Objectives

(5 - 7 minutes)

1. To provide students with a comprehensive overview of Ancient Rome, its significance, and its contributions to modern society. This will enable students to see the relevance and importance of the subject matter in their own lives and in the world today.

   • Objective 1.1: Students will identify key characteristics of the Roman Empire, including its vast expanse and long duration.
   • Objective 1.2: Students will highlight the engineering feats of the Romans, such as aqueducts and roads, and understand their role in the success of the empire.
   • Objective 1.3: Students will recognise the influence of Ancient Rome in areas such as law, government, and art.

2. To foster critical thinking and analytical skills in students by encouraging them to draw connections between Ancient Rome and present-day societies.

   • Objective 2.1: Students will compare and contrast Ancient Roman society with modern societies, identifying similarities and differences.
   • Objective 2.2: Students will analyse the impact of Ancient Roman practices on contemporary law, government, and art.

3. To promote active participation and hands-on learning through interactive activities and group discussions.

   • Objective 3.1: Students will actively participate in hands-on activities that simulate aspects of Ancient Roman life, such as building a model aqueduct or designing a Roman road.
   • Objective 3.2: Students will engage in group discussions to share their thoughts, ideas, and findings, fostering teamwork, communication, and collaboration skills.

These objectives aim to make the lesson engaging, informative, and relevant, moving beyond rote learning to encourage critical thinking and active participation.

Introduction

(10 - 12 minutes)

1. Begin the lesson by reminding the students of their previous lessons on ancient civilizations. Briefly touch on the characteristics of these civilizations, their achievements, and their influence on contemporary societies.

2. Pose two problem situations:

   • Scenario 1- "Imagine you are a city planner in Ancient Rome. You need to design an efficient and effective water supply system for the city. What considerations would you have?"
   • Scenario 2- "As a lawmaker in Ancient Rome, you are tasked with drafting a new law. How would you ensure that it is fair, just, and beneficial for all members of society?"

3. Contextualize the importance of the subject by discussing how Ancient Rome has influenced our modern society. Draw attention to our architectural structures, legal systems, and governmental structures that have roots in Roman civilization.

4. Introduce the topic of Ancient Rome by sharing an interesting anecdote about the Roman Empire. For example, discuss how the Romans were such skilled engineers that some of their roads and aqueducts are still in use today - over 2,000 years later!

5. Grab students' attention by sharing some intriguing facts about Ancient Rome. For instance, did they know that Romans used human urine as a mouthwash and laundry detergent due to its ammonia content? Or that the Romans had a Goddess of Sewers and Toilet called Cloacina?

6. Encourage the students to consider these facts and the problem scenarios as they delve deeper into the study of Ancient Rome, its significant achievements, and its lasting impact on the world.

Development

(15 - 20 minutes)

Activity 1: Design a Roman Aqueduct Model

1. Divide students into groups of 4 or 5 and provide each group with the necessary materials: crafting paper, cardboard, glue, scissors, plastic straws, and a reusable water bottle.

2. Each group will be tasked with creating a model of a Roman Aqueduct, replicating the architectural and engineering genius of Ancient Rome.

3. Guide students to start designing their model. They should identify the starting and ending points at different elevations, as Roman aqueducts were designed to transport water using gravity.

4. Ask them to consider the arch construction, which was crucial for stability given the weight of the water and the aqueduct's length.

5. Once the design phase is complete, the students can start assembling their aqueducts, using straws to represent the waterway and cardboardfor the pillars and arches.

6. Once their models are complete, students will test the functionality by pouring water from the top and observing if it flows to the other end.

7. Discuss their models' effectiveness, challenges and difficulties encountered, and how they overcame them.

Activity 2: Role-Play Imaginary Roman Senate Meeting

1. Continue with the same groups as before, this time each group acting as representatives of a fictional Roman Senate meeting.

2. Provide each group with a hypothetical situation that needs legal attention. These can range from crimes such as theft or arson to public issues like hygiene or transportation. Students should consider the societal norms, the rights of individuals and the law, while concocting a solution.

3. Each group will be tasked with devising a suitable law to address the issue. They should consider factors like fairness, societal impact, penalties, and enforcement mechanisms.

