EDES 301 Lesson Plan

Designer (s): Andrea Pederson

Subject: Social 6
Unit C: Democracy in Ancient Athens
Topic: Social Structure of Ancient Athens
Logistics:
Curriculum
outcome:
(copy directly from
Program of Studies)
Indicate strand,
number, etc.

Unit C: 2a

Lesson
objective(s):
(Students will be
able to.)

Students will be able to:

Context:
(1-2 sentences of
where this lesson
fits into the unit)

Resources:
(include links,
textbooks,
materials)

Students will be able to:

6.2.3 analyze the structure and functions of the democratic system in
ancient Athens by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions
and issue:
How did the identity, status, and class structure impact
citizenship in ancient Athens?

1. Describe the role of a citizen and other classes in ancient Athens

compared to present day
2. Demonstrate a knowledge of the lessons vocabulary
3. Evaluate where citizens fit in the social hierarchy

This is part of a unit on democracy in ancient Athens. This lesson is in

the third unit, after students get an understanding of what guides
students decisions and an understanding of Canadian government.
The topic is the second lesson of this unit, after learning about the
geography of ancient Athens.
- social 6 textbook (p. 60-68)
- short story excerpt found in the textbook (p. 60-67)
- dictionaries
- handouts: definition scavenger hunt to look up words of the topic
- Smartboard: power point of notes
- handouts: classes of the various positions
- materials construction paper

EDES 301 Lesson Plan

Designer (s): Andrea Pederson
Considerations:
Learning styles &
Multiple
intelligences:

kinesthetic, auditory, visual

Use of technology:

Power point to present lecture, Kidspiration?

Engaging
instruction:
Tate / CL /

dramatic reading, cutting & gluing, working with partners, graphic

organizers (in the powerpoint)

interpersonal, spatial, body-kinesthetic

EDES 301 Lesson Plan

Designer (s): Andrea Pederson
Introduction
(Include anticipatory set, sharing of lesson objectives, etc.)
1. Have music playing when kids enter, explain we will be digging deeper
into ancient Athens
2. Explain what a hierarchy is, asking for personal examples of where
you find people or occupations of power/authority
3. Review last days lesson (geography of Greece)
4. Share lesson objectives (I can statements on the board)
5. Explain why looking at the social structure of Athens is important for our
study of democracy
6. What is a citizen?
- have class look up definition and use it in a sentence in their own
words
- explain that the term citizen means something different today than it
did 2500 years ago

Notes
Reminders
Timeline
5 min

Activities
(Step by step - what is going to happen during the lesson?)
1. Give a dramatic reading of the short story Two Days to Decide found in
textbook and leave part 2 until next lesson (p.60-67)
- Explain that this is a historical fiction and is intended to give background info
to ancient Athens social structure

5 min

10 min
2. Have students fill in the blanks while I use Smartboard to go over the
material. Powerpoint will cover the different class of people including slaves,
men, women, and will also talk about the significance of the agora and Boule
to the political structure and its people.
10 min
3. Definition scavenger hunt:
a. Look in textbook/dictionary for correct answers
b. Have students match vocabulary word to the correct definition
c. Working with partner they compare their answers and try and figure out
the correct ones
d. Teacher goes over the correct answers
4. Construct an Athenian Social Hierarchy.
a. Explain definition of hierarchy (include visual on Smartboard)
b. Students may use their definition scavenger hunt or notes to help
c. Have students cut out the various citizens of ancient Athens and paste
them on construction paper in a social hierarchy of where they see these

15 min

EDES 301 Lesson Plan

Designer (s): Andrea Pederson
people fit in society from their perspective
d. Also consider using software such as Kidspiration to make connections
on the computer

Conclusion
(How will you revisit the main ideas of the lesson, check for understanding,
assess learning, etc?
1. Summarize important points of lesson, referring to outcomes
2. Ask the class which role they would have liked to play in that society!
3. Exit pass: Have students hand in their Athenian Social Hierarchy and
also have them include on a piece of paper which roles they would
have liked to play in that society as well as three questions they have.
4. Reminders: none

4 min
1 min

Reflection:
Howd it go?

As I read I pointed out some good points

Walking around the room as I read and using proximity = good idea
As I was handing out sheets, not all students werent paying attention to
details/direction

Next time:

Slow down when reading, try pausing a little longer

Make definitions more interactive
Instead, have them
- Write a script using those vocabulary words in the script
- Have them draw pictures of what the definition looks like
- Have a tableau (freeze frame)
- Write definitions around the room

Feedback:

- When you read, could you direct students to listen for certain ideas, concepts,
evidence in what you were reading (evidence of citizenship)
- Very professional and polite
- Lots of good movement around the class, now stop to make sure you remind
students to stay on task
- Answering questions using the pyramid hierarchy = good!