Peloponnesian Properties – 5003

School: Brookland Middle School
Instructor: Amanda Mills

Summary

The goal of this lesson is for students to showcase everything they have learned about Greece. This assignment was given as a culminating project for students to apply their content knowledge of Greek Geography, Politics, Religion, Military, Entertainment, Social Aspects, Philosophy, and Holidays. Students were hired to be real estate agents for a new and upcoming business, “Century -1”. They worked in teams of three to research a specific profession and decide if the client would be better off living in Athens or Sparta. Students then utilized all of their research skills, communication/collaboration skills, critical thinking skills, creativity, and content knowledge to create a sales pitch selling either Athens or Sparta to their prospective clients. Each student in the group was responsible for creating an individual product that is either digital or tangible, to help “sell” their client on that particular location. Students then created a website to house their original products and “sell” their ideas to the client. The students experienced what it is like to be a realtor and to use their persuasive skills while combining that with the application of the content.

Peloponnesian Properties Webquest

TIPC Ratings

This lesson scores Ideal/Target for both teacher and students. The teachers has provided a real-world scenario in which students have to research specific occupations during the Peloponnesian time period by developing questions, applying research skills to evaluate resources and answer those questions. Students then take that information and make an informed decision as to whether or not the person with that occupation should live in Athens or Sparta. Student will then select appropriate digital tools to assemble their research into a convincing sales pitch to their prospective client.

This lesson scores Ideal/Target for both teacher and student. The teacher created structures using Google Docs and Google Sites within the lesson that allowed students to form collaborative teams. The lesson itself was delivered in the form of a Webquest that was created by the teacher using Google Sites. The student teams communicated in both real and non-real time using Google Docs to compile their research and then used Google Sites to create a website that would “sell” Athens or Sparta to their prospective client.

This lesson scores Ideal/Target for both teacher and student. The teacher has provided and experience in which students will need to use questioning skills, designing skills, and planning skills to create a website that incorporates their knowledge of Ancient Athens or Ancient Sparta in combination with their understanding of persuasive techniques in the media. Using these skills they will determine the best place for their client to live and then attempt to “sell” Athens or Sparta to them using a variety of digitally created “sales” pitches as well as some tangible ones.

This lesson scores Ideal/Target for both teacher and student. The teacher has created a unique experience for students to create group project that included individual elements as well. Students were asked to create a Website that incorporates their individual original work. The original work utilized critical thinking (developing and answering students generated questions), research(understanding the specifics of the occupation they researched) and communication/collaboration (using google Docs and Google sites) The final products included both digital and tangible outcomes. Student products included Prezi, Movie Maker, Audacity, Publisher, GoAnimate, a Poster, a clay pot, a t-shirt, and a paper ship.