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 politics or government of ancient Greece. They will include 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 politics or government of ancient Greece.
Student Instructions
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a title for each cell and a 1-3 sentence description.
- Create an illustration that represents each category using appropriate scenes, characters, and items. To find images related to ancient Greece, type “Greece” into the search bar.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 3-6 cells showcasing different characteristics of the Government 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 politics or government of ancient Greece. They will include 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 politics or government of ancient Greece.
Student Instructions
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a title for each cell and a 1-3 sentence description.
- Create an illustration that represents each category using appropriate scenes, characters, and items. To find images related to ancient Greece, type “Greece” into the search bar.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 3-6 cells showcasing different characteristics of the Government 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 Politics of Ancient Greece
Organize a Class Discussion Using Completed GRAPES Charts
Invite students to share their completed GRAPES charts in a whole-class or small group discussion. This encourages participation and helps deepen understanding as students compare insights and clarify misconceptions.
Set Clear Expectations for Sharing
Explain what you expect from students when they present their work. Encourage concise summaries and respectful listening to foster a supportive classroom environment.
Assign Student Discussion Roles
Give students specific roles such as presenter, question-asker, or note-taker. This ensures everyone participates and keeps the conversation focused.
Guide the Discussion with Thoughtful Prompts
Use prompts like "How did government in Ancient Greece differ from today?" or "What surprised you about the political system?" to spark critical thinking and meaningful dialogue.
Wrap Up with a Reflective Activity
Ask students to write a quick reflection on what they learned from their peers. This reinforces key ideas and encourages metacognition.
Frequently Asked Questions about Politics of Ancient Greece
What is a GRAPES chart and how can it help students learn about Ancient Greece's politics?
A GRAPES chart is a graphic organizer that helps students categorize and analyze different aspects of a civilization, such as Government, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Social Structure. Using a GRAPES chart for Ancient Greece's politics allows students to focus on key government characteristics and better understand how political systems shaped Greek society.
How can I use visuals and storyboards to teach about Ancient Greece's government?
Incorporate visuals and storyboards by having students create spider maps with illustrations and descriptions of Ancient Greece’s political features. This approach enhances engagement and retention by letting students visually represent concepts such as democracy, city-states, and leaders using scenes, characters, and items relevant to ancient Greece.
What are the best resources for teaching the politics of Ancient Greece to middle schoolers?
The best resources include primary sources, informative videos, songs, textbook readings, encyclopedias, and literature. Combining these with interactive tools like graphic organizers and collaborative platforms enables students to build a well-rounded understanding of Ancient Greece’s political systems.
How do I enable real-time collaboration for students working on Ancient Greece projects?
To enable real-time collaboration on projects, go to the assignment’s “Edit Assignment” tab and turn on collaboration. This allows multiple students (ideally five or fewer) to work together on the same storyboard, fostering teamwork and deeper learning about Ancient Greece.
What should students include in a spider map about Ancient Greece’s government?
Students should include 3-6 cells each focusing on a different characteristic of Ancient Greece’s government—such as democracy, city-states, leaders, laws, and civic participation. Each cell should have a clear title, a 1-3 sentence description, and an appropriate illustration representing the concept.
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
