Lesson plan of Ancient Greece: Pre-Hellenism

Objectives (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Introduce Pre-Hellenistic Period in Ancient Greece: The teacher should ensure that students understand the historical context of Ancient Greece, focusing particularly on the period preceding the Hellenistic era. This involves discussing the formation of the Greek city-state, the importance of democracy in this context and the major conflicts that marked the region.

2. Identify and analyze key figures and events of the Pre-Hellenistic Period: Students should be able to recognize and describe the major players and events of the Pre-Hellenistic period. This includes figures such as Pericles, Socrates, and Alexander the Great, as well as events like the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars.

3. Understand political, social, and cultural changes during the Pre-Hellenistic Period: Students should be able to identify the major transformations that took place in Ancient Greece during the Pre-Hellenistic period. This involves analyzing the evolution of the Greek political system, changes in social structure, and the influence of Greek culture.

Secondary Objectives:

• Develop research and presentation skills: Throughout the lesson, students will be encouraged to seek additional information about the Pre-Hellenistic period and prepare short presentations to share their findings with the class.

• Foster critical thinking: The teacher should encourage students to reflect on the implications of the changes that occurred during the Pre-Hellenistic period and to consider how these events and individuals shaped the Greek world and, by extension, Western Civilization.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous content: The teacher should begin the lesson by briefly reviewing key aspects of Ancient Greece that have already been studied, such as the formation of city-states, Athenian democracy, and the Persian Wars. This review can be done through a question-and-answer game or through a short interactive summary, where students are invited to add any information they can recall.

2. Scenario Building: The teacher can then present two scenarios to provoke students' critical thinking:

   • Scenario 1: "Imagine that you are a Greek citizen living during the Peloponnesian War. How do you think this conflict would affect your daily life, and the structure of your city-state?"

   • Scenario 2: "Suppose you are a Greek philosopher from the 5th century BCE. How do you think the rise of Hellenism and the spread of Greek culture throughout the known world would affect your philosophy and the way you see the world?"

3. Contextualization: The teacher should then contextualize the importance of the Pre-Hellenistic period, explaining how the political, social, and cultural changes of this period continue to influence the modern world. For example, Greek democracy is often cited as one of the earliest forms of democratic government and has played a fundamental role in shaping modern democracies.

4. Introducing the Topic: To capture the students' attention, the teacher can share some fun facts about the Pre-Hellenistic period:

   • Fun fact 1: "Did you know that Socrates, one of the most famous philosophers of Ancient Greece, was sentenced to death for corrupting the youth and disrespecting the gods of the city of Athens?"

   • Fun fact 2: "And did you know that Alexander the Great, who conquered a vast empire stretching from Egypt to India, was a student of Aristotle, one of the greatest Greek philosophers?"

These fun facts can be presented in an interactive way, for example, through a guessing game or a pop quiz.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity "Life in Ancient Greece" (10 - 12 minutes):

   • Description: The teacher divides the class into groups of 4 or 5 students. Each group is given a different scenario that represents an aspect of life in Ancient Greece, such as life in a city-state during the Persian Wars, participating in a philosophical debate like those that took place in the Athenian Agora, or experiencing life as a soldier in Alexander the Great's army. The goal is that each group, based on the scenario they received, creates a short dramatization of no more than 5 minutes, demonstrating what life in Ancient Greece would have been like, taking into account the changes that occurred during the Pre-Hellenistic period.

   • Step by step: The teacher distributes the scenarios and instructs students to briefly research the historical context of the scenario they received. They should consider the political, social, and cultural changes that took place during the Pre-Hellenistic period. Then, students should plan and rehearse their dramatization. Finally, each group presents their dramatization to the class.

   • Objective: This activity aims to allow students to apply their acquired knowledge on Ancient Greece, specifically the Pre-Hellenistic period, in a creative and engaging way. Additionally, it encourages independent research, teamwork, and presentation skills.

2. Activity "Great Debate" (10 - 12 minutes):

   • Description: The teacher proposes a classroom debate on the influence of Ancient Greece, especially the Pre-Hellenistic period, in the formation of Western Civilization. Students are divided into two groups, one defending the thesis that Ancient Greece had a significant influence, and the other defending the thesis that the influence was smaller than it is believed.

   • Step by step: The teacher briefly presents the main arguments of each side and establishes the rules of the debate. Each group has a set time to present their arguments, which must be based on historical evidence. After the presentations, students have the opportunity to rebut the arguments of the opposing group. The teacher acts as a moderator, ensuring that the debate is respectful and productive.

