University of West Georgia



Resource Kit

By Dorina Winslow

For movie maker- Our Democratic Heritage- historical roots of American democracy as related to Ancient Greek democracy

Georgia Performance Standard

Grade Three OUR DEMOCRATIC HERITAGE In third grade, students conclude their introduction to United States history by studying the origins of American democracy. The historical strand compares ancient Greek democracy in Athens with that of the United States and introduces selected Americans who have been important in ensuring our rights. The geography strand relates primarily to the people discussed in the history strand. In the government strand students begin the study of the foundations of a republican form of government. The economics strand continues the introduction of basic economics concepts.

Historical Understandings

SS3H1 The student will explain the political roots of our modern democracy in the United States of America.

a. Identify the influence of Greek architecture (Parthenon, U. S. Supreme Court building), law, and the Olympic Games on the present.

b. Explain the ancient Athenians’ idea that a community should choose its own leaders.

c. Compare and contrast Athens as a direct democracy with the United States as a representative democracy.

Geographic Understandings SS3G1 The student will locate major topographical features of the United States of America.

d. Locate Greece on a world map.

Social Studies - Georgia performance standards found-





This site listed above could be used for an introduction for 3rd grade students learning about Greece. It is full of pictures and sounds- very good web site.

[pic] Children playing knucklebones



Greece History Timeline





Here are some interesting facts based on the timeline.

750-500 B.C.:

Independent urban areas called city-states flourish and develop different systems of government. Democracy, or government by popular vote, is first practiced here, and science, culture and fine arts thrive.

1896:

The first modern Olympic Games are held in Athens to build friendship among different countries. Many of its games, including wrestling and discus-throwing, originated in ancient Greece.

1975:

New constitution of the Republic of Greece is approved. It establishes a president as head of state and a prime minister to run the government.

1981:

Greece becomes a full member of the EEC (European Economic Community), an economic alliance of western European nations that provides Greece with money and technology to strengthen its economy.

2004:

The Summer Olympic Games are set to take place in Athens, Greece. They will return to the country that gave birth to the Olympics more than 2,000 years ago and the city that staged the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Here are several useful web pages that students could use to do research about ancient Greece.









books related to ancient Greece

the city of Ancient Athens, Greece

for teachers

great for student interaction and creating their own pottery design to print.

Images

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Maps from: 11-24-08 google images



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Flag from:



More images:

Google images of the U.S. Capitol Building, Georgia’s very own State Capitol Building, and ancient Greece’s Parthenon, U.S. Supreme Court Building, The White House and the North Side of the White House all used to show similarities in architecture designs. Other Google Images are also included. They are a picture of an ancient vase with typical carvings, and a picture of Mount Olympus- the highest mountain peak in Greece- where the first Olympics were believed to be played to honor the Gods. Zeus the father of the Gods is also included.

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[pic][pic] Olympic game- runners[pic]

The Flag the represents today’s modern Olympics from Google images

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Mount Olympus- from Google earth

Zeus

A god of ancient Greek mythology.

Zeus was the God of all the gods, the King of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus. He was the god of the sky and thunder, with control over storms and thunderbolts.

Zeus was son of Cronus (Cronos, Kronos) and brother to Poseidon and Hades.

Zeus was the husband of Hera.

His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, and oak.

Free Greek Games & Activities



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Here are a few games and activities that students might enjoy!

Ancient Greece (fun from the BBC) - Olympics, Theatre, Athens

Greek God Arcade (interactive game)  

The Greek Comets

Read and Hear Greek Myths 

Who wants to be an Ancient Greek millionaire? game  

The Traveler 

Print a Deck of Greek God Player Cards

and play the memory game

Free Online Games for Ancient Greece (thinkquest) 

Design a Greek Pot (and more Greek Fun)

Play Games - Amazons vs. Athenians, 

Icarus & Daedalus, Make your own Greek music   

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|Illustrated by Phillip Martin  - All rights reserved |

|We're Published! See Mr. Donn & Maxie's PowerPoint Series  |

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The Greeks considered the olive tree as the most valued gift to humankind, a symbol of peace, sustenance, and life.

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Ancient Greece made a huge impact on America which is evident even today. The ancient Greeks helped to lay the foundations for art, literature, theater, math, science, architecture, engineering and warfare. In fact, practically every area of American lives is influenced by Ancient Greece.

The ancient Greeks gave America and the rest of the world formulas and theorems. In addition, they provided written records that ended up being the foundation of all that followed in every basic field of study.

Many people are under the misconception that democracy was created by the founding fathers of America. However, the ideas for democracy were first established in ancient Greece and later expanded by the Romans. There are some who acknowledge the contributions of ancient Greece towards democracy but believe that democratic ideas lay dormant until taken up by the Americans in the 18th century. When the America’s founding fathers created a nation, they carried forward the best ideas of ancient Greece democracy.

Because of its location, ancient Greece was a melting pot of cultures just like America. Ancient Greece had people from different lands inhabiting the country and they all ended up sharing a common language but were still separate entities with their own gods and goddesses, army and currency. This is similar to America where each state is a separate entity to a certain extent but combined, the states become one nation. In America too, one can find people from many cultures who live harmoniously together while respecting each others cultural and religious diversity.

There is enough evidence to point out that ancient Greece had a profound influence on America and this influence is evident even today when one takes into consideration the cultural diversity, and the strides America has made in science, art, engineering, warfare and literature.



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Music/Audio



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