Lesson Plan: Lessons from the Roman Republic

SUBJECTS

Civics, Government, World History

GRADE LEVEL

6-8

OBJECTIVES

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.

LESSON PLAN

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.

RESOURCES

What is a republican government? (handout)

Reading "What is Republican Government?"

CREDIT

Hilary G. Conklin

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