1. The Roots of American democracy
EQ: What ideas gave birth to the world’s first modern democratic nation?
The Roots of American democracy
Chapter 3 in Book
Civics and Advanced Civics

2. Welcome! Today’s bell Ringer
Come in silently get your notebook and sit in your assigned seat
Date your page
Examine these photos of Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece and of current day United States.
In your notebook write: A B C D E F
Next to the letters make an educated guess and match each building title with the corresponding letter:
Ancient Greece Parthenon
Ancient Rome Pantheon
U.S. Jefferson Memorial
U.S. Capital Building
U.S. Treasury
U.S. Supreme Court A B C D E F

3. As a Class
“What do you notice about the architectural style of the building in the Washington D.C. (part of the United States)? Can you think of any other buildings that reflect this style?
Winter Haven Courthouse
What ideas about government do you think the ancient Greeks and Romans have contributed to the world?
University of Florida College of Law

4. In collaborative pairs
Why do you think so many U.S. government buildings reflect Greek and Roman architecture?

5. Independently
On your own, answer this question in your notebook/journal:
From where else do you think the United States got ideas about government?

6. Historical statue activity
Get into the pairs I have placed you in… that means SIT NEXT TO THEM!
You will pretend to be statues of historical figures temporarily on display in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. These statues represent important individuals who influenced the development of democratic government in the United States.
Review the cards I have given you of your ASSIGNED historical figure. This means READ THEM TO EACHOTHER AND DISCUSS THE INFORMATION
WHEN YOU ARE DIRECTED TO DO SO:
You will move to your assigned location in the room
You will pretend to be statues of historical figures temporarily on display in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. These statues represent important individuals who influenced the development of democratic government in the United States.
One partner will be the statue while the second partner will interview the statues/historical figures
Each interview will last 4 minutes
You will record the information on your graphic organizer
Once all the interviewers have completed their graphic organizer we will switch

7. Practice I am Pericles, Ancient Athenian Leader
Listen to the information I am reading to you.
AFTER I read, you will complete the very first box under Pericles Titled: “Important or Interesting Personal Information”
In your box you should have:
Pericles was educated in many subjects, including music, logic, and philosophy
His father was involved in Athenian Politics
His mother was a niece of a well-know Athenian political reformer.

8. As you conduct your interviews, remember:
• Each interviewer to a different statue.
• Statues come to life when teacher says “Unfreeze.” You will have three minutes to complete the interview.
• When teacher says “Freeze,” statues stop talking. Interviewers move to next statue.
• Repeat process until interviewers have completed Student Handout D.

9. Come back together Share your responses with your partner:
Then INDEPENDLTY write down the responses to these questions in your notebook:
• Where did most of our ideas about government come from?
• Which of the ideas do you think was the most unique or interesting? Why?
• Which of the ideas do you think had the most influence on the development of democratic government in the United States?
I will call on students after we have answered the questions independently