Unit Packs / The Ancient World
The Ancient World
Students compare law codes from Babylon to Rome, the duties of citizens in Athens, Rome, China, and India, the Chinese debate over virtue and strict law, and explanations for Rome’s fall in the West.
Unit question: What did ancient societies believe about law, good citizens, and good rulers?
Suggested grades: 6, 9
Day-by-day calendar
- Day 1
Launch the unit
TimelineWalk the era timeline; students note three turning points.
MapLocate the places in this unit on the source map.
QuestionPost the unit question: What did ancient societies believe about law, good citizens, and good rulers? Students write a first-guess answer to revisit on Day 11.
- Day 2
Investigate: What makes a law code fair?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 6 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 3
Lesson: Socratic Seminar: What Makes a Law Code Fair?
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 4
Investigate: What made a good citizen in the ancient world?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 5 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 5
Lesson: Hot Seat: Ancient Voices on Citizenship
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 6
Investigate: Should rulers govern by virtue or by strict law?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 7 sources with the graphic organizers.
- Day 7
Lesson: Four Corners: How Should China Be Ruled?
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 8
Investigate: Why did the Western Roman Empire fall?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 6 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 9
Lesson: Cause Sort: Why Did the Western Empire Fall?
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 10
DBQ workshop
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “What makes a law code fair?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “What made a good citizen in the ancient world?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Should rulers govern by virtue or by strict law?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Why did the Western Roman Empire fall?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
WorkshopStudents annotate the documents and outline an answer.
- Day 11
Final writing task
Writing taskWrite an argument: Which ancient society had the best idea of how to keep order: rule by law, rule by virtue, or a mix? Use at least five sources from at least three sets.