Materials

• Teacher-provided encyclopedia and/or other research resources
• Teacher-provided supplemental information on contributions of ancient Rome to Western Civilization
• Overhead projector
• Teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other activity

Instructional Activities

1. Review content covered to this point in the unit.
   
   
2. Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4 students. Assign one of the following topics of contributions of ancient Rome to each group:
   • Art/architecture: Pantheon, Colosseum, Forum
   • Technology: Roads, aqueducts, Roman arches
   • Science: Ptolemy
   • Medicine: Emphasis on public health (public baths; public water system; medical schools)
   • Language: Latin, Romance languages
   • Literature: Virgil’s Aeneid
   • Religion: Roman mythology; adoption of Christianity as the imperial religion
   • Law: The principle of “innocent until proven guilty” (from the Twelve Tables)
   
   Instruct each group to develop a two-minute presentation to explain their assigned contribution. Students should use textbooks and supplementary resources provided by the teacher to complete their presentations. They may develop posters containing graphs, diagrams, sketches, or other visual depictions to illustrate their topic. For example, a sketch of the Colosseum, a diagram explaining Ptolemy’s geocentric theory, or a brief outline of the Aeneid may be used during the presentation.
   
   
3. Each group should make their presentation. Instruct students in the audience to record each contribution in their notebooks as it is presented. Provide supplemental information as needed to assist student understanding. Upon completion, post the list of contributions on the overhead for students to check their notes.
   
   
4. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity, using available teacher resources.