This book is geared toward middle-school students (grades 5-8), and it can be used for either a unit or a year's study of Ancient Greece. It is comprehensive in scope, covering the major historical periods from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic Era and highlighting the evolution of political thought, economics, science, art and literature. At the same time, emphasis is placed upon detailed descriptions of everyday life as well as provocative portraits of key personalities in order to make the civilization of early Greeks "come alive" for young readers.
The vocabulary is generally appropriate for middle schoolers; however, a fair number of challenging words have been included to enliven the prose and to expand the students' mastery of the English language. At the same time, frequent references are made to the Greek "roots" from which so many of our words are derived.
Each chapter is followed by a set of questions to help the students review what they have read. "Ideas to Think About" provide materials for further discoussion and/or enrichment activities. "Projects" are suggestions for independent as well as group assignments. The books listed in Suggested Readings are excellent resources for research projects, and their illustrations are very useful for enriching class discussions. Many of them should be available in the classroom to students throughout their study of Greece.
The Story of Ancient Greece is the product of nine years of teaching experiences as well as a life-long fascination with the subject. The original manuscript was "test marketed" in the author's own classroom, and the projects included are based upo those activities her students enjoyed the most.
Did you find this review helpful?