Ancient Greece: the 12 Labors

Ancient Greece: The 12 Labors

Heracles, a famous hero from Greek mythology, once killed his wife and children in a fit of rage. He prayed to the god Apollo for forgiveness and was told to complete 12 labors or tasks over a period of 12 years as punishment for his crime.

Like Heracles, you will perform 12 labors as we study the ancient Greeks. However, it is not punishment, rather an odyssey or journey in order to gain a better understanding of ancient Greece and how they influenced our lives today.

Some of your work will be completed independently, while other tasks will be completed within your city-state or polis. Please pay careful attention to all directions so you are able to successfully complete your labors.

THE 12 LABORS

To be done … / Labor / 
Completed
Independently / Vocabulary
-Find definitions of the following words: polis, colony, monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, democracy, tyrant, aristocrat, monarch, oligarch, citizen, assembly, agora, acropolis, Parthenon, architecture, ally, and alliance
-Be able to use the words in a sentence to show that you know the meaning of the words. You may be quizzed!
Partner from your Polis / Vocabulary Visual
-Create a creative visual aid to help others learn the vocabulary words. It can be a poster, flip book, flash cards, etc. as long as the word, definition, sentence and a picture are included. Your visual aid must be neatly constructed and free of spelling and grammar errors.
Independently / Map of Greece
-Label the following on your map of Greece:
Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea
Italy, Sicily, Crete, Turkey, Macedonia, Cyprus, Peloponnesus
Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Ephesus, Delphi
Mt. Olympus, Mt. Parnassus
-Label and color neatly for full points
Polis / Read Aloud of a Greek Myth
-As a polis, you will select a myth to share with the rest of the class. You may read the myth aloud, or tell the story in your own words, but everyone must be included in the sharing of the myth. You may not share the same myth as another polis.
Polis / Construction of a Greek Temple
-After completing research on the architecture of ancient Greece, your polis will construct a temple to reflect what you learned. Make sure to follow the rubric given to you by your teacher.
Independently / Create your Chiton
-After your polis has agreed upon the decorations to adorn your chiton, you will need to decorate your own. Your decorated chiton must be completed by ______and be worn during social studies until the end of the unit.

(continued on back)

12 LABORS(continued)

To be done … / Labor / 
Completed
Polis / Create a Flag and a Chant
-After you have researched the strengths of your Greek polis, you are to design a flag and create a chant to sing. Your flag should not be smaller than A4 or larger than two pieces of A3 paper. The chant should include information about your polis, as well as your strengths.
Partner from your Polis / Analyze a Greek Artifact
-Choose an artifact from the websites provided to analyze with a partner from your polis. Use the chart provided by your teacher and make sure to PRINT the artifact and include it with your chart. Remember to write down the name of the website where you found the artifact.
Independently / Memorize the Greek Alphabet
-This will be an event in the Olympics. Get a head start on your training and begin memorizing the alphabet used by the Greeks.
Partner from your Polis / Research a Famous Greek
-Select the name from a list provided in class. You and your partner must research the basic biographical information of this person, as well as their achievements and why they are still remembered today.
-Select a creative way to share your information with the rest of the class.
Independently / Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
-Greeks believed that exercising the mind and body were important to a well-rounded life. Furthermore, the Greek Gods valued intelligence, beauty and strength. During our study of ancient Greece, your task is to make sure that you are active at least 30 minutes per day (this is well below the minimum for your age group). This could mean biking, walking, sport activities, playing tag, etc.
-The ancient Greeks have always been known for their healthy Mediterranean diet. This included olives, whole wheat bread, Feta cheese, figs, oranges, lemons, dates, cucumbers, honey, yogurt, etc. During this unit, try and include at least one of these foods in your snack at least once per week.
-The Spartans prized strength. Build up your strength by increasing the number of push-ups you do each day. Keep track on chart given to you by your teacher.
Partner from your Polis / Participate in a Greek Assembly
-You and partner will choose an issue that would have been debated in an ancient Greek assembly. You will research that issue and support your opinion with historical facts. Both you and your partner will be expected to deliver a well-prepared speech in front of the assembly in order to convince them to side with you.

Reminders…

• Your fate has already been decided by the Greek gods. Therefore, pay attention to due dates on the Scorecard or announced by your teacher.
• All work for your labors should be kept in your social studies folder. Pay attention to the page numbers assigned by your teacher.