SS.6.W.3.2

Explain the democratic concepts (polis, civic participation and voting rights, legislative bodies, written constitutions, rule of law) developed in ancient Greece.
General Information
Subject Area: Social Studies
Grade: 6
Strand: World History
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
2105020: M/J World Cultures (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2105025: M/J World Cultures & Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2105030: M/J Advanced World Cultures (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.W.3.AP.2: Identify the democratic concepts developed in ancient Greece.

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plans

Government in Ancient Greece:

Students will understand the concept of democracy in government and how Athens in Ancient Greece influenced the new government in the U.S. Students will also be able to explain the democratic government of Athens in Ancient Greece to include the branches, the main ideas of their constitution, rights and responsibilities of the people and of the government, and will understand that they were a direct democracy and what that means.

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

Rule of Law: How Ancient Ideas Influence Laws in the United States :

The purpose of this lesson is to illustrate that the concept of “rule of law” not only appears in the U.S. government, but traces back to several ancient civilizations. Secondly, the lesson provides examples of “weak rule of law” and “strong rule of law” in both ancient civilizations and the United States. 

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

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

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

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

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Parent Resources

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