Goals and Objectives
Students will consider and judge the effectiveness of ancient bureaucratic systems and their developmental roles in modern democratic societies.
California State Content Standards
7.11 Students analyze political and economic change in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries (the Age of Exploration, the Enlightenment, and the Age of Reason).
7.11.4. Explain how the main ideas of the Enlightenment can be traced back to such movements as the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution and to the Greeks, Romans, and Christianity.
7.11.4. Explain how the main ideas of the Enlightenment can be traced back to such movements as the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution and to the Greeks, Romans, and Christianity.
Lesson Introduction
The teacher will introduce the concepts of Direct Democracy and Representative Democracy to the class.
Vocabulary
Students will have a Key Terms list with definitions for reference during the class activity. The key Terms will be used throughout the class discussion.
-Assembly
-Citizen
-Citizenship
-Democracy
-Dictator
-Direct Democracy
-Ephebos
-Patricians
-Plebeians
-Republic
-Senate
-Tyrant
-Veto
-Assembly
-Citizen
-Citizenship
-Democracy
-Dictator
-Direct Democracy
-Ephebos
-Patricians
-Plebeians
-Republic
-Senate
-Tyrant
-Veto
Content Delivery (Discussion)
The lesson will begin by focusing on Direct Democracy. The teacher will pass out randomly drawn slips of paper to the students. On these slips of paper will indicate the student's role. For a class of (31) students, this will consist of; (4) slave, (4) freed- slave, (4) foreigner, (7) woman, (2) Ephebos, (2) Athenian Adult Male (in Debt) and lastly, (8) Athenian Adult Male. This is so 20% of the class is represented. If a student receives one of the, (8) Athenian Adult Male slips of paper, they will have a chance to be called to Assembly. This will be done by coming up and pulling a slip of paper out of a box. There will be (4) Called to Assembly and (4) Not Called to Assembly, slips of paper. The students who received an Athenian Adult Male slip of paper will continue to redraw Called to Assembly slips of paper after each issue.
After this is done, the students will shift to a Representative Democracy. Here, the teacher will randomly pass out slips of paper which say, Citizen and Non-Citizen. Approximately half the class will be Citizens and the other half will be Non-Citizens. The students who received a Citizen slip of paper will have free reign to elect (3) Patricians (Representatives). The remainder of the Citizens will be referred to as Plebeians. If the Plebeians are not pleased with the way their Representatives are going to vote for on an issue, they may veto their vote. Additionally, if they wish, before the next issue, the Plebeians may elect a replacement Representative.
The teacher will facilitate this class activity and lead the class in discussion.
After this is done, the students will shift to a Representative Democracy. Here, the teacher will randomly pass out slips of paper which say, Citizen and Non-Citizen. Approximately half the class will be Citizens and the other half will be Non-Citizens. The students who received a Citizen slip of paper will have free reign to elect (3) Patricians (Representatives). The remainder of the Citizens will be referred to as Plebeians. If the Plebeians are not pleased with the way their Representatives are going to vote for on an issue, they may veto their vote. Additionally, if they wish, before the next issue, the Plebeians may elect a replacement Representative.
The teacher will facilitate this class activity and lead the class in discussion.
Student Engagement
Students will be participating in a class "Mock Assembly" and "Mock Senate" meeting. While many of the students will not have the opportunity to vote, they are expected to observe and experience the idea of not being represented on issues which would have, directly influenced them. At the conclusion of each "Mock Session," students will write down their responses in a guided worksheet evaluating their personal understanding on the two political systems in practice. Students will also be expected to discuss their answers with the class on what they learned.
Lesson Conclusion
The teacher will ask the students to summarize the two political systems in class discussion. The teacher will include thought provoking questions such as, "who were the ones represented in these systems" and if the students can make parallels with our modern democracy. The teacher will also include the aspects and appeals of the Judeo-Christian texts and its role in the development of individual equality. The teacher will explain how the notion that all people are equal in the eyes of God and eventually led to the formation of laws which protected individuals from democratic governments.
Assessment
Entry Level
Questions and class discussion will allow the teacher to gauge the students' grasp and understanding for the content, as well as, the goals and objectives.
Formative
The teacher will collect and evaluate the students' Written Response Worksheet.
Questions and class discussion will allow the teacher to gauge the students' grasp and understanding for the content, as well as, the goals and objectives.
Formative
The teacher will collect and evaluate the students' Written Response Worksheet.
Accommodations for English Learners, Striving Readers and Students with Special Needs
- The Direct Democracy and Representative Democracy Voting Issues will be passed out to students. These issues were carefully designed to engage students with their background knowledge.
- Students will be given a list with the Key Terms and definitions, alongside illustrated depictions for these terms.
- Students will be given a Graphic Organizer on how these political systems operate and function.
- Class Discussion will help students refine their responses to the Written Responses Worksheet.
- The teacher will help scaffold the material through discussion and thought provoking questions.
- Students will be given a list with the Key Terms and definitions, alongside illustrated depictions for these terms.
- Students will be given a Graphic Organizer on how these political systems operate and function.
- Class Discussion will help students refine their responses to the Written Responses Worksheet.
- The teacher will help scaffold the material through discussion and thought provoking questions.