SS.6.CG.1.1

Analyze how democratic concepts developed in ancient Greece served as a foundation for the United States’ constitutional republic.

Clarifications

Clarification 1: Students will identify and explain the democratic principles of government in ancient Greece.

Clarification 2: Students will compare and contrast the political systems of ancient Greece and modern-day United States.

Clarification 3: Students will recognize the influence of ancient Greece on the American political process.

General Information
Subject Area: Social Studies
Grade: 6
Strand: Civics and Government (Starting 2023-2024)
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
2104000: M/J Social Studies (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2109010: M/J World History (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2109020: M/J World History, Advanced (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
7821022: Access M/J World History (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2109015: M/J World History and Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2109025: M/J World History, Advanced and Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
7821024: Access M/J World History and Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2019 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SS.6.CG.1.AP.1: Identify how democratic concepts developed in ancient Greece served as a foundation for the United States’ constitutional republic.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

Ancient Greek Government Part 2:

Once students have identified and explained the democratic principles of government in ancient Greece in Part 1, they are ready to identify the ways in which ancient Greece influenced the development of democratic principles of government in the American colonies.

In this lesson, students will analyze ways in which the democratic principles developed in ancient Greece served as a foundation for the United States constitutional republic. Students will compare the democratic principles identified in part 1 to democratic principles in modern-day American government. In groups, students will collect information from various resources, combining the information onto one poster paper, to explain the similarities and differences between the political systems of ancient Greece and the current United States government.

Type: Lesson Plan

Researching Athenian Democracy: Part 1:

In the first part of this four-part lesson, students will collaborate to research an assigned topic to learn about the influence of Athenian democracy and its governing principles. Students will compile their research and cite their sources.  Students will then reflect on their learning and their collaboration.  In the subsequent parts of this lesson, students will continue collaborating to turn their research into a multimedia presentation and will finally demonstrate their learning individually by responding to a writing prompt.

Type: Lesson Plan

Researching Athenian Democracy: Part 2:

In the second part of this four-part lesson, student groups will collaborate to use information they previously researched to produce a multimedia presentation on the influence of Athenian democracy and its government principles. Students will then reflect on their learning and their collaboration. In the subsequent parts of this lesson, students will deliver their presentation to the class and demonstrate their learning individually by responding to a writing prompt.

Type: Lesson Plan

Researching Athenian Democracy: Part 3:

In the third part of this four-part lesson, student groups will collaborate to present a multimedia presentation based on their previous research on the influence of Athenian democracy and its government principles.  Students will then reflect on their learning and their collaboration.  In the final part of this lesson, students will deliver their presentation to the class and demonstrate their learning individually by responding to a writing prompt.

Type: Lesson Plan

Pnyx Hill: The Crumbling Foundation of Democracy (Part 2):

Students will use information related to weather patterns and the climate of Greece to explore weathering and erosion as potential contributing factors to the change in appearance of Pnyx Hill over time. They will then consider how similar factors could impact stone structures at the U.S. Capitol in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Greece or Rome? You Choose!:

In this lesson, students will review and evaluate what has been taught about the democratic concepts and governments of Greece and Rome in preparation for a Philosophical Chairs discussion. During this discussion, students will be tasked with deciding which civilization had the greatest influence on the United States’ constitutional republic.

Type: Lesson Plan

Pnyx Hill: The Crumbling Foundation of Democracy (Part 1):

Students will be introduced to Pnyx Hill in Athens, Greece, a historic political meeting site. They will explore how weathering and erosion have likely changed its appearance over time using scientific and creative thinking with models based on archaeological and historical information. After learning that Pnyx was the site of early democratic meetings, students will conduct a visual and structural comparison to our current Congressional halls in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Ancient V. Modern Democratic Principles:

In this lesson plan, students will review the attributes and principles of democracy in ancient Athens and compare it to the democratic principles shown in the United States government today. Students have the opportunity to conduct in-depth research on each government to complete their Venn Diagram. 

Type: Lesson Plan

What's the influence? Part 3:

Students will build, share, and revise an interactive program in Scratch to present information about ancient Roman and ancient Greek leaders' influence on civic participation and governance in the ancient world, in this lesson plan.

This is part 3 of a 4 part series that integrates Civics with Computer Science and Coding.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Influence of Ancient Greece:

In this lesson plan, students will analyze the influences of democratic concepts developed in ancient Greece on America’s modern constitutional republic while completing guided notes that accompany a teacher-presented slideshow. A worksheet and assessment quiz give students opportunities to show what they have learned.

Type: Lesson Plan

Ancient Greek Government Part 1:

Students will research ancient Greece to learn about democratic principles of government in ancient Greece using informational texts, websites, and other resources. Students will each complete their own KWHL graphic organizer, then work with a group to paraphrase information gathered from the texts, and create a group poster containing important facts/information learned about the ancient Greek democratic principles of government. 

Type: Lesson Plan

What's the influence? Part 2:

Students will use their research on significant leaders of ancient Greece and ancient Rome to plan out each step of a Scratch program, in this lesson plan.

This is part 2 of a 4 part series that integrates Civics with Computer Science and Coding.

Type: Lesson Plan

What's the influence? Part 4:

Students will summarize and compare the contributions of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, Pericles, Solon, and Cleisthenes to explain each person’s influence on civic participation and governance in the ancient world. Students will also explore how these leaders' ideas influenced modern day United States government.

This is part 4 of a 4 part series that integrates Civics with Computer Science and Coding.

 

Type: Lesson Plan

What's the influence? Part 1:

Students will research significant leaders of ancient Greece and ancient Rome to explore their influence on civic participation and governance in the ancient world, in this lesson plan. 

This is part 1 of a 4 part series that integrates Civics with Computer Science and Coding.

Type: Lesson Plan

It's All Greek to Me:

In this lesson, students will analyze how democratic concepts developed in ancient Greece served as a foundation for the United States’ constitutional republic.

 

Type: Lesson Plan

Teaching Idea

One Pager Assessment: Ancient Greece and the United States :

In this assessment idea, students create a One Pager that identifies similarities and differences between the political systems of Ancient Greece and the United States and explains the impact of Ancient Greece on the American political process.  A rubric and prep sheet (with answer key) are included.

 

Type: Teaching Idea

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Parent Resources

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