Procedures

• SET UP:

  This lesson offers several options for you to use with your students whether you are teaching in class, using a hybrid model, or engaging through distance learning. It can be completed in steps as a class or students can move at their own pace and complete the activities independently.

  You can post links to the videos in the lesson along with the related slide decks and engage in discussion to share responses on a discussion board or learning management system.

  You can save and share the following Google resources for students to use with this lesson.

  VOCABULARY ACTIVITY: Ancient Greek Democracy - Today? (Google Slide)

  GAME BOARD: Ancient Greek Democracy - Today? (Google Slides)

  In Google, choose "File" then "Make a Copy" to get your own copy. You can make any needed adjustments in the instructions such as which activities students need to complete, when it is due, etc. and then make it available to them via Google.

• WARM-UP:

  Have students complete the vocabulary chart to familiarize themselves with the terms related to this topic. This can be done for homework prior to beginning this lesson or students can look up terms they are unfamiliar with at the beginning of class and note the definitions on the chart. Then, engage students in a conversation to ensure understanding.

• INTRODUCTION:

  The lesson is designed using a game board. The students will follow the gameboard to engage with videos that will allow them to expand their knowledge on not only the Greek democracy but on how the Greek democracy is related to the current government of the United States. The students will answer questions on the specific information related to each video and then reflect on their learning by using evidence from the videos.

• EXPLORATION:

  Have students view the following collection of video clips. They can watch each video independently, view a video with a partner, or you can jigsaw them by assigning videos to students. Students should respond to the related questions. After viewing the videos, use the accompanying questions to guide class discussion.

• Video Clip 1: Ancient Greek Empire (6:26)

  • Explain the growth of Greece during the Archaic Period.

  • According to Valerie French, how did they accomplish this goal without using military force?

  • Explain the impact Greece had on the world.

• Video Clip 2: Ancient Greek Origins of Natural Laws (5:05)

  • What is meant by natural law?

  • What is logos?

  • According to Heraclitus, what was man’s duty?

  • How did Aristotle view the role of man?

  • How does Aristotle view reason?

  • Based on these Greek philosophers, why was reason so important to man?

• Video Clip 3: Birth of Politics (7:23)

  • Describe why Professor Melissa Lane believes the Greeks and Romans were successful politicians.

  • What were the similarities between the Greeks and Romans in politics?

  • Explain the stages of the emergence of the Athenian democracy.

  • Explain the powers and roles of the common people in Athens.

  • What did “virtue” mean in Ancient Greece? Provide examples of political virtues and explain the philosophical debate over them in the classical age.

• Video Clip 4: President Obama on the Greek Origins of Democracy (6:00)

  • What did President Obama mean by our right to govern ourselves?

  • Explain where the word "democracy" comes from?

  • What concepts and principles did President Obama mention that come out of ancient Greek democracy?

  • What were the limitations of Greek democracy that President Obama mentioned?

  • What did President Obama mean by authoritarian rule? How is this different than a democracy?

  • How does Obama's description of the principles of democracy compare to the current U.S. system of government?

• Video Clip 5: Internal Fragmentation of Democracies (7:07)

  • What would be "foolish," according to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and how does he describe the United States' necessary global role?

  • What is Mitsotakis "more worried about" than "arrogant despots?" Based on the clip, what are democracies threatened by? How and why?

  • What three forces "bind together" democracies? According to Mitsotakis, how are authoritarian regimes threatening these forces?

  • What solutions and next steps does Mitsotakis provide? Which idea comes from James Madison and the work of Pericles and Thucydides?

• CONCLUSION:

  After viewing the collection of videos in this lesson and responding to the accompanying questions, have students respond to the following prompts:

  • How do you believe democracy has changed from the time of the original Greek democracy to the government that now exists in the United States?

  • Do you believe the development of the Greek democracy is still important to our government in the United States today? Use evidence from the videos to explain your answer.

  • The democracy in Greece eventually disappeared. Consider the information you learned through viewing the videos and class discussion and respond to the following question: How do you envision the future of democracy in the U.S.?

• ACTIVITY:

  Ask students to share the new information that they have learned by choosing one of the following activities:

  • Creating a quick video explaining what they have learned to the class.

  • Jigsawing the information in groups so that each group gets all of the new information.

  • Presenting the information to class by creating a Google Slide Presentation or a Google Site to show their learning.