually acting out a form of government so it is stimulating. The students get a choice is what form they like better. The teacher is not telling them which they have to write about specifically. Visual Learners- The government is getting acted out right before their eyes. Struggling Learners- I could have one of them be the king or queen in the beginning of the day so they are actually fully involved in that aspect. For others, further explanation will be provided. Technology Integration No technology was used for this lesson.