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
The ancient Romans accomplished many things, including the innovations of paved roads, cement, and aqueducts. In this activity, students will create a spider map that highlights achievements in art, architecture, technologies, writing, and more.
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 achievements of Ancient Rome in art, architecture, technology and/or writing. To find art and characters related to ancient Rome, type "Rome" into the search box in the Storyboard Creator.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a title for each cell and a 1-3 sentence description.
- Create an illustration that represents each feature using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 3-6 cells showcasing the various Achievements of ancient Rome. 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
The ancient Romans accomplished many things, including the innovations of paved roads, cement, and aqueducts. In this activity, students will create a spider map that highlights achievements in art, architecture, technologies, writing, and more.
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 achievements of Ancient Rome in art, architecture, technology and/or writing. To find art and characters related to ancient Rome, type "Rome" into the search box in the Storyboard Creator.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write a title for each cell and a 1-3 sentence description.
- Create an illustration that represents each feature using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 3-6 cells showcasing the various Achievements of ancient Rome. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each cell. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Achievements and Innovation of Ancient Rome
Incorporate primary sources into your Ancient Rome GRAPES lesson
Enrich your students' understanding by including primary sources like ancient texts, inscriptions, or images of Roman artifacts. These firsthand materials spark curiosity and help students make connections to real history.
Select age-appropriate primary sources
Choose short excerpts, simple images, or translated stories that fit your students' reading level. This ensures materials are accessible and engaging for grades 2–8.
Guide students in analyzing primary sources
Ask students to observe and describe what they see or read. Prompt them with questions like, "What does this artifact tell us about Roman life?" to encourage deeper thinking.
Connect primary sources to GRAPES categories
Help students match each source to a GRAPES category such as Achievements, Religion, or Politics. This practice builds critical thinking and reinforces their understanding of historical context.
Have students illustrate their findings in the spider map
Encourage students to create a cell in their spider map based on the primary source. They can draw or describe what they learned, making history come alive through visuals and writing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Achievements and Innovation of Ancient Rome
How can I use a G.R.A.P.E.S. chart to teach Ancient Rome's achievements?
G.R.A.P.E.S. stands for Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Social Structure. To teach Ancient Rome's achievements, have students organize key innovations—like roads, cement, and aqueducts—under 'Achievements' in the chart. Include visuals and brief descriptions to help students analyze and remember each contribution.
What are some easy ways for students to collaborate on Ancient Rome lessons?
Students can collaborate using tools like Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature, which lets multiple students work on the same storyboard simultaneously. This encourages deeper thinking, communication, and teamwork, making lessons on Ancient Rome more engaging and efficient.
What resources help middle schoolers learn about Ancient Rome's innovations?
Effective resources include primary sources, textbook readings, videos, songs, encyclopedias, and literature. Combining these with graphic organizers, like spider maps or G.R.A.P.E.S. charts, helps students retain and understand Ancient Rome's key inventions and achievements.
How do I make a spider map for Ancient Rome's achievements in class?
To create a spider map, have students select different achievements of Ancient Rome (e.g., art, architecture, technology, writing), write a title and a 1-3 sentence description for each, and add illustrations using scenes and characters. Storyboard Creator offers search tools to find Rome-related visuals.
What are the key achievements of Ancient Rome to highlight for grades 6-8?
Key achievements include paved roads, cement, aqueducts, remarkable art and architecture, and advances in writing. These topics are accessible for grades 6-8 and demonstrate Rome's lasting impact on the modern world.
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