If you’re a social studies teacher looking to enhance your curriculum or searching for supplementary resources, you’ve found the right place. I want to help every teacher be their best when teaching your Ancient Greece unit! The following resources are activities I personally use in my Ancient Greece unit.
Ancient Greece Bell Ringers
I kick off my Ancient Greece unit with dynamic, no-prep, skill-based bell ringers. Each bell ringer engages students by reviewing content and practicing crucial reading and writing skills such as subject/verb identification, citation, and sentence writing, with fun drawing prompts included. This approach not only prepares students for the day’s lesson but helps with classroom management, establishing routines and maintaining student expectations.
Ancient Greece Map & Reading Activity
I start every ancient or medieval world history unit with an immersive map activity. This Ancient Greece Map & Reading Activity provides students with a hands-on approach to understanding Italian and the Mediterranean geography, and its impact on ancient Greece. Each lesson includes interactive map labeling, coloring tasks, followed by a short reading passage and writing activity on geographic influences, as well as a Google Classroom or printable quiz.
Greek City State Report Card Reading Activities
When I plan a reading comprehension activity, I want to make it interesting for students. In the Athens Report Card Reading Activity, I transform my students into teacher-historians as they study ancient Mesopotamia & the Akkadian Empire. Students read GRAPES thematic reading passages about the Akkadian Empire, answer questions based on each theme, then grade each theme. Finally, they calculate the empire’s GPA and write teacher comments.
I teach each city state using this approach.
Minoans Report Card Reading Activity
Mycenaeans Report Card Reading Activity
FREE Sparta Report Card Reading Activity
Hexagonal Thinking Activities
When I teach writing, I begin with organization. I use one of the two Hexagonal Thinking Activities for ancient Greece. These are a great way for students to visualize what key terms they will use and how their paragraph will be organized.
Ancient Greece Simulations
Sometimes, it can be hard to bring civics into ancient and world history courses. So when we finally get the chance to teach ancient Greece, we all want to make it an amazing lesson our students will remember.
I teach Athenian direct democracy by having students role-play as Athenian assemblymen in a highly interactive simulation. Students role play as aristocrats and farmers and discover the difficulties of paying taxes when unable to pay. Students evaluate and vote on the most impactful reforms of Solon and Cleisthenes. Students will learn how Athenians protected their democracy through ostracism. Students will vote on how to invest Athens’ wealth. Finally, students will serve on a jury and decide whether the accused is guilty or innocent.
I teach the Spartan Agoge by having students role-play as Spartan peers in a highly interactive simulation. Students compete in groups in SIX physical challenges in order to graduate from the Agoge. They honor the gods by reading and writing about their favorite god. Finally, they learn the Spartan government they would serve in. Finally, instructions include modification ideas for students with physical disabilities.
I teach the Peloponnesian War by having students role-play reporters peers in a highly interactive simulation. Students will role play as reporters record information about the causes, events and outcome of the wars. They will participate in military training as hoplites and rowers. Then they will evaluate the causes of the war as they interview each other. Next they will participate in a picture reveal discussion. By the end, they will be prepared to write an article and take a quiz about what they have learned.
I teach the Greek Colonies by having students role-play colonists in a highly interactive simulation. Students will learn about push/ pull factors that motivated Greeks to establish colonies through lecture and roll play. Next they will make decisions that will affect their wealth and life. After the simulation students will complete reflection questions, create a T – Shirt Toga and take a quiz.
Simulations are powerful tools for engaging students and making classroom management easier. This activity is excellent for both introducing and reviewing content, ensuring that students grasp key concepts effectively. Students never forget simulations—they’ll be talking about this all year! By incorporating simulations into your lessons, you’ll create memorable and impactful learning moments that resonate long after the unit is over.
Alexander the Great History Hero or Villain Reading Activity
When I plan a reading comprehension activity, I want to make it interesting for students. In the Alexander History Hero or Villain Activity, students delve into the good, bad and ugly of historical figures, answering Common Core-aligned questions that develop critical thinking skills. A Google Poll vote concludes the activity, promoting thoughtful discussions on Alexander legacy. I often use this activity to develop writing skills, and do a collaborative poster activity!
Documentary Handout
Documentaries provide a great opportunity for students to learn or review using visual mediums. I tell my students that documentaries are like virtual field trips because we get to hear from historians and archaeologists, and see the actual sites students have studied. I also like to mix it up! Documentaries are a nice change of pace for classes, and they are great for sub plans too!
Ancient Invisible Cities Athens is an awesome documentary that covers Caesar’s bridge, the Appian Way, and aqueducts.
Netflix Empire Games The Greeks is an awesome documentary that covers Caesar’s bridge, the Appian Way, and aqueducts.
Ancient Greek Temple Project
Engage students with a hands-on 3D project where they construct Ancient Greek Temple Project. This culminating activity integrates key terms and historical events, encouraging collaborative learning and creative expression. A detailed checklist and rubric ensure project quality and classroom decoration.
Ancient Greece GRAPES Puppet Project
We’ve all had classes that just won’t participate. Whether it’s personalities or just how kids are these days, sometimes it is hard to get a good discussion going in class. The way I promote active participation is by using Gen Z and Alpha slang in the Ancient Greece Puppet Project. Students use slang and key terms to write a script bragging about ancient Greece. They then translate their slang into academic language. Finally, they talk with other students or perform a puppet show about Greek history.
Ancient Greece Test
I used to dread making tests for my ancient and world history units. Streamline assessment preparation with our comprehensive Ancient Greece Test. Tailored assessments cover Mediterranean geography, Minoans, Mycenaeans, Athens, Sparta and Alexander the Great. Multiple-choice, true/false, and inferencing questions ensure thorough content mastery, supported by editable Google Doc and Google Form formats for easy customization.
The Ancient Greece unit is designed with teachers in mind. It is full of time-saving activities. You will get more student buy-in with interactive simulations, hands-on projects, and insightful discussions on historical figures. Designed for flexibility, the Ancient Greece unit helps teachers be their best!
Be sure to listen to the Middle Ages Podcast for more awesome ideas ancient and world history teachers!