Ancient Greek Culture

A WebQuest for 6th Grade (Social Studies)

Designed by
Marcella Eberle
mleberle@trevecca.edu

Introduction | Task | Process |Resources| Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction
The year is 2214 and the newest technological innovation is the AlterWorld, a virtual reality simulator
that places people into a popular story or book. Schools all over the world have been using this
technology to make their classes more exciting for students. As AlterWorld designers, you have designed
a virtual reality of Black Ships Before Troy, Rosemary Sutcliffs retelling of Homers The Iliad. Your
teams next task, before students can enter the AlterWorld, is to create a cultural manual about the beliefs
and pastimes of the ancient Greeks. The students need to appear as average ancient Greeks so they can
watch the story unfold.
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The Task
Use the internet to research ancient Greece in order to create a culture manual describing popular
culture. In it you will describe the religion, sports, literature, and theatre that were important parts of
Greek culture from 700 B.C. to 212 B.C. Through the creation of this manual, you will better
understand:
What made the ancient Greek culture unique?
How did the ancient Greeks honor their gods?
Why did the ancient Greeks seek advice from oracles?
How did the ancient Greeks use sporting events to honor their gods?

Why were epics and fables important to the ancient Greeks?

How did Greek dramas develop?

How did Greek drama influence how people are entertained today?
You will create a PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi presentation of the information you collect in
your research. You will present your topic to the rest of the class.
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The Process
First, the teacher will divide you into groups of four. Within your group, decide which area of ancient
Greek culture you are most interested in learning more about. Each person in the group will choose one
of the topics: Greek Beliefs, Sports, Epics and Fables, and Greek Drama. As you read Black Ships
Before Troy, you will be conducting research and creating your culture manual. The first day you will
gather preliminary information about your topic by defining new terms, reading an article and answering
questions. The second and third days, you will visit links to do research about your topic. The fourth and
fifth days you will create your culture manual using PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi.
Day 1: Preliminary Research
1. The teacher will provide groups with the Webquest worksheets for each topic.
2. You will each visit the Merriam-Webster Dictionary webpage to define the terms related
to their topic.
3. Visit the webpage listed and read the article.
4. Answer the questions on your worksheet using complete sentences.
5. Continue using Merriam-Webster Dictionary to define or pronounce unfamiliar words.
6. Use the maps on http://ancient-greece.org/map.html to locate places in ancient and
modern Greece.

Greek Beliefs

1. Define the following terms using http://www.merriam-webster.com

Myth
Ritual
Oracle
2. Read this article: http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekReligion.html
3. Answer the questions on the Greek Beliefs sheet
Sports
1.

http://www.merriam-webster.com
Festival
Pentathlon
Spectator
2. Read this article: http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekOlympics.html

Define the
following
terms
using

3. Answer the questions on the Sports sheet

Epics and Fables

1. Define the following terms using http://www.merriam-webster.com

Fable
Oral tradition
Epic poem
2. Read these articles:
http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekHomer.html

http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekIliad.html

http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekOdyssey.html

3. Answer the questions on the Epics and Fables sheet

Greek Drama
1.

Defin
e the

following terms using http://www.merriam-webster.com

Drama
Comedy

 Tragedy
2. Read this article: http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekTheatre1.html
3. Answer the questions on the Greek Drama sheet

Day 2
1.
2.
3.

