Ancient Greece, the Birthplace of Democracy! – Greece Unit Day 2
Preparer – Lauren Pinkston
Audience: Grade 3, whole group (22 students)
Standards:
History 3.1 – The student will explain how the contributions of ancient Greece have influenced
the present world in terms of architecture, government (direct democracy), and sports.
Objectives: 1) After viewing a PowerPoint, students will be able to describe a direct democracy
and how the government of Greece influenced the U.S. government. 2) After completing the
mock democracy activity, students will be able to explain how a direct democratic forum works.
Materials/Time: Computer projector, voting scenario (see attachment A), student ballot (see
attachment B), exit card (see attachment C), Children of Ancient Greece, direct democracy
PowerPoint (see attached)
Introduction (10 minutes): Revisit Google Maps to remind student of where Greece is located.
Review the physical characteristics of ancient Greece and how the people became farmers,
traders, and shipbuilders. Call students to the carpet and read aloud pages 5-9 of Children of
Ancient Greece. After the read aloud, explain to students that today they will be learning about
government in ancient Greece. Send students back to their seats and open the PowerPoint about
democracy.
Content Focus (30 minutes): Go through the PowerPoint emphasizing the definition of
democracy and that ancient Greece is the birthplace of democracy. Explain to students that the
founding fathers of our government (example: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson)
decided to make our government a democracy and we still have that form of government today.
After finishing the PowerPoint, tell students that today we will have our own direct democracy in
the classroom. Pass out situation cards (see attachment A). Ask one student volunteer to read
aloud the situation and explain to students that they will be acting out a direct democracy.
Explain that in ancient Greece, people would gather in one area (called a forum) and vote on
important things. Remind students that in a direct democracy, everyone who is a citizen is
allowed to vote. Tell students to take time and think about what they are going to vote for. Have
a few student volunteers from each side try to argue their position just as the ancient Greeks
would do in their political forums. Place a ballot box at the front of the room and call students
up by groups to place their ballots in the box. If there is still time after the activity, read aloud
more page from Children of Ancient Greece.
Conclusion (2 minutes): Review what happened during the activity. Revisit the term direct
democracy. Explain that everyone gets a say in what happens, but not everyone will get what
they want because the majority vote will win. Pass out exit cards for students to complete before
going to resource class.
Differentiation: Help students struggling during the mock democracy activity to reread the
instructions and re-explain what to do if necessary.
Assessment: Formative – observation of student participation during mock democracy activity;
Summative – exit card
Attachment A – Issue scenario
As citizens of Magruder Elementary, today you will be
voting on a very important decision. The Principal has
said that she will either give you 15 extra minutes of
recess everyday, or put a milkshake machine in the
cafeteria for you to have at lunch everyday. Which would
you rather? Why?
Attachment B – Student ballot
Circle your choice:
• Milkshake machine in the cafeteria
• 15 extra minutes of recess everyday
Attachment C – Multiple choice exit card
Exit Card
Answer the following questions:
1.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Who is Cleisthenes?
the tyrant of Athens
the father of democracy
a Greek god
a slave in ancient Greece
2.
a)
b)
c)
d)
What type of government was in ancient Greece?
direct democracy
indirect democracy
representative democracy
forum democracy
3. What is this a picture of?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Greek coins Greek toys
Greek stamps
Greek ballots