Fun & Games in Ancient Greece
Information About This Unit
Description of Learning Unit:
This unit introduces children to popular cultural activities, such as fun and games, in Ancient Greece. Through online lessons, comic books, stories, and other internet-based learning tools, you will explore the Greek Olympics and Greek theater. You will learn how the festivals, games, and theater worked, who attended them, and how the Greeks prepared themselves for these important events. Links to hands-on activities, printable worksheets, games, recipes, copywork, notebooking pages, and more are all included. This unit is designed to last for one week, depending on how often you teach history. 
List of Objectives:
- Find out why the Olympics were important to the Ancient Greeks.
- Learn what events were included in the Ancient Olympics.
- Discover who took part in the Olympics, and who was not allowed to attend.
- Learn how athletes trained and prepared to take part in the Olympics.
- Learn the important details of putting on Greek plays, including knowledge about the theater facilities, stage equipment, theater masks, the choir, and the actors.
List of Materials and Supplies Needed for This Pathway:
- Green construction paper
- Glue stick
- Sticky tape
- Scissors
- An empty small soda bottle
- Aluminum foil
- Scissors
- Red/yellow/orange paper
- Sticky tape
- Sand paper
- Slice of stale bread
- Round pastry cutter
- Gold paint (or silver or bronze)
- Ribbon
- Piece of thin cardboard or a paper plate
- Pencils, crayons or markers for drawing facial details
- Strips of construction paper for making hair and/or beard
- Piece of yarn for tying on your mask, or large popsicle stick for making hand-held version
- 5 tomatoes
- 1 seedless cucumber
- 1 red onion
- 1 green or red pepper
- 1 cup Kalamata olives, seedless (or any black olives)
- 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 tbsp. dried oregeno
- 1/2 cup olive oil, or to taste
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar or to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pita bread
Printables and Worksheets:
- Printer
- Paper
- Pencil or pen
Links to Related Pathways (if any):
History Year 3, Week 13: Exploring Ancient Greece
History Year 3, Week 15: Greek Art & Architecture
History Year 3, Week 16: Greek Myths & Legends
Links to Free Learning Material
Links to Online Lessons:
| Olympia | (no rating) |
These seven pages contain entertaining illustrations and photos that introduce the Olympic games and present interesting facts about them.
| Ancient Greece: The Olympics | (no rating) |
This lesson discusses the Ancient Olympic games.
| Five Cities Compete in the Olympics | (no rating) |
This page takes a look at how the residents of different Greek city-states prepared for and competed in the Olympics.
| Story of an Olympic Athlete | (no rating) |
Read the fascinating tale of Theagenes of Thasos--including the surprising story of how his statue was tried for a crime, and later redeemed.
| Ancient Greece: The Theater | (no rating) |
This comic book style interactive introduces elements of Greek theater, including the stage, orchestra, seating, masks, stage equipment, and more.
Reference Websites:
| Ancient and Modern Olympics | (no rating) |
Good general site for information and reference about the Olympic games and the people who competed in them.
| Greek Theater | (no rating) |
This page explains many details of Ancient Greek theater.
Hands-On Projects and Activities:
| Olive Leaf Crown | (no rating) |
Your child will have fun making this olive leaf crown.
| Olympic Torch | (no rating) |
In this activity, you will create an Olympic torch with your child.
| Olympic Medal | (no rating) |
While working on this project, point out that Ancient Greeks received olive wreaths as their prize. In the modern Olympics, athletes compete for medals instead.
| Greek Theater Masks | (no rating) |
Create Greek Comedy and Tragedy masks from cardboard or paper plates.
| Olympic Greek Salad | (no rating) |
Make a yummy Greek salad with your child. This page also includes a brief history of the Olympic games.
Learning Tools (worksheets, drills, printables, online games, tests, etc.):
| Ancient Olympics Word Search | (no rating) |
Have your child complete this Olympics word search.
| Olympic Event Match-Up Game | (no rating) |
Can you match the names of the Olympic events with their description?
| Go for the Gold Game | (no rating) |
Represent your country as you learn about the Greek influence on the English language.
| Olympic Torch Coloring Page | (no rating) |
Have you child color this picture of the Olympic torch.
| Copywork Sentences | (no rating) |
| Notebooking | (no rating) |
Have your child use the handwriting pages for his or her copywork or to create a narration about what he or she has learned (Younger children may dictate their observations to you.).
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Free Online Video:
| Greek Theatre | (no rating) |
This is a video of children performing traditional Greek dances at the Dora Stratou.
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Free Online Audio: 
Free E-Books (and classics available in most libraries):Supplemental Materials
List of any helpful books, games, toys, kits, lapbooks, curriculum, etc., that may be purchased to enhance the learning experience:
Ancient Greece and the Olymics is non-fiction guide that has facts and information about Greece and the Olympics, and Hour of the Olympics is a fictional story for young readers that follows Jack and Annie back in time to theancient Olympic games.
CurrClick: Ancient Greece Lapbook