Family Tree of Ancient Gods

Subject Area: Social Studies

Grade Level(s): 7

Duration of Activity: 2 to 3 days

Description of Activity:

This is a short lesson that will allow students to use an organization chart to construct a family tree using Microsoft PowerPoint. The organization chart will show how the relationship of the Roman family tree of gods and goddesses was similar to that of Ancient Greece. Students will use various Web sites to research information on the Roman gods and goddesses.

Objectives:

• Students will utilize the Web sites supplied by the teacher to search for information relating to the Greek gods to complete a family tree.
• Students will use Handout 1: Family Tree of Ancient God Example to visualize how the family tree should appear.
• Students will use Handout 2: PowerPoint Presentation Organization Chart Directions as step-by-step directions for creating an organization chart using Microsoft PowerPoint

• Students will use Handout 3: Rubric for Ancient Gods Essay so they will know how their essay will be scored.
• Students will use Handout 4: Ancient Gods Essay Test to write an essay on a topic that relates to the lesson.

Materials/Equipment:

• Computers
• Internet access
• Microsoft Power Point software or other presentation software
• Handout 1: Family Tree of Ancient Gods Example
• Handout 2: PowerPoint Presentation Organization Chart Directions
• Handout 3: Rubric for Ancient Gods Essay
• Handout 4: Ancient Gods Essay Test

Prerequisites (skills or background needed):

• Ability to locate information on a Web site
• Skill in locating Web sites using URLs
• Basic Microsoft PowerPoint skills to create an organization chart

Procedure

Teacher Component: The teacher will

1. introduce the lesson on Roman gods and goddesses and discuss how they were similar to those from Ancient Greece.
2. instruct students to research information on the Roman gods and goddesses and use the information researched to construct a family tree of the gods and goddesses.
3. instruct students to use Handout 1: Family Tree of Ancient Gods Example so that they will know how their family gods and goddesses family tree should look
4. instruct students to follow the directions on Handout 2: PowerPoint Presentation Organization Chart Directions to construct their family tree.
5. distribute Handout 3: Rubric for Ancient Gods Essay so that the students will know how their essay will be scored.
6. distribute Handout 4: Ancient Gods Essay Test to allow the students to write an essay on the given topic. This will allow the students to reflect on what they have learned while they were researching information on the Ancient Gods.

Student Activities: The student will

1. utilize the Web sites provided by the teacher to research information on various Roman gods and goddesses and use the information in creating a family tree.
2. view Handout 1: Family Tree of Ancient Gods Example so that they will know what their family tree should look like and how it should be constructed.
3. utilize Handout 2: PowerPoint Presentation Organization Chart Directions as step by step instructions on how to set up their organization chart.
4. utilize Handout 3: Rubric for Ancient Gods Essay to determine how their essay will be scored.
5. use Handout 4: Ancient Gods Essay Test to write an essay on a given topic. Students will reflect on what they have learned while they were researching information on the Ancient Gods.

Accommodations:

• Students will be grouped by technology skill levels so that those students who are more proficient with Microsoft PowerPoint can serve as peer tutors.

Extension Activities:

• Have students research some of the most famous stories of the Roman gods and goddesses and share their findings with the class in the form of readings, Reader’s Theater, or simple plays.
• Have students use the puzzle maker at school.discovery.com / http://school.discovery.com/ to create various types of puzzles using the names of the Roman gods and goddesses.
• Have students use a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation organization chart to construct a framework for a family tree using their own family and beginning with the present generation and moving back to earlier generations. Students may also add interesting facts about family members that they have permission to include and then share their family tree with the class.

Integration:

• Social Studies
• Language Arts
• Technology

Assessments:

1. Handout 3: Rubric for Ancient Gods Essay
2. Handout 2: Ancient Gods Essay Test

URLs:

• MythHome: Greek Gods and Their Associates
  http://www.mythome.org/greek.html
• The Olympians
  http://www.mythweb.com/gods/index.html
• Mythography | Greek Gods and Goddesses in Myth and Art
  http://www.loggia.com/myth/gods.html
• The Principal Gods Family Tree
  http://www.desy.de/gna/interpedia/greek_myth/godsFT.html
• Greek and Roman Mythological Gods
  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/2774/mythgods.html
• Greek History for Kids!
  http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/
• Greek Mythology Gods Olympians
  http://www.desy.de/gna/interpedia/greek_myth/olympian.html

Curriculum Frameworks

Mississippi:

Seventh Grade

1. Examine characteristics and development of various societies in the Eastern Hemisphere prior to 1750.(H)
1. Investigate the history of the following: Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Islands of the Pacific (e.g., early man, Greeks, Romans, etc.).
2. Apply spatial and ecological perspectives to people, places, and environment using social studies tools (e.g., timelines, maps, globes, primary and secondary resources, political cartoons, charts, graphs, a compass, technology, etc.). (H, G, E)
1. Locate early civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere (e.g., civilizations, Greeks, Romans, etc.)
11. Analyze information using social studies tools (e.g. graphs, maps, charts, tables, political cartoons, etc.).
5. Describe the impact of technology on the development of the Eastern Hemisphere and its ecology. (G, H, E)
2. Interpret the impact of ancient technology as it transformed agriculture and culture of the Eastern Hemisphere.

National Educational Technology Standards (NETS):

6. Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., Web pages, videotapes) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. (4, 5, 6)
8. Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems. (5, 6)

TerraNova:

26 Geographic Perspectives
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts and process skills related to the study of the world’s people, places, and environments, and their interactions over time.

Construct answers, use geographic tools, and create solutions or products using inquiry skills and knowledge related to geographic perspectives.

Link and Feedback to Author(s):

Tomeka Brown, Coleman Middle School, Greenville, MS
shawon78@hotmail.com