Context

Ancient Greece, one of the pillars of Western civilization, is known for its contributions to philosophy, politics, literature, arts, and sciences, among other fields of knowledge. Its culture and ideals have deep roots in the formation of contemporary Western society, and understanding this civilization and its legacy is crucial to decipher the complexities of our own society. In this project, we will explore Pre-Hellenistic Greece, a fascinating period often overshadowed by the great empires of Hellenism.

Pre-Hellenistic Greece comprises the Archaic, Classical periods, and the beginning of the Hellenistic period, until the rise of Alexander the Great. During this time, Greece was not a unified country as it is today, but a collection of independent city-states known as poleis. Athens and Sparta are well-known, but there were hundreds of these states, each with its own laws, governments, and cultures. This internal diversity is one of the aspects that students will investigate.

Importance of Ancient Greece

The importance of Ancient Greece to the Western world cannot be overstated. The concept of democracy, which we consider fundamental to life in society today, has its roots in the polis of Athens. Western philosophy was born in Ancient Greece, with figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle shaping Western thought to this day. The Greeks also made significant contributions in the areas of mathematics, physics, astronomy, and medicine.

Despite being distant in time, Ancient Greece is surprisingly relevant to the contemporary world. The questions raised by the ancient Greeks about ethics, politics, art, and the meaning of life are still discussed today. Furthermore, many of our public, political, and educational spaces reflect the Greek model from centuries ago.

Practical Activity: A Trip to Ancient Greece

Project Objective

This interdisciplinary project aims to provide students with a deep understanding of Pre-Hellenistic Greece and how its legacies impact our current world. Students will build a three-dimensional model of one of the Greek city-states, along with a filmed documentary and a script about its contributions to history, politics, philosophy, art, and science.

Detailed Project Description

Groups of 3 to 5 students will choose one of the poleis (city-states) of Pre-Hellenistic Greece to research, plan, and create a physical 3D model (using recyclable materials, clay, paper, etc.) representing the main architectural and social aspects of the city. Simultaneously, they must produce a video documentary, scripted and filmed (using a smartphone or camera) by the group itself, focusing on the history, culture, governance, and contributions of that polis.

Required Materials

• Research materials: books, internet, videos
• Materials for model construction: cardboard, clay, paper, paint, glue, among other materials chosen by the students
• For filming: smartphone or camera, tripod (if available)
• Video editing software (free options are available online)
• Computer for video editing and report writing

Step by Step

1. Group formation and choice of the polis to be studied (Athens, Sparta, Corinth, etc.).
2. Task division: research, model construction, script creation, and documentary production.
3. Research stage: collection of relevant information about the chosen polis and script creation for the documentary.
4. Construction of the 3D model of the studied polis: students should focus on architectural and social aspects, such as temples, theaters, houses, etc.
5. Documentary production: students will film the model while narrating the history, culture, government, and contributions of the chosen polis.
6. Video editing, mixing the 3D model footage and other images they wish to add.
7. Students must jointly write the report. This will be essential to reinforce what was learned during the process, as well as to assist in the assessment of socio-emotional skills.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, each group must deliver:

• The 3D model of the chosen polis: demonstrating an understanding of the architectural aspects of the city and the social aspects of Ancient Greece.
• The video documentary: with a duration of 10-20 minutes, narrating the history, culture, government, and contributions of the chosen polis, using the 3D model as the basis for the footage.
• Written report: composed of four main topics: Introduction (contextualizing the project, the chosen polis, and the relevance of the topics covered), Development (explaining the methodology and the project creation process), Conclusions (synthesis of the learnings and discoveries about the importance of Ancient Greece), and Bibliography (indicating all sources used in research and work execution).

In the report, it is important for students to reflect on teamwork and the development of socio-emotional skills such as time management, communication, problem-solving, creative thinking, and proactivity.