& 3: Topic Research

Read the Guiding Questions
Write the name of each website on notebook paper. Leave space for notes.
From each site, write as many important facts as you can that can be used to answer the
Guiding Questions.
4. If you have additional time, research the bonus topic Art and Architecture for additional points.
5. Put your notes in your folder and bring to class the next day.
Greek Beliefs

Guiding Questions
1. How did the ancient Greeks honor their gods?
2. Why did the ancient Greeks seek advice from oracles?
Sites for Research
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/45.html Women and Myth
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/printarticle?id=ar234900&ss=h8 Ancient
Greece: Religion in World Book Student
http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekReligion.html Greek Religion
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/7.html The Oracle at Delphi
http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekOracle.html The Oracle at Delphi
http://www.mythologyteacher.com/Gallery-of-the-Gods.php Gallery of the gods

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/religion/greekrelig.htm Greek Religion

Sports

Guiding Question
1. How did the ancient Greeks use sporting events to honor their gods?
Sites for Research
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/2b.html What the Olympic Games
were actually like
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/2c.html The Olympic Games- The
Events
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/35a.html Leisured Life: The Gymnasia
http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekGymnasium.html Gymnasium
http://www.fhw.gr/olympics/ancient/en/200.html The Olympic Games in Antiquity
http://www.fhw.gr/exhibitions/olympics/en/webpages/index.html Tales of the Olympic
Games
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/printarticle?id=ar402520&ss=h9 The Olympic

Games in World Book Student

http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekOlympics.html The Olympics

Epics and Fables

Guiding Question
1. Why were epics and fables important to the ancient Greeks?
Sites for Research
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/literature/greeklit.htm Ancient Greek
Literature
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar235060&st=greek+literature Greek
Literature in World Book Student

http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekHomer.html Homer

http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekIliad.html The Iliad

http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekOdyssey.html The Odyssey

Greek Drama

Guiding Questions
How did Greek dramas develop?
How did Greek drama influence how people are entertained today?
Sites for Research
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/24c.html The Different Types of Greek
Drama and Their Importance
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/24d.html The Great Playwrights of
Athens' 'Golden Age'
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/35b.html Leisured Life: The Theatre
http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekTheatre1.html Greek Theatre

Art and Architechture

http:/
/ww
w.pbs
.org/e
mpire
s/the
greek
s/bac
kgrou
nd/28
b.htm
l The

Buildings of the Acropolis

http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/29a.html The Parthenon (Event Page:

438 BC - The Parthenon Completed)
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/29b.html Inside the Parthenon
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/art/greeksculp01.html Ancient Greek Sculpture
http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/legion/exhibitions/gifts-gods-art-and-olympic-ideal Gifts
from the Gods: Art and the Olympic Ideal
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/architecture/greekarch.htm Ancient Greek
Architecture
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/art/greekart.htm Ancient Greek Art
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/printarticle?id=ar234900&ss=h18 Ancient
Greece: Religion World Book Student

Day 3 & 4 : Culture Manual Creation

1. Using PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi, use the facts you compiled on Day 2 & 3 to create
your culture map.
2. Your portion of your groups culture map must include:

10 facts that answer the Guiding Question(s) for your topic.

5 pictures related to your topic

Sites for Clipart and Pictures

http://wings.buffalo.edu/AandL/Maecenas/general_contents.html#Greece Greece and
Sites Outside of Greece
http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?
direct=History/Ancient_Civilizations/Ancient_Greece Classroom Clipart: Ancient Greece
http://www.clipsahoy.com/eras/greece.htm Ancient Greece Clipart
http://dir.coolclips.com/Travel/World_Travel_and_Tourism/Greece/ Greece Clipart
http://historylink101.com/n/greece1/pic-main.htm Ancient Greek Picture Gallery

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Resources

Black Ships before Troy by Rosemary Sutclif

WebQuest Worksheets

http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/htmlver/

http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekIntro.html

http://www.merriam-webster.com
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/home
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/
http://www.fhw.gr/exhibitions/olympics/en/webpages/index.html
http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/legion/exhibitions/gifts-gods-art-and-olympicideal
http://wings.bufalo.edu/AandL/Maecenas/general_contents.html#Greece
http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?
direct=History/Ancient_Civilizations/Ancient_Greece
http://www.clipsahoy.com/eras/greece.htm
http://dir.coolclips.com/Travel/World_Travel_and_Tourism/Greece/
http://historylink101.com/n/greece1/pic-main.htm
http://ancient-greece.org/map.html
https://prezi.com
Google Slides
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Evaluation
Grades will be given on an individual basis. Students will be given a portion of their grade as to how
well they worked in their group.
Beginning