   • Objective: This activity aims to develop students' argumentation skills and critical thinking. Also, it allows students to apply their acquired knowledge in a meaningful way, while exploring different perspectives and learning to respect opposing views.

3. Activity "Map of Hellenism" (5 - 6 minutes):

   • Description: The teacher provides each group with a map of Ancient Greece and parts of the world conquered by Alexander the Great. Students should mark on the map the areas controlled by Athens and Sparta during the Peloponnesian Wars, as well as the areas conquered by Alexander the Great, identifying them with different colors. Then, they should briefly research the culture, politics, and society of these areas during the Pre-Hellenistic period and annotate their findings on the map.

   • Step by step: Students receive the maps and research materials, and are instructed to work together to complete the task. Upon completion, each group presents their map to the class, explaining their color choices and sharing the information they found.

   • Objective: This activity aims to help students visualize the expansion of the Greek world during the Pre-Hellenistic period and to better understand the political, social, and cultural changes that occurred during this period. Also, it encourages research and presentation skills.

Debrief (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (5 - 7 minutes):

   • Description: After the completion of the activities, the teacher should promote a group discussion, where each team shares their solutions or conclusions with the class. Each group will have a time limit to present, and other students will be encouraged to ask questions or make comments.

   • Step by step: The teacher guides the students to share their findings, ideas, and reflections from the activity "Life in Ancient Greece", the "Great Debate", and the "Map of Hellenism". The teacher should ensure that all students participate, encouraging the more timid students to share their ideas.

   • Objective: This group discussion allows students to learn from each other, by listening to different perspectives and approaches. Also, it helps to consolidate the knowledge acquired, allowing students to see how theoretical concepts apply in practice.

2. Connection to Theory (3 - 4 minutes):

   • Description: After the group discussion, the teacher should make the connection between the activities carried out and the theory presented at the beginning of the class. This can be done through guided questions or a short explanation.

   • Step by step: The teacher should select some key points from the activities and explain how they relate to the theory. For example, the teacher could ask: "How does the dramatization you created in the activity 'Life in Ancient Greece' reflect the political, social, and cultural changes that occurred during the Pre-Hellenistic period?" or "What were the main arguments presented in the 'Great Debate' and how do they relate to the influence of Ancient Greece on Western Civilization?"

   • Objective: The connection between theory and practice helps students understand the importance of what they have learned and how they can apply this knowledge in different situations. Also, it reinforces the key concepts of the lesson.

3. Individual Reflection (2 - 4 minutes):

   • Description: To conclude the lesson, the teacher should propose that students do an individual reflection on what they have learned. They should think about the questions: "What was the most important concept I learned today?" and "What questions have not yet been answered?"

   • Step by step: The teacher gives students one minute to think silently about the questions. Then, students are invited to share their answers with the class, if they feel comfortable.

   • Objective: This individual reflection helps students to consolidate what they have learned and to identify any gaps in their understanding. Also, it allows the teacher to assess the effectiveness of the lesson and make adjustments if necessary.

Conclusion (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Summary and Recap (2 - 3 minutes):

   • The teacher should begin the conclusion of the lesson by summarizing the main points covered during the session. This includes the definition and context of the Pre-Hellenistic period, the key figures and events, as well as the political, social, and cultural changes that took place in Ancient Greece.

   • The teacher can reinforce these points through a quick question-and-answer game, asking students to share what they remember and connect the concepts learned.

2. Connecting Theory to Practice (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should then explain how the lesson connected theory to practice. This can be done by referring to the activities carried out, the debates and reflections made by the students, and how these experiences reinforced their understanding of the theory.

   • The teacher can also mention how the lesson helped to develop important skills, such as critical thinking, independent research, effective communication, and teamwork.

3. Suggesting Extra Materials (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should suggest additional materials for students who wish to delve deeper into the subject. This could include books, articles, documentaries, websites, and educational games.

   • For example, the teacher could recommend the book "A History of Greece" by George Grote, the documentary "The Age of the Conquerors: Alexander the Great" by the History Channel, or the educational game "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey" set in Ancient Greece.

4. Relevance of the Topic (1 - 2 minutes):

   • Finally, the teacher should summarize the importance of the topic covered to the students' everyday life. This could involve explaining how Ancient Greece and the Pre-Hellenistic period influenced the formation of the modern world, including politics, philosophy, literature, art, and science.

   • The teacher can also highlight the relevance of the skills developed in the lesson, such as the ability to critically analyze information, to argue clearly and persuasively, and to understand and appreciate different cultures and societies.

This conclusion will help to solidify students' learning, motivate them to continue exploring the subject, and understand the relevance of what they have learned to their own lives.