Activity Overview
Using a G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart to organize information about ancient Civilizations is a useful tool to enhance students' analysis of the characteristics and contributions of a society. Going further and including visuals helps students to better retain the details of each category.
When learning about ancient Civilizations, students may need teachers to provide a variety of resources. The use of diverse resources such as primary sources, videos, songs, readings from textbooks, encyclopedias and literature can be helpful for students to gain an accurate and complete picture of the time period. Students can use graphic organizers to write notes about the different categories as they learn.
Students Can Collaborate!
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
GRAPES Chart
Students will then create a spider map focusing on the geography of ancient Greece and creating illustrations and descriptions to demonstrate what they’ve learned.
By focusing on just one category, students are encouraged to include more information and should complete 3-6 cells. Students can come together after they’ve created their storyboards to share what they’ve learned. The full G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart can be used as a post assessment after students have presented.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map focusing on the different characteristics of the Geography of ancient Greece.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a title for each geographic feature and a 1-3 sentence description in each cell.
- Create an illustration that represents each feature using appropriate scenes, characters, and items. To find images that relate to ancient Greece, type “Greece” into the search bar.
Requirements: Minimum of 3-6 cells showcasing different characteristics of the Geography of ancient Greece. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each cell. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
Using a G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart to organize information about ancient Civilizations is a useful tool to enhance students' analysis of the characteristics and contributions of a society. Going further and including visuals helps students to better retain the details of each category.
When learning about ancient Civilizations, students may need teachers to provide a variety of resources. The use of diverse resources such as primary sources, videos, songs, readings from textbooks, encyclopedias and literature can be helpful for students to gain an accurate and complete picture of the time period. Students can use graphic organizers to write notes about the different categories as they learn.
Students Can Collaborate!
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
GRAPES Chart
Students will then create a spider map focusing on the geography of ancient Greece and creating illustrations and descriptions to demonstrate what they’ve learned.
By focusing on just one category, students are encouraged to include more information and should complete 3-6 cells. Students can come together after they’ve created their storyboards to share what they’ve learned. The full G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart can be used as a post assessment after students have presented.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map focusing on the different characteristics of the Geography of ancient Greece.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a title for each geographic feature and a 1-3 sentence description in each cell.
- Create an illustration that represents each feature using appropriate scenes, characters, and items. To find images that relate to ancient Greece, type “Greece” into the search bar.
Requirements: Minimum of 3-6 cells showcasing different characteristics of the Geography of ancient Greece. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each cell. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Analysis of Ancient Greece Geography
How to Differentiate GRAPES Chart Activities for Diverse Learners
Adapt your GRAPES chart activities to support students at different learning levels and with varying needs. Differentiation ensures every student can access and engage with the content effectively.
Offer tiered graphic organizers
Provide versions of the GRAPES chart with varying levels of scaffolding—for example, some with prompts or sentence starters and others blank for advanced students. This allows all learners to participate at their own level.
Incorporate audio and visual supports
Add images, maps, and audio descriptions to help students who benefit from multisensory input. These supports boost understanding for English learners and students with reading challenges.
Allow flexible grouping and roles
Let students work in pairs or small groups and assign specific roles like illustrator, researcher, or writer. Flexible grouping builds confidence and encourages peer support.
Provide choice in demonstration of learning
Offer students options such as drawing, writing, or recording audio to complete chart cells. Choice increases engagement and accommodates different strengths.
Frequently Asked Questions about Analysis of Ancient Greece Geography
What is a GRAPES chart and how can it help teach ancient Greece geography?
A GRAPES chart is a graphic organizer that helps students analyze ancient civilizations through six categories: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Society. Focusing on the geography of ancient Greece with a GRAPES chart encourages students to organize and deepen their understanding using visuals and descriptions.
How can students collaborate on GRAPES chart assignments for ancient Greece?
Students can collaborate on GRAPES chart assignments by using Real Time Collaboration features within tools like Storyboard That. Teachers can enable this in the assignment settings, allowing students to work together on the same storyboard, share ideas, and build communication and problem-solving skills.
What are some effective resources for teaching the geography of ancient Greece?
Effective resources for teaching ancient Greece geography include primary sources, videos, songs, textbooks, encyclopedias, and literature. Combining these with graphic organizers and visual aids helps students gain a complete and accurate understanding of the time period.
How do you create a spider map for ancient Greece geography in the classroom?
To create a spider map, students pick key geographic features of ancient Greece, give each a title and 1–3 sentence description in separate cells, and illustrate each feature with relevant scenes or images. This method helps students visually organize and remember important details.
Why is focusing on one GRAPES category, like geography, beneficial for middle school students?
Focusing on a single GRAPES category such as geography allows middle school students to explore details in depth, encourages richer analysis, and ensures they fully understand the characteristics and impact of that aspect on ancient Greek civilization.
More Storyboard That Activities
Ancient Greece
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
