Activity Overview
In this activity students will break down what they have learned about ancient Greece in a G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart. There are many different acronyms that can be helpful when analyzing ancient civilizations and this one is widely used. However, teachers may use whatever acronym they prefer (PERSIA(N), GREATS, etc.) and can simply change the titles.
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
G: Geography
- Where was ancient Greece located?
- What physical features did it have?
- What was the climate like?
- What natural resources were present?
- How does the location or environment affect the development of ancient Greek civilization? (How does where they live affect how they live?)
R: Religion
- What type of religion did ancient Greeks practice?
- Who were the religious leaders?
- Who were their god(s)/goddess(es)?
- How did people worship?
- Were there any unique burial practices or beliefs about the afterlife?
A: Achievements
What were some key inventions or contributions of ancient Greece in the areas of:
- Art
- Architecture
- Drama
- Inventions
- Sciences
- Speaking and Writing
P: Politics
- What type of government did ancient Greece have?
- Who were the leaders?
- How were decisions made?
- What role did people play in the government?
- What was the structure of the government?
E: Economics
- What were ancient Greece’s natural resources? What did they make and grow?
- With whom did ancient Greece trade? What were their imports and exports?
- What jobs were available?
- What type of currency did they use?
S: Society
- What were the social classes of ancient Greece?
- What were the roles of men, women and children?
- What groups had rights and what rights do they have?
- What groups didn’t have rights?
- What were people’s daily lives like?
Please note: Further activities utilize spider maps to expand on each category.
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 chart that describes the different aspects of ancient Greece: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economy, and Social Structure.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a 1-3 sentence description of each cell.
- Create an illustration that represents each category using appropriate scenes, characters, and items. To find images that relate to ancient Greece, type “Greece” into the search bar.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 4-6 cells showcasing different aspects of ancient Greece. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each category. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facts | Text and images include a clear explanation of the 6 important categories: geography, religion, achievements, politics, economy, and social structure. | Text and images include an explanation of important facts, but the explanation may lack clarity or there may be some inaccuracies. | Text and images do not explain important facts. Information is mostly missing or inaccurate. |
| Storyboard Images and Effort | Student clearly shows effort to convey the facts through appropriate scenes, characters, items, symbols or infographics. Illustrations clearly show that time, care and effort have been put in. | Student attempts to convey facts through use of graphics, but the depiction may be confusing, disordered, or lack some detail. | Student does not clearly convey facts and the depictions are inaccurate or inappropriate. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Student uses exemplary spelling and grammar. There are no errors. | Student makes one or two minor errors in spelling and grammar. | Student makes multiple errors in spelling and grammar. |
Activity Overview
In this activity students will break down what they have learned about ancient Greece in a G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart. There are many different acronyms that can be helpful when analyzing ancient civilizations and this one is widely used. However, teachers may use whatever acronym they prefer (PERSIA(N), GREATS, etc.) and can simply change the titles.
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
G: Geography
- Where was ancient Greece located?
- What physical features did it have?
- What was the climate like?
- What natural resources were present?
- How does the location or environment affect the development of ancient Greek civilization? (How does where they live affect how they live?)
R: Religion
- What type of religion did ancient Greeks practice?
- Who were the religious leaders?
- Who were their god(s)/goddess(es)?
- How did people worship?
- Were there any unique burial practices or beliefs about the afterlife?
A: Achievements
What were some key inventions or contributions of ancient Greece in the areas of:
- Art
- Architecture
- Drama
- Inventions
- Sciences
- Speaking and Writing
P: Politics
- What type of government did ancient Greece have?
- Who were the leaders?
- How were decisions made?
- What role did people play in the government?
- What was the structure of the government?
E: Economics
- What were ancient Greece’s natural resources? What did they make and grow?
- With whom did ancient Greece trade? What were their imports and exports?
- What jobs were available?
- What type of currency did they use?
S: Society
- What were the social classes of ancient Greece?
- What were the roles of men, women and children?
- What groups had rights and what rights do they have?
- What groups didn’t have rights?