Developing

Accomplished

Exemplary

Score

Completion of
Day 1 Research
(WebQuest
Worksheet)

Not all terms

Most terms
defined. All
All terms defined. All terms defined.
defined. Most
questions
Most questions
All questions
questions
answered
answered
answered
answered
incompletely or
thoughtfully and thoughtfully and
thoughtfully and
incorrectly.
correctly. Answers correctly. Answers
correctly. Answers
Answers not in
in complete
in complete
not in complete
complete
sentences.
sentences.
sentences.
sentences.

Less than10 facts

are listed. Facts
are not related to
Culture Manual
Guiding
Content
Question(s). Facts
are inaccurate and
in not in complete
sentences.

Less than10 facts

are listed. Facts
are not related to
Guiding
Question(s). Facts
are accurate and
in complete
sentences.

10 facts listed are

mostly related to
Guiding
Question(s). Facts
are accurate and
in complete
sentences.

1 Picture included 2 or 3 Pictures

that relates to
included that
4 Pictures
Culture Manual
topic or 2 or 3 relate to topic or 4
included that
Images
pictures included
or 5 pictures
relate to topic.
that do not relate included that do
to topic.
not relate to topic.

Spelling and
Grammar

Work has 5 or
more spelling and
grammatical
errors.

Group
Participation

Individual did not

participate in the
group. Individual
engaged in
excessive off-task
talking or
behaviors.

Work has 3-4

spelling and
grammatical
errors.

Work has 1-2

spelling and
grammatical
errors.

10 facts listed are

related to Guiding
Question(s). Facts
are accurate and
in complete
sentences.

5 Pictures
included that
relate to topic.

Work is free of
spelling and
grammatical
errors.

Individual
Individual
Individual
participated and
participated and
participated and
worked well in the
worked well in the
worked well in the
group. Individual
group. Individual
group. Individual
was on task and
engaged in some
assisted other
talking was about
off-task talking or
group members
the topic or
behaviors.
when needed.
assignment.

Total x 5= 100
points possible

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Conclusion
Congratulations! Those 6th grade students loved their trip into the world of ancient Greece as described
in Black Ships Before the Sea by Rosemary Sutcliff. Thanks to your awesome culture manual, there were
no cultural blunders to ruin the authentic experience! You have learned about four aspects of Greek
culture, Greek Beliefs, Sports, Epics and Fables, and Greek Drama and how these four pieces made
ancient Greece a unique culture.
Now try these activities to wrap up your adventure!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/ancient_greeks/ Ancient Greek heroes game

http://www.quia.com/cb/37288.html Ancient Greece Jeopardy
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/athens_games/game.htm Go for the Gold!
Watch this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB91m1kqbzk- Opening Lines of The Iliad in Greek
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Credits & References

Sutcliff, R., & Lee, A. (1993). Black ships before Troy: The story of the Iliad. New York: Delacorte
Press.

Sites used for WebQuest links and questions

http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/htmlver/
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=81667
http://www.mythologyteacher.com/GreekIntro.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/
Image Credits

http://historylink101.com/n/greece1/pic-main.htm
http://theunboundedspirit.com/ancient-greek-mythology/
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/touring_exhibitions_and_loans/the_ancient_olympic_g
ames.aspx
http://www.artble.com/imgs/0/b/f/815561/351312.jpg
http://www.artble.com/imgs/0/b/f/815561/390336.jpg
"Black Ships Before Troy cover" by Fantastic Fiction. Licensed under Fair use of copyrighted
material in the context of Black Ships Before Troy via Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Ships_Before_Troy_cover.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Black_
Ships_Before_Troy_cover.jpg
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Last updated on December 5, 2014. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page