Subjects: Civics/government, world history
Grade Level(s): 6-8
Time Frame: 3, 50-minute periods
Objectives [What the student should know and be able
to do at the end of the lesson]:
1.0 Overall: In this lesson, students learn about the
influences of the Roman Republic on our government today by
identifying the ideas Americans took from the Ancient Romans
about government, explaining what republican government and
civic virtue are, and analyzing the techniques advertisements
use to persuade.
Bloom’s Taxonomy: CongressLink lesson plans are
built around Bloom’s
taxonomy. If you are preparing a lesson for posting on
CongressLink, be sure to read the detailed information about
the taxonomy – it will be a big help.
2.0 Knowledge: Students recognize the Ancient Romans
as a group of people living long ago.
3.0 Understanding: Students summarize main ideas of
reading "What is a Republican Government?" Students determine
the ideas about government that Americans have taken from the
Romans.
4.0 Application: Students compare living under a republican
government to living under another form of government.
5.0 Analysis: Students analyze the techniques ads use
to persuade.
6.0 Synthesis: Students create an advertisement for
republican government that persuades someone who does not have
this form of government that this is a better form of government.
7.0 Evaluation: Students evaluate the effectiveness
of their own ad.
Procedure/Sequence
Class 1
Warm up: Have students write in journals what they know about
Ancient Rome. Discuss as class-bring up basic facts (ancient
civilization, in Italy, over 2,000 years ago, had republic
and empire).
Give students reading. Students read with partner and fill
in "What is a republican government?" handout.
In partners, students write a conversation between two people
about republican government: one person in the conversation
lives under a republican government, the other lives under
a government that does not have representation for people's
interests.
Class 2
Students finish writing conversations. Students present conversations.
Homework: Bring in an advertisement from a magazine,
newspaper, etc.
Class 3
Students tape their advertisements up around the room or
lay them out on desks. Students circulate through room-they should
look at ads and take notes on what techniques ads use to persuade.
Discuss techniques (e.g., showing beautiful images, happy people,
using catchy slogans, using quotes from famous people, etc.)
Introduce evaluation: Students create an advertisement
for republican government. The ad must refer to the Romans
in some way. The goal of the ad is to persuade someone who
does not have this form of government that this is a better
form of government.
Students work on ads and finish for homework. On the back
of their ad, they also must write a one paragraph evaluation
of how effective their ad is and defend why.
Materials
What is a republican government? (handout)
Reading "What is a Republican Government?" http://civiced.org/wtp_elem03_sb.html
National Standards [based on National Standards for Civics
and Government, Center for Civic Education, 1994. Citation based
on section, subsection, standard of the document]:
5-8 Content Standards
I. A. 1. Defining civic life, politics, and government
I. B. 1. Limited and unlimited governments
II. D. 1. Fundamental values and principles
Rubric
See: http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_rubric.pdf
Author(s):
Hilary G. Conklin
This project is supported by a Robert H. Michel Civic Education
Grant sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, Pekin, IL.
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