Exploring Ancient Rome

Grade

5th Grade

Duration

60 minutes

Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Connections for Social Studies & Literacy:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3
Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7
Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources to locate an answer or solve a problem.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas.
National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS) - Time, Continuity, and Change
(While not a part of Common Core, aligns with historical understanding in Social Studies.)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Identify key elements of Ancient Roman history, culture, government, and daily life.
Explain the importance of Roman contributions and compare them with life today.
Collaborate in groups to analyze how Ancient Romans lived and share findings clearly.
Create a brief, informative summary based on historical sources.

Key Content Areas

Roman History: Founding of Rome, Republic to Empire transition
Roman Government: Republic structure – Senate, Consuls, citizens’ roles
Roman Culture: Language (Latin), religion, arts, and architecture
Daily Life: Jobs, social classes, clothing, food, entertainment (gladiators, baths)

Materials Needed

Printed or digital short informational text (age-appropriate) about Ancient Rome (divided into four topics)
Projector or smart board for images/maps
Large poster paper or chart paper
Markers, pencils
Index cards with key terms (e.g., Republic, Senate, Gladiator)
“Roman Life” graphic organizer handout (divided by History, Government, Culture, Daily Life)

Lesson Procedure

Introduction (10 minutes)

Start with a thought-provoking question: “What if you lived more than 2,000 years ago in a city that lasted for a thousand years?”
Show images of Ancient Roman ruins, a map of the Roman Empire, and famous landmarks (e.g., Colosseum).
Briefly explain what Ancient Rome was and why learning about it matters today.
Introduce learning objectives and explain that students will become “history detectives” exploring 4 key areas.

Activity 1: Collaborative Reading & Jigsaw Groups (20 minutes)

Divide class into 4 expert groups of about 6-7 students each: History, Government, Culture, Daily Life.
Give each group a short text focused on their assigned topic on Ancient Rome.
Students read together, highlight important facts, discuss, and fill out the “Roman Life” graphic organizer.
Circulate and support with guided questions to encourage deeper thinking, such as:
- “Why do you think the Roman Senate was important?”
- “How was daily life different for children in Rome compared to today?”

Activity 2: Teach-Back & Whole Class Discussion (15 minutes)

Each group appoints a spokesperson to share 2-3 facts from their section with the class.
Encourage classmates to ask questions—foster a collaborative learning environment.
Make connections to students’ lives today, for example, comparing the Republic to their student council or daily activities to modern entertainment.

Assessment & Reflection (10 minutes)

Individually, students write a 4-5 sentence paragraph answering:
“What is one important thing you learned about Ancient Rome today and why does it matter?”
Collect paragraphs to assess comprehension and ability to explain historical concepts.
For a formative assessment, have students complete a quick exit ticket: match key terms (on index cards) to their definitions or descriptions discussed.

Closure (5 minutes)

Recap the big ideas learned: Ancient Rome’s government, culture, history, and daily life.
End with a “Roman Quote of the Day” emphasizing citizenship or learning (e.g., “Rome wasn’t built in a day—great things take time!”).
Preview next lesson that will explore Roman inventions or legacies in modern society.

Differentiation & Extensions

For diverse learners: Allow use of audio recordings of texts; provide graphic organizers with sentence starters.
For advanced learners: Challenge to research and present on a lesser-known Roman invention or figure.
Technology integration: Use an interactive timeline app or virtual tour of Ancient Rome for enrichment.

Teacher Reflection Notes

Monitor group dynamics during the jigsaw to ensure balanced participation.
Adapt pacing if students need more support with reading or discussion.
Use student writing samples to inform future lessons about historical writing skills and content understanding.

This lesson blends literacy skills from Common Core with engaging social studies content about Ancient Rome to encourage 5th graders to become critical thinkers and enthusiastic historians.

Teaching Instructions