webquest

Are We Falling?

A WebQuest for 12^th Grade Social Studies

Introduction:

How well can you foretell the future? Will the United Sates remain a super power? Does history repeat itself? This lesson was designed to enable you to make a prediction by comparing the United States to the ancient civilization of Rome. To make your predication, use your knowledge from class study on the culture, politics, and development of the United States along with the information you will discover in web sites on the Internet. You will work in a group of three. Each of you must decide what role you wish to research. There will be an archaeologist, a scholar, and a politician. Good digging, learn a lot, and be ready to sell your opinion to the class.

The Task:

You will independently research the ancient Roman empire using the web sites in the quest. Using the comparison chart provided, record your findings. Meet as a group to collaborate your research and create a prediction, which you will present to the class in the form of written and oral reports. Be prepared to support your prediction!

The Process

Print and use this chart to make your comparisons.

2. Decide Which Role You Wish to Research:

THE ARCHAEOLOGIST researches the everyday life of the ancient Romans. This will include: buildings, clothing, food, technology, entertainment, and transportation.

THE POLITICIAN researches the government of ancient Rome. This will include: the form of government, leaders, the enemies of Rome and the break down of the empire.

THE SCHOLAR researches the history and contributions of ancient Rome. This will include: education, mythology, and background.

3. Research Your Roles Independently and Complete Chart.

Use the following web sites in your research:

THE ARCHAEOLOGIST

http://ancienthistory.about.com/education/ancienthistory/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/GOVT/art1.htm

(Go to theTrade and Transport section)

http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/glossary/timeln/contents.htm

(Sea transportation and Land transportation)

http://www/roman-empire.net/society/soc-dress.html

(Roman dress)

http://www.iol.ie/~coolmine/typ/romans/intro.html

(Way of life…army, baths, politics, theater, clothes)

http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/glossary/timeln/contents.htm

(Shows other daily activities and interesting facts)

THE POLITICIAN

http://library.thinkquest.org/12654/roman.html

*(good site, 5 good emperors, mythology and slight archaeology)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/romans/index.htm

(good, has stuff for archaeologist and politician...and Rome as Republic, senators..)

http://www.roman-empire.net/decline/decl-index.html

(this describes the decline in terms of the emperors and their fights and mistakes…very detailed).

http://ancienthistory.about.com/education/ancienthistory/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/GOVT/art1.htm

An Increasingly Remote and Deified Emperor (Go to the late empire)

First Barbarian Invasions (Go to the late empire)

The Final Division of the Empire into East and West on the Death of Theodosius I (Go to the late empire)

THE SCHOLAR

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/romans/end.htm

(good, brief, fall of empire)

http://www.his.com/~z/gibbon.html

(there are quotes here having to do with gibbons’ Rise and Decline)

http://ancienthistory.about.com/education/ancienthistory/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/GOVT/art1.htm

Rome's Greatest Gift to Us: Her Alphabet (Go to writers & Historians)

From Scroll to Bound Book: An Innovation that Changed Our World Forever (Go to Writers & Historians)

A Quick Look at Governments In Classical Times (Go to The Roman Government)

"We Can Build It Better!" (Go to Engineers and technology)

The Education of the Young Roman (Go to The Roman society)

Additional Sites for More Information:

http://www.roman-empire.net/society/soc-dress.html(this shows pictures of dresses for archaeologist)

http://www.roman-empire.net/ (homepage for some of the good sites)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/romans/end.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/romans/index.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/12654/roman.html

http://www.roman-empire.net/

4. Collaborate information as a group.

5. Come up with one group prediction on whether or not the U.S. will share a fate similar to that of the Romans.

6. Develop a class report using an audio-visual aid, ie: chart, poster, video, etc… to enhance your oral presentation. All members of the group must participate!

7. Each group will compose a joint, 2-3 page report, discussing your prediction and also containing the individual research used to arrive at your prediction.

Evaluation

	Beginning 1 point		Developing 2 points	Accomplished 3 points	Exemplary 4 points	SCORE
Archaeologist (individual)		Completed some research. Paper is disorganized and has poor support of prediction.	Web sites better explored and more research gathered. Paper better organized but support of prediction is still a little weak.	All listed sites explored. Paper well organized and good support for prediction.	Additional sites explored. Blending knowledge of all individual roles. Paper exceptional and good support for the prediction.
Archaeologist (individual)
Politician (individual)
Scholar (indiv.)
Group Prediction and Supportive Data
In-Class Presentation
Written Report

Conclusion

Only the future can tell if your prediction will come true. We hope you have learned that the past does influence the future. Using what you have learned about a fallen civilization, as future leaders and citizens of the United States, it really is up to you if our country will share the fate of Rome.

Credits & References

http://comptonsv3.web.aol.com/encyclopedia/CAPTIONS/20003833_P.html Picture of Rome

Last updated on February 28, 2000. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

The Final Division of the Empire into East and West on the Death of Theodosius I (Go to the late empire)

A Quick Look at Governments In Classical Times (Go to The Roman Government)

Developing