So You Think You Could Live in Ancient Roman Times?

a WebQuest for third grade, social studies

by Lissy Beebe

NCSOS: Click on to Align with Third Grade NC Curriculum

You have been discovering what it was like in Ancient Roman times and some of the basics of how the city was started, how it reached enormous size, and how it was governed. Now you are going to imagine what it would have been like to live in Ancient Rome.

The Ancient Romans were advanced beyond their time but do you think you could have lived in Ancient Rome? They had advancements … but they still did not have video games. They had sporting events … but no football. Do you think you would have been happy?

The Task

Through research you will learn all about life in Ancient Roman times. You are going to decide if you could have lived in these times and explain why or why not. You will:

Look through pictures to see what Ancient Rome might have looked like
Learn some information about Roman Gladiators
Discover technology they invented and used;
Decide if the technology was enough for you to be comfortable;
Find out how the Ancient Romans had fun;
Compare their games to games we have now;
Explore the Roman Coliseum
Investigate schools in Ancient Roman times;
Decide how was their schools were similar or different to ours;
Determine if you could have lived in Ancient Roman times.

Resources

Intro: on http://www.roman-empire.net/articles/article-013.html, http://www.salariya.com/web_books/gladiator/index.html, http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/architecture/index.htm, http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/facts.htm

Technology: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/tech.shtml, http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/OakViewES/harris/96-97/agespages/rome/contributions-rome.html

Leisure: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/leisure.shtml, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/launch_ani_colosseum.shtml, http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/entertainment.htm

Education: http://library.thinkquest.org/22866/English/FRAME.HTML, http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/families.shtml, http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/children.htm

Final Assignment: http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/, http://www.cavazzi.com/roman-empire/tours/rome.html, www.yahooligans.com

The Process

Make sure you read through the web links and the information that is on the website. You will be researching what it was like to live in Ancient Roman times and decide whether you could have lived there or not. While you are reading think about reasons why you would have liked it or why you would not have liked living there. Think about what you enjoy now or what you would have liked that the Ancient Romans had that we do not.

While you are working on your assignments, write down ideas as you come across them in the readings. These ideas can be used when you write about why or why not you could have lived in Ancient Rome.

Assignment 1: Intro to Ancient Rome

1. While you are working, write down at least 5 facts about Ancient Roman times that will help you in your decision about living in those times.

2. Click on http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/facts.htm for facts about Ancient Roman Times

3. You can also get some information on: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/architecture/index.htm

4. http://www.roman-empire.net/articles/article-013.html -click to learn about the coliseum where the gladiators and plays were performed.

5. Remember to write down facts and information that helps you figure out if you could or could not live in Ancient Roman times- keep in your folder and you will turn in at the end of the webquest.

6. When you are done, this is a fun Roman website: Learn about Roman Gladiators. http://www.salariya.com/web_books/gladiator/index.html

Assignment 2: Technology

1. Get an assignment sheet from your teacher.

2. Read question 1 and 2 and answer before you read the website.

3. After you have answered 1 and 2 click on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/tech.shtml and http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/OakViewES/harris/96-97/agespages/rome/contributions-rome.html

4. Read through the information that is on the websites to answer question 3 and 4.

5. Keep the paper in your folder. You are going to turn in all the papers at the end.

Assignment 3: Leisure

1. Open up Kidspiration.

2. Open up a blank Venn Diagram.

3. Minimize Kidspiration.

4. Click on http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/leisure.shtml and http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/entertainment.htm

5. Read through the information about Games they played in Ancient Roman times.

6. Create a Venn Diagram comparing our games to games they played back then. You should have 2-3 sentences/phrases in each part of the diagram.

7. Make sure you check your spelling, change the fonts in each part of the diagram, add your name, and add 1-3 pictures.

8. Print out the Venn Diagram and keep it in your folder. You are going to turn in all the papers at the end.

9. If you have time, explore the coliseum and its parts. Write down interesting facts on the back of your Venn Diagram. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/launch_ani_colosseum.shtml

Assignment 4: Education

1. Click on http://library.thinkquest.org/22866/English/FRAME.HTML

2. On the left side, click on Daily Life.

3. Click on Roman Education.

4. Read the information about primary School (this is their elementary School).

5. Click on http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/families.shtml and http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/children.htm

6. Read the information in the bottom two boxes about education and what they wrote with in Roman times.

7. Pretend you are a young boy living in Ancient Roman Times. Write a letter to your mom or dad about your school and what you are doing. You can either type the letter or hand write it. Make sure you have all 5 parts with 7 sentences in the body of the letter.

Session 5: Can you live in Ancient Roman times?

1. You are going to revisit some of the websites and write down information that will help you think about living in Ancient Roman times.

2. If you look at the resources portion of the webquest, all the websites that you have looked at are listed. You can revisit any of the websites.

3. Make sure you have reasons about whether you could live in Ancient Roman times or not.

4. If you want, you can do a search of Ancient Roman times on www.yahooligans.com.

Session 6: Put All the Information Together!

1. Click on http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/

2. Write a letter to your teacher explaining why you would have liked to live in Ancient roman times or why you would not. Do not use reasons like: Your mom, dad, family, etc. does not live in those times. Pretend that your family would live there too. Use reasons that have to do with the living conditions, what is available, what is not available, what you could or could not do as a kid, school differences, and living arrangements.

3. Remember to print out your letter and turn in to your teacher.

4. If you have time: Click on http://www.cavazzi.com/roman-empire/tours/rome.html and look through some of the pictures of some of the artifacts that are left over from Ancient Roman times.

Evaluation

You will be graded on each assignment. Make sure you follow the directions and keep your work all together. You will turn it in all at once at the end of the webquest.

Look at the rubric- this is what the teacher will use to grade your assignments.

Rubric

When you are all done, staple your papers together in order that you completed them and turn the packet into your teacher.

Conclusion

You have now had the opportunity to learn different aspects of Ancient Roman Life. What did you decide? Can you live without grocery stores or the TV? What do you think about the school life in Ancient Roman times? Can you live without restaurants? Did you decide if you would have enjoyed the Gladiator games? Would you have liked to live in Ancient Roman times?

Based on a template from The Webquest Page.