Introduction

Young historians! Get ready to embark on a journey through one of the greatest empires the world has ever witnessed: Rome. Ancient Rome was an epoch that shaped many aspects of our current society from law to architecture.  Understanding this great empire helps us to understand many of the structures and systems that operate around us today.

Throughout this project, we will dive into different aspects of Ancient Rome, such as its founding, social and political systems, concept of citizenship, organization of work and resources, and the role of women in society. These themes are very important in trying to understand both the Roman Empire and the modern world.

In addition, we will examine the concept of classical antiquity and its impacts on current societies and cultures.  The concept of “empire” will also be studied, to understand the dynamics of balance and imbalance in the relationships between different parties involved.

Contextualization

Ancient Rome, with its rich history and culture, is inserted within Classical Antiquity, and its influence extends to our days. Not only language, law, politics, and architecture but also countless other aspects of our daily lives have their roots in Roman culture. Exploring this period is like traveling back in time and seeing how our ancestors shaped the world we now inhabit.

The project will offer you the opportunity to be immersed in the daily life of Ancient Rome, to recreate it, and to understand it in a fun, hands-on way.  Through this project, you will have the chance to gain a deeper understanding of what it was like to live during that period while also developing important skills like time management, communication, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

Hands-on Activity

Project Title: "Rebuilding Rome: A Historical Journey"

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to allow students to explore different aspects of Ancient Rome by creating a scale model of iconic Roman structures including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Baths and the Appian Way. Through this hands-on activity, students will learn about Roman architecture, culture, society, and politics.

Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3-5, with each group responsible for creating a scale model of one of the iconic structures of Ancient Rome. They will research their structure, understand its significance and function within Roman society, and finally recreate it in 3D form as a scale model.

Materials

For building the model, you will need:

• Cardboard
• Coloured paper
• Paint
• Glue
• Scissors
• Rulers
• Markers
• Any other useful arts and crafts materials you may have

Step by Step Activity

1. Divide students into groups of 3-5.
2. Each group chooses or is assigned a specific Ancient Roman structure to research and recreate.
3. Groups begin to research their chosen structure, using the provided resources as well as any others they find relevant. They should focus on: its role and importance to Roman society, what it was used for, who had access to it and how it reflects the political and social aspects of Rome.
4. After researching, groups will start designing and creating their model, creatively yet accurately representing their structure.
5. Once the models are complete, each group should prepare a presentation explaining their structure, what they learned during their research and how they incorporated those discoveries into their model.

Students will have one week to complete this project, dividing their time between researching, creating their models, and preparing their presentations.

The final report should include the following structure:

1. Introduction : Describe the chosen structure and its importance in Roman history.
2. Development : Detail the research process, the designing of the model, and your discoveries about the structure and its relationship with Roman society.
3. Conclusions : Reflect on what they have learned throughout the project, challenges faced, and how it has enriched their understanding of Ancient Rome.
4. Bibliography : Reference the sources consulted for the project.

Remember that the most important part of this project is collaborative learning. Therefore, all stages of the project are to be carried out by the group. Collaboration, active listening, and respect for each other’s ideas are essential for the success of this work.