Chapter Nineteen: Activities for Early Greece
Chapter Nineteen
The Early Greeks
UBWH 42-45, UILE 128-131
KIHOW 40-41, KHE 17
Review Questions, The Mycenaeans
What were the people who came from Greece to conquer Crete called? The Mycenaeans
What were the Mycenaeans good at? Fighting
Where did the Myceneans build colonies? Around the Aegean Sea
Can you tell me a little bit about how the Mycenean Greeks lived? Prompt the child if necessary for the following answers: they lived in houses, had jobs, went to school.
Narration Exercise, The Mycenaeans
“After the volcano erupted near Crete, other people took over. They were called Mycenaeans. They used helmets and shields and chariots to fight.”
Review Questions, The Greek Dark Ages
How did the barbarians live? Prompt the child if necessary for the following answers: they wandered around, couldn’t read or write, and spent their time fighting other people.
What did the Myceaean Greeks have that made them such strong fighters? Bronze weapons and chariots
What kind of weapons did the barbarians have? Iron weapons that were stronger than bronze weapons
When the Greeks and the barbarians fought, who won? The barbarians
Do you remember why we call this time the Dark Ages? Because the barbarians didn’t leave us any written history or records about the time that they lived in Greece
Narration Exercise, The Greek Dark Ages
(If necessary, prompt the child to use the phrase “Dark Ages.”)
“The Greeks thought they were strong. But barbarians were stronger. They took over Greece. This was the ‘Dark Ages,’ when they didn’t write anything.”
OR
“Greeks lived like regular people. Barbarians wandered around fighting. The barbarians conquered the Greeks, but they didn’t keep histories. This was the ‘Dark Ages.’”
Additional Reading
Growing Up in Ancient Greece, by Chris Chelepi (Troll, 1994). Presents an interesting, simplified view of ancient Greek society. (RA)
Footsteps in Time: The Greeks, by Sally Hewitt (Children’s Press, 1995). Introduces young children to Ancient Greece using crafts and activities. (RA)
How Would You Survive As an Ancient Greek? by Fiona MacDonald (Franklin Watts, 1996). Presents an account of everyday life in Ancient Greece. (RA)
Ancient Greeks at a Glance, by John Malam (Peter Bedrick Books, 1998). This site-seeing guide to Ancient Greece uses simple sentences and concepts. (RA)
Corresponding Literature Suggestions
The Trojan Horse, by Emily Little (Random House, 1988). A simple retelling of the Trojan Horse myth. (RA; may be IR for some advanced readers)
Usborne Greek Myths for Young Children, by Heather Amery (Usborne, 1999). Simplified retelling of Greek Myths.
D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths, by Edgar Parin d’Aulaire (Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1962). This introduction to the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece has beautiful illustrations by Caldecott Award winners.
Map Work
1. Onyour map from Chapter 16, locate Mycenae, Thebes and Athens.
2. Color Greece your favorite color
Coloring Page
The Warriors in Chariot coloring page is based on a fresco archaeologist found in Pylos.
Projects
Craft Project: Make a Very Easy Mycenaean Helmet
Materials:
Cardboard box the size of your head
Scissors
Paints
1. Cut eyeholes so you can see out of your helmet when it’s on your head.
2. Paint the box bronze.
3. Get ready for battle!
Craft Project: Make a More Realistic Mycenaean Helmet
Materials:
Old cap with bill cut off
Heavy cardboard
Paper Mache clay (Celluclay)
Masking tape
Scissors
Sealer paint (optional)
Bronze paint
Polyurethane (optional)
Note: Make this helmet a little too large all the way around to allow for shrinkage.
1. Put the cap on and attach cardboard to the bottom of the cap from the back of your head to your ears. Attach another section of cardboard around your face. Use wedges of cardboard to attach the back section to the front. Make sure the bottom of the helmet is a little bigger around than the top.
2. With a pin, mark places for eyeholes and mouth. After you cut out the mouth and eyeholes, it should look like this.
ILLUSTRATION NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE
3. Cover the outside of the cap with strips of masking tape.
4. Stuff the cap with tightly wadded up newspaper or plastic bags and prop up your helmet so it is not touching the table.
5. Mix the paper mache clay according to directions and spread over the outside of helmet. Use water on your hands to help smooth the clay. The surface will have a rough hammered appearance. Let this dry completely.
6. When the outside of the helmet is completely dry, turn it over and apply paper mache clay to the inside. Do not cover the cap on the inside of the helmet. Let this dry completely.
7. Apply sealer paint (optional), then bronze paint, then polyurethane (optional) letting each coat dry completely before applying the next one.
8. Take it a step further and line your helmet like the Mycenaeans did. Glue cloth or fake fur inside. Paint gold trim around the edges. Your finished helmet will look something like this.
ILLUSTRATION NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE
Craft Project: Make a Simple Greek Vase
Much of what we know about the Ancient Greeks comes from the pictures they painted on their beautiful pottery!
Materials:
Copy of vase outline (provided)
colors and or paints
construction paper
1. Look at some pictures of Greek pottery and copy one of the designs on the provided vase outline.\
OUTLINE NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE
2. Cut out and decorate your vase using colors, paints or construction paper.
Craft Project: Make a realistic Greek vase:
Materials:
7” balloon
Newspaper torn into 2” by 4” strips
Glue (white school glue of wallpaper paste)
Plastic cup – small
Jar lid
Foam brushes
Paints
Polyurethane
1. Blow up the balloon and tape the jar lid on the bottom so it stands upright.
2. Spread glue on the balloon with a foam brush.
3. Put strips of newspaper on the balloon and brush glue on top. Cover the entire balloon and jar lid. Continue layering newspapers and glue until you have about 6 layers of newspaper on balloon.
4. Tie a string around the knot in the balloon and hang up to dry.
5. When the vase is completely dry cut a hole in the top of the balloon and let the air out. The balloon should come right out.
6. Carefully cut a hole in the top of the vase and fit the plastic cup into the hole.
7. Cover the plastic cup with several layers of newspaper and glue. Set aside to dry.
8. Paint and decorate your vase.
9. Spray a coat of polyurethane on your vase for durability.
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