- What were people’s daily lives like?
Please note: Further activities utilize spider maps to expand on each category.
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 chart that describes the different aspects of ancient Greece: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economy, and Social Structure.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a 1-3 sentence description of each cell.
- Create an illustration that represents each category using appropriate scenes, characters, and items. To find images that relate to ancient Greece, type “Greece” into the search bar.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 4-6 cells showcasing different aspects of ancient Greece. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each category. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facts | Text and images include a clear explanation of the 6 important categories: geography, religion, achievements, politics, economy, and social structure. | Text and images include an explanation of important facts, but the explanation may lack clarity or there may be some inaccuracies. | Text and images do not explain important facts. Information is mostly missing or inaccurate. |
| Storyboard Images and Effort | Student clearly shows effort to convey the facts through appropriate scenes, characters, items, symbols or infographics. Illustrations clearly show that time, care and effort have been put in. | Student attempts to convey facts through use of graphics, but the depiction may be confusing, disordered, or lack some detail. | Student does not clearly convey facts and the depictions are inaccurate or inappropriate. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Student uses exemplary spelling and grammar. There are no errors. | Student makes one or two minor errors in spelling and grammar. | Student makes multiple errors in spelling and grammar. |
How Tos about G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart Activity for Ancient Greece
Organize a GRAPES chart discussion activity
Engage your class by turning the GRAPES chart into a lively group discussion. Assign each group a category (Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, Society) and have them brainstorm and present examples. This approach encourages collaboration and lets students teach one another while deepening understanding of each aspect of ancient Greece.
Assign student roles for focused research
Designate roles such as researcher, illustrator, or presenter within each group. Each student contributes uniquely by gathering information, creating visuals, or sharing findings with the class. This builds accountability and ensures everyone participates actively.
Guide students to use primary and secondary sources
Encourage students to consult a mix of sources, like textbooks, articles, and videos, for their assigned category. Emphasize the value of primary sources (such as images of Greek artifacts) to enhance accuracy and engagement.
Model how to create concise category summaries
Show students how to distill information into a brief, clear summary for each GRAPES category. Demonstrate by sharing an example for one category and explaining your thought process. This helps students focus on the most important details and improves synthesis skills.
Facilitate a gallery walk to share GRAPES charts
Arrange for student groups to display their completed GRAPES charts around the classroom. Guide students to walk around, review each chart, and leave positive feedback or questions. This activity fosters peer learning and builds classroom community.
Frequently Asked Questions about G.R.A.P.E.S. Chart Activity for Ancient Greece
What is a G.R.A.P.E.S. chart and how is it used to study ancient Greece?
A G.R.A.P.E.S. chart is a graphic organizer that helps students break down the key aspects of ancient civilizations: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Society. For ancient Greece, students use the chart to organize notes, analyze contributions, and better understand how each category shaped Greek civilization.
How can I make a G.R.A.P.E.S. chart activity engaging for middle school students?
To make a G.R.A.P.E.S. chart activity engaging, use visuals, encourage collaboration with real-time tools, and provide diverse resources like primary sources, videos, and songs. Let students illustrate each category and discuss their findings in groups to boost participation and deeper learning.
What are some examples of achievements to include for ancient Greece in a G.R.A.P.E.S. chart?
Examples of achievements for ancient Greece include advances in art, architecture (like the Parthenon), drama, science, and philosophy, as well as the development of democracy and the Olympic Games. Highlight key inventions and cultural contributions in this section.
What resources can teachers use to help students complete a G.R.A.P.E.S. chart for ancient Greece?
Teachers can provide primary sources, textbook readings, videos, music, literature, and encyclopedias. Using a variety of resources gives students a fuller picture of ancient Greece and supports accurate, detailed entries in each chart category.
How do I enable student collaboration on a G.R.A.P.E.S. chart activity in Storyboard That?
To enable collaboration on Storyboard That, go to the "Edit Assignment" tab and turn on Real Time Collaboration. This lets students work together on the same storyboard, making it easy to co-create and discuss each G.R.A.P.E.S. chart section.
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