Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the historical context of the Roman Empire: Students should be able to identify the historical period in which the Roman Empire developed, as well as the main characteristics and events that marked it. This includes studying the empire's formation, territorial conquests, political and social organization, and the decline and fall of the empire.

2. Analyze the impact of the Roman Empire on the Development of Western civilization: Students should be able to identify and describe the contributions of the Roman Empire to the formation of Western civilization. This involves studying the Latin language, architecture, engineering, Roman law, philosophy, and religion.

3. Compare and contrast the Roman Empire with other contemporary civilizations: Students should be able to identify similarities and differences between the Roman Empire and other civilizations that existed in the same period. This includes comparison with Ancient Greece, the Persian Empire, and Ancient Egypt, among others.

Secondary Objectives:

• Stimulate critical thinking and argumentation: Throughout the lesson, students will be encouraged to analyze, question, and discuss the information presented. They will also be encouraged to formulate their own opinions and arguments, based on historical evidence.

• Develop research and presentation skills: Students will be guided to seek additional information on the topic, either in the school library or on the internet. They will also be guided to prepare a presentation on a specific topic related to the Roman Empire, which will be shared with the class in the next lesson.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous contents: The teacher should start the lesson by briefly reviewing the contents about the Roman Republic that were studied in the previous class. This includes the formation of the Senate, territorial expansion, the Punic Wars, and the reforms of Julius Caesar and Augustus. The review can be done through a brief classroom discussion, questioning students about what they remember from these topics. (3 - 5 minutes)

2. Presentation of problem situations: The teacher can propose two problem situations to stimulate students' critical thinking and prepare them for the content of the lesson. The first situation could be: 'What would have happened if the Roman Empire had never fallen?' The second situation could be: 'How would the world be today if the Roman Empire had expanded beyond Europe?' The teacher should encourage students to think about possible political, social, and cultural consequences of these hypotheses. (5 - 7 minutes)

3. Contextualization of the importance of the theme: The teacher should then contextualize the importance of studying the Roman Empire, highlighting the lasting influence of this civilization on Western culture. The teacher can mention examples of words in Portuguese that have Latin origin, such as 'família' (family), 'justiça' (justice), and 'democracia' (democracy). Additionally, examples of Roman architectural structures that still exist today, such as the Colosseum and the aqueduct, can be cited. (2 - 3 minutes)

4. Introduction to the topic: Finally, the teacher should introduce the topic of the Roman Empire in a way that sparks the students' interest. This can be done through the presentation of historical curiosities, such as the legend of the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus, the existence of gladiators, and the controversial figure of Nero. The teacher can also show images of Roman art and architecture to give students a visual idea of what life was like at that time. (3 - 5 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Simulation activity: The Roman Senate (10 - 12 minutes): The teacher will divide the class into groups of 5 to 6 students. Each group will represent a Roman senate. The teacher will then present a fictional scenario: 'The Emperor has just died and left the throne vacant. You, senators, must now choose a new emperor. However, there are two candidates: one with strong military skills, but unpopular among the population; and another who is loved by the people, but has no military experience. As senators, you must discuss and decide which candidate will be the next emperor.'

   1. Preparation: Each group will discuss the scenario and prepare an argument based on historical facts about why their candidate should be chosen.
   2. Debate: Each group will present their argument and the other groups can ask questions or challenge the arguments presented.
   3. Decision: After all groups have presented, the class as a whole will vote to decide which candidate will be the next emperor.

2. Research activity: The contributions of the Roman Empire (6 - 8 minutes): The teacher will divide the class into new groups, this time with 3 to 4 students. Each group will receive a topic related to the contributions of the Roman Empire to Western civilization. Topics may include: language and literature, architecture and engineering, law, philosophy, and religion. The students will then have to research the assigned topic and prepare a brief presentation to share with the class in the next lesson. The teacher should provide resources for research, such as books, encyclopedias, and internet access. The teacher should also guide the students to seek information from reliable sources and to correctly cite the sources used.

3. Dramatization activity: The fall of the Roman Empire (4 - 5 minutes): The teacher will propose that students, in their groups, create a short scene or skit representing an important event in the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Each group will choose a different event, such as the invasion of the Visigoths, the division of the empire into the Western and Eastern Roman Empires, or the deposition of the last Roman emperor. Students should research the chosen event, prepare the dialogues, and perform the scene. The goal of this activity is not only to reinforce the learned content but also to stimulate creativity and collaboration among students.

At the end of the Development, the teacher should reserve time for each group to briefly share what they discussed or prepared during the activities. This will allow all students to have a broader view of the topic and learn from the perspectives and arguments of others.

Return (10 - 12 minutes)

1. Group discussion (3 - 4 minutes): The teacher should start the Return phase by promoting a group discussion with all students. Each group will have up to 2 minutes to share the conclusions or solutions they found during the activities. The teacher should encourage students to explain the reasoning behind their decisions and to argue in favor of their choices. This will provide an opportunity for students to learn from each other, in addition to reinforcing the content covered in the lesson.

2. Connection to theory (3 - 4 minutes): After the group presentations, the teacher should review the theoretical concepts covered in the lesson and connect these concepts with the practical activities carried out. For example, the teacher can highlight how the simulation activity of the Roman Senate reflected the process of electing an emperor in Ancient Rome, or how the dramatization activity helped illustrate the events of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. The goal is to reinforce students' understanding of the lesson content and demonstrate how theory applies in practice.

3. Individual reflection (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should then propose that students reflect individually on what they learned in the lesson. The teacher can ask the following questions to guide students' reflection:

   1. What was the most important concept you learned today?
   2. What questions have not been answered yet?
   3. How does what you learned today relate to the world around you?

   Students should write down their answers in a notebook or on a piece of paper. They can share their answers with the class, if they wish, or keep them to themselves as a form of self-assessment.

4. Feedback and clarification of doubts (2 - 3 minutes): Finally, the teacher should open a space for students to give feedback on the lesson and clarify any doubts they may still have. The teacher should encourage students to express their opinions and ask questions, ensuring that everyone feels heard and supported. The teacher should then respond to students' questions as best as possible, and if there are doubts that cannot be answered immediately, promise that they will be addressed in the next lesson or in a future class.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary of key points (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should start the Conclusion of the lesson by summarizing the key points discussed. This includes the historical context of the Roman Empire, its contributions to Western civilization, the comparison with other contemporary civilizations, and the key events that led to the decline and fall of the empire. The teacher can use a whiteboard or a slide presentation to visualize these points and help students remember the information.

2. Connection between theory and practice (1 - 2 minutes): Next, the teacher should emphasize how the practical activities carried out during the lesson helped reinforce the theoretical concepts discussed. This may include explaining how the simulation of the Roman Senate illustrated the decision-making process in Ancient Rome, and how the presentations on the contributions of the Roman Empire and the dramatization of the decline and fall of the empire allowed students to explore these themes in a deeper and more meaningful way.

3. Extra materials (1 minute): The teacher can then suggest some extra materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge about the Roman Empire. This may include books, documentaries, history websites, educational games, and visits to museums or archaeological sites. The teacher should emphasize that the study of history is a continuous process and that students can continue to learn and explore the topic outside the classroom.

4. Relevance of the theme (1 - 2 minutes): Finally, the teacher should reiterate the importance of studying the Roman Empire for understanding the contemporary world. The teacher can once again highlight the lasting influences of Roman culture, such as the Latin language and Roman legal system. Additionally, the teacher can emphasize how the history of the Roman Empire can provide valuable insights into current issues, such as power, politics, war, society, and culture.