A Year of Middle School Ancient History (Lesson & Project Based): Quarter 4

This is the fourth quarter of a year long Project Based Middle School Ancient History course. Learners will delve into the history of Ancient China, Ancient Rome, and Early Byzantium through visual lectures, hands on project based learning, and interactive Nearpod lessons.

I combine both comprehensive lessons using slides, images, lecture, discussion, and video, as well as hands on projects to deepen learning and bring the topic of focus to life. The first class of each week involves a lecture using slides and visuals. The second day is a project based learning day. Each project day will begin with a lively discussion based on the homework due, a possible interactive Nearpod lesson, and then students will get a chance to share any homework challenges completed before moving on to the project of the day.

There are many projects that will ask learners to create a model of a historic structure. I will allow students to choose their medium, and options can include wood or plastic blocks, cardboard, craft board, or recycled materials, as well as Minecraft (if parents allow). If learners would like to use plastic building blocks but don't have a large collection, they can download online building software, which is free and allows students to build with endless pieces. I will send a link to that upon enrollment.

Projects are mostly carried out in Maker style, meaning I give the students the freedom to decide how they want to create their project rather than offering step by step instructions. I find students feel more confident and less stressed this way and don't feel defeated when their projects don't turn out exactly how they are "supposed" to. Plus, I enjoy offering students time to use their inventiveness and problem solving skills. Only a few projects will be more similar to art projects, meaning I will offer step by step instructions, but even then, students will have the freedom to use the instructions or figure out their own style. The intention is always immersion in the learning, rather than a perfect result.

Learners will always differ in the amount of time they spend working on their projects. Therefore some might complete their projects before the end of class. Those who do will have time to share their projects with the class either by holding the project up to the camera, or screen sharing an online build. Students who don't complete their projects before the end of class will be encouraged to upload a photo or screen shot of their finished project in the classroom. As many learners will be in this course for the entire year, I hope that we can create a fun and supportive energy.

Week 1:
Day 1: The Birth of Chinese Civilization- We will explore Early Chinese civilization through multi-media, visually engaging powerpoint lectures. Topics of focus will include the geography of China and the earliest dynasties of China.
Day 2: Project Day: We will begin with a homework based discussion. We will then take a close look at the geography and beauty of China and begin a 3-D dough map of China. 

Week 2: 
Day 1: Society and Culture in Ancient China- We will explore the culture of Ancient China through multi-media, visually engaging powerpoint lectures. Topics of focus will include Chinese philosophies including Confucianism and Daoism, and the social structure of early China.
Day 2: Project Day: We will begin with a homework based discussion and then take a close look at the structure and layout of Ancient Chinese villages. Students will then build a model of an Ancient Chinese village using materials of choice (cardboard, clay, play dough, craft paper, outdoor materials such as grass, etc)
Homework will be to pick a quote of Confucius and create a piece of art from it (even if that just means to write it nicely)

Week 3:
Day 1: Qin and Han Dynasties and the Great Wall of China- We will explore the time of the Qin and Han Dynasties through a multi-media, visually engaging powerpoint lecture. Topics of focus will include the Qin Dynasty, the Great Wall of China, the Han Dynasty, empire expansion, the Silk Road and China, and the arrival of Buddhism in China.
Day 2: Project Day- We will begin with a homework based discussion and then take a close look at the structure of the Great Wall of China and built models of a section of it. Materials of choice can be either clay molded to little bricks, legos, blocks, etc.

Week 4
Day 1: The Founding of Rome & the Republic of Rome- We will explore Rome's origins and the Republic through multi-media, visually engaging powerpoint lectures. Topics of focus will include geography, the settling of Italy, the origins of Rome, the Etruscans, the forming and governing of a Republic, class structure, and an overview of the Punic Wars.
Day 2: Project Day: We will begin with a homework based discussion. Then we will take a close look at the geography of Italy and learners will make dough maps.

Week 5
Day 1: End of the Republic & The Beginning of the Empire- We will explore the troubles that led to the end of the Republic and we will explore the beginning of the Rome as an Empire through multi-media, visually engaging powerpoint lectures. Topics of focus will include the societal troubles between the classes, those who struggled for reform, the Rise of Caesar, and the historic figures Antony, Cleopatra, & Octavian/ Caesar Augustus, and the Five Good Emperors.
Day 2: Project Day: We will begin with a homework based discussion. Then we will take a close look at the Roman Colosseum and a virtual reconstruction and tour of the colosseum. Learners will then create their own Roman Colosseum. 

Week 6
Day 1: Daily Life in Ancient Rome & The Decline of Rome- We will explore Life in Ancient Rome and Rome's Decline through multi-media, visually engaging powerpoint lectures. Topics of focus will include the City of Rome, the Roman home & family, gladiators, slavery in Rome, and religion & the arts, economic issues, invasions, Diocletian, Constantine, and the Legacies of Rome.
Project Day: We will begin with a homework based discussion. Then we will take a close look at the structure and function of Roman Aqueducts and learners will create their own model of a Roman Aqueduct.

Week 7
Day 1: The Byzantine Empire
Day 2: Project Day: We will begin with a homework based discussion. Then we will take a close look at the Hagia Sophia and students will make a model of it using their materials of choice.