Origins of Democracy in Ancient Greece

Web Scavenger Hunt Lesson Plan Worksheet

Subject Matter: Social Studies

Grade Level: 6^th grade

Lesson Objective:.

Learners will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the origins of democracy in Ancient Greece, and how it relates to our present system of democracy.

Subject Matter Content Standard:

Social Studies Standard 6.4 (2)

Trace the transition from tyranny and oligarchy to early democratic forms of government and back to dictatorship in ancient Greece, including the significance of the invention of the idea of citizenship (e.g., from Pericles’ Funeral Oration).

Website Addresses Used as Resources: (2-3)

1. http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture6b.html

2. http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/government/democracy.htm

3. http://greece.mrdonn.org/athensdemocracy.html

Student Research Questions:

Essential Question:

1. How is the example of democracy of Ancient Greece similar and/or different to the democracy of the United States?

Subsidiary Questions:

2. What is a direct democracy?

3. What is a representative democracy?

4. What made a person a citizen?

5. Where and when (city and year) did democracy start?

6. How did Athens choose the representatives?

7. What does “apella” mean?

8. What does “gerousia” mean?

9. How many council members were chosen in Athens each year?

10. Who helped to end the Council of 500?

Assessment:  In what ways did the use of the Internet promote student learning? How will you assess student learning with this assignment?  

Some of the questions that need to be answered are easily found on more than one of the search websites but some of the questions are very specific and can only be found by reading the text of the websites. There are detailed and specific answers that the students will either have or not. Administering a quiz at the end of the lesson will be an accurate assessment of if the students have accurately learned the information.