These Social Studies and Language Arts Standards

have been incorporated into the lesson plans and activities below.

The Social Studies standards incorporated into this project are as follows: Historical Thinking: Students will develop historical thinking skills, including chronological thinking and recognizing change over time; contextualizing, comprehending and analyzing historical literature, researching historical sources; understanding the concept of historical causation; understanding competing narratives and interpretation; and constructing narratives and interpretation Local , United States and World History: Students will use historical thinking skills to develop an understanding of the major historical periods, issues and trends in United States history, world history, and Connecticut and local history Historical Themes: Students will apply their understanding of historical periods, issues and trends to examine such historical themes as ideals, beliefs and institutions; conflict and conflict resolution; human movement and interaction; and science and technology in order to understand how the world came to be the way it is. Applying History: Students will recognize the continuing importance of historical thinking and historical knowledge in their own lives and in the world in which they live. The six Language Arts Framework goals that are incorporated into this project are as follows: develop the skills to read, write, listen, speak, view and present texts to construct meaning; read with understanding and respond thoughtfully to a variety of texts; write and speak English proficiently to communicate ideas clearly; choose and apply strategies that enhance the fluent and proficient use of language arts; understand and appreciate texts from many literary periods and cultures; and employ the language arts for lifelong learning, work and enjoyment.

Brainstorm Activity

Purpose: To assess student’s current knowledge of the contributions of the ancient Greek mathematicians and scientists to modern day science and math.

Materials Needed:  Projector, computer, Inspiration software, interactive whiteboard

Lesson

Using the following guiding questions, discuss with students their knowledge of the development of math and science.

1.      How did ancient civilizations explain natural phenomena?

2.      How do you think Ancient Greek temples were built without falling down?

3.      Have you ever heard of Plato and Aristotle?  Why do you think they are famous?

Record student’s answers in the brainstorming template in Inspiration and save for future comparison and assessment.

Show PowerPoint presentation on ancient Greek Mathematicians and Scientists.

Assessment:  Student written exit slip about one thing they didn’t know about ancient Greek mathematicians and scientist

Web Pass Activity

Purpose:  To develop knowledge of Greek mathematicians and scientists. 

                 To develop research and note taking skills.

Materials Needed:  Computers set up in stations with various links to website about Greek Mathematicians and scientists, encyclopedias and search engines, interactive white board.

Lesson

Discuss various methods of research - website, search engines, encyclopedias etc.

Demonstrate skimming through and looking for important material.

Show examples of good notes on the white board.

Students are paired together and sent to one computer station.  Every five minutes, students must pass from one station to another, taking notes at every station.  Five or six different stations must be available to students.

Assessment: Notes are assessed for organization, neatness, and correctness.

Organizing Notes and Writing a Research Paper Lesson

Purpose:  To develop research and note taking skills

                 Choose and apply strategies that enhance the fluent and proficient use of language arts

Materials Needed:  Notes from the Web Pass Activity, computer stations with Inspiration software installed

Lesson

Demonstrate on whiteboard how to use the social studies historical figure template

Students will then transfer their notes onto the template

Students will then export the finished outline into Word and write an essay about a Greek scholar of their choice

Assessment: Essay

Interview an ancient Greek Mathematician/Scientist

Purpose: To develop knowledge of Greek mathematicians and scientists

   To develop the skills to read, write, listen, speak, view and present texts to construct meaning;

Materials Needed:  Video Camera, Notes taken from the Web Pass Activity, Costumes

Lesson

Working in pairs, the students must develop a set of questions and answers based on their notes about Greek mathematicians and scientist.  With one student the interviewer and the other the interviewee, the students will be filmed as if they were doing a television interview.

Students will be assessed on the interview answers and questions they developed and their presentations.

Assessment:  Student video presenations

Pythagoras: Creating a Builder’s Triangle

Purpose

1. Applying History: Students will recognize the continuing importance of historical thinking and historical knowledge in their own lives and in the world in which they live.
2. Historical Themes: Students will apply their understanding of historical periods, issues and trends to examine such historical themes as ideals, beliefs and institutions; conflict and conflict resolution; human movement and interaction; and science and technology in order to understand how the world came to be the way it is.

Materials Needed:  Pushpins and bulletin board space or geoboards, spool of white string, markers, rulers, unlined paper, tape

Lesson

Provide each student with a piece of string that measures about 1 ½ feet, a ruler, a pen paper and tape.  Assign each student to a space on the bulletin board with pushpins or pass out geoboards. 

Line up string with the inch marks on the ruler, making sure plenty of excess string extends from both ends of the ruler.  Mark the string at the 0  mark and every inch from 1 to 12.  There should be 13 marks on your ruler.  Tie both ends of the string together so that the first and last marks are joined in a knot.

Stick one of the pins into the bulletin board.  Take the loop and hook it around the pin at one of the marks- the top of your triangle.  Stick in the next pin 4 marks below and hook the string around this pin.  Follow the string 3 marks to the left or right and place your last pin to form a base that is 3 marks long and a hypotenuse that is 5 marks long.  Wrap the string around the three pins to form a triangle.  Adjust the pins if necessary to create a 3-4-5 pattern of marks.  Your now have a Builder’s Triangle!

Encourage students to use their Builder’s Triangle to draw right angles for other lines and experiment with this tool. 

Assessment:  Student be able to create and discuss triangles using the Builder’s Triangle

1. review knowledge of scientist playing quia
2. make a web page about a scientist/mathematician

Creating an Online Poster

Purpose:

1        Historical Themes: Students will apply their understanding of historical periods, issues and trends to examine such historical themes as ideals, beliefs and institutions; conflict and conflict resolution; human movement and interaction; and science and technology in order to understand how the world came to be the way it is.

2        Applying History: Students will recognize the continuing importance of historical thinking and historical knowledge in their own lives and in the world in which they live.

Materials Needed:  Access to computers. Link to http://poster.4teachers.org/

Lesson

Using the Notes taken previously in the Web Pass Activity, the students will produce posters about their ancient Greek mathematician or scientist.  Their poster must include their achievements and their contribution to modern math and science.

Assessment: Student produced online poster.

Ancient Greek Links for Math and Science

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/science/math/

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sirrobhitch.suffolk/Portland%20State%20University%20Greek%20Civilization%20Home%20Page%20v2/docs/7/it.html

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/science/astronomy/index.htm

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Greek_astronomy.html

http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/

http://www.dibonsmith.com/constel.htm

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769237.html

http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/ancient_hist_and_myth.htm

http://www.math.nyu.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/contents.html

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761573724/Euclid_(mathematician).html

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9040534/Hipparchus

http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/skywatch/stories/index.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/greekscience.html