4. Each group will have a chosen 'consul' to present their new law in front of the 'Roman Senate' (the class). They must explain its importance, how it works, and justify why it's the best way to address the problem.

5. Encourage the rest of the class to ask questions, provide feedback or propose amendments to the suggested laws. This will simulate the legislative process.

6. Debrief and discuss with the class what they felt about the process, difficulties, and how it ties to the democratic process seen in many societies today.

These hands-on activities not only help the students understand the Roman Empire's engineering and legislative brilliance but also cultivate collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and presentation skills.

Feedback

(8 - 10 minutes)

1. Open the floor for a class-wide discussion. Ask each group to briefly summarize their experiences from the day's activities - the challenges they faced during the aqueduct building and the law-making process, and how they overcame them.

   • Facilitate a discussion on how these activities relate to the concepts learned about Ancient Rome. Encourage students to draw connections between their hands-on experiences and the theoretical knowledge about Rome's engineering and legislative prowess.
   • Promote an environment where students can freely express their thoughts, agreements, disagreements, or further questions.

2. Assess what the students have learned from the group activities. Encourage students to share their insights about the Roman Empire, its achievements, and its influence on modern societies based on their experiences with the hands-on activities.

   • Ask probing questions to guide students in examining the connections between Ancient Rome and modern societies. For example, "How does the legislation process in Ancient Rome compare to our current legislative system?" or "How have Roman engineering principles influenced modern infrastructure?"

3. Propose a one-minute reflection period for students to ponder about the lessons learned. Ask them to consider questions such as:

   • What was the most important concept you learned today?
   • What aspects of Ancient Rome do you find most intriguing?
   • Which questions do you still have about Ancient Rome?

4. Collect feedback from the students about the lesson. This could be in the form of an exit ticket where students write down their biggest takeaway from the lesson and one question they still have about Ancient Rome. This can help the teacher assess the effectiveness of the lesson and plan for future lessons.

5. Finally, the teacher should summarize the key points covered in the lesson, reiterate the significance of Ancient Rome in shaping modern societies, and provide a teaser for the next session to keep the students intrigued and motivated.

This feedback session is crucial for reinforcing the concepts learned, assessing the students' understanding, and planning the direction for future lessons. It also provides an opportunity for the students to reflect on their learning, articulate their thoughts, and take ownership of their educational journey.

Conclusion

(5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summarize the major points of the lesson: the vastness and duration of the Roman Empire, its engineering marvels like aqueducts and roads, and its influential contributions to law, government, and art.

2. Reiterate the hands-on activities the students participated in, emphasizing how they were meant to provide a tangible connection to the theoretical material. The design and testing of the aqueduct models demonstrated the Romans' expertise in engineering and problem-solving, while the role-play of a Roman Senate meeting shed light on their complex legal system and methods of governance.

3. Highlight how the lesson connected theory, practice, and applications:

   • Theory: The students learned about the characteristics and significant contributions of Ancient Rome.
   • Practice: The students applied this theoretical knowledge in designing a Roman aqueduct model and drafting a Roman law.
   • Applications: The students analysed the influence of Ancient Rome on modern societies, understanding that many engineering principles, legal systems, and art forms we see today have roots in Roman civilization.

4. Suggest additional materials for students who wish to explore the topic further:

   • Books: "The Romans: From Village to Empire" by Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel J. Gargola, and Richard J.A. Talbert; "SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome" by Mary Beard
   • Documentaries: "Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire" by the History Channel; "Meet the Romans with Mary Beard" by BBC
   • Websites: BBC Bitesize's section on Ancient Rome; National Geographic Kids' guide to Ancient Rome

5. Conclude with the relevance of Ancient Rome to our daily lives:

   • Explain that Roman engineering principles are still used today in the construction of roads, bridges, and water supply systems.
   • Highlight that many legal concepts, such as the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial, originated from Roman law.
   • Note that the Roman practice of representative government served as a model for many modern democracies.
   • Mention that Roman art and architecture have greatly influenced Western art, inspiring countless artists and architects over the centuries.

This conclusion session is key to reinforcing the concepts learned, encouraging further exploration of the topic, and highlighting the importance and relevance of Ancient Rome in our everyday